Installing a landscape edging

Before you start

1

Outlining the bed

• 1.1Lay out the hose, trying several different shapes until you get result you like.
• 1.2Squeeze powdered chalk along the outside edge of the hose, then remove the hose.

2

Digging the trench

• 2.1With a spade, dig a trench along the chalk line, making sure the outside edge of the trench is vertical to support the edging properly.
• 2.2 Strip off the sod inside the bed with a pick or a sod lifter.

3

Place the edging

• 3.1Place the edging in the trench, adding or removing soils as necessary to keep it level.
• 3.2Prevent soil from failing back into the trench by working as much as possible along the outside edge of the garden bed.

4

Cutting edging pieces to length

• 4.1Mark the point where the ends of edging pieces overlap with masking tape.
• 4.2Cut the edging with tin snips or pruning shears at the mark. A straight cut will make joint least noticeable.

5

Making a joint

• 5.1Slide a coupler halfway into the channel at the end of one piece of edging.
• 5.2Hold the end of the first piece of edging tightly to keep the coupler in place and slide the end of the second piece of edging onto the coupler.

6

Anchoring the edging

• 6.1With a small sledgehammer, drive a stake into the ground along the outside of the edging every 3 to 4 feet.
• 6.2Backfill the trench and pack down the soil.