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Nothing transforms the appearance of a garden quite like crisp lawn edges. You could have the healthiest grass in the street, but if your edges are ragged and overgrown, the whole lawn looks neglected. Conversely, clean edges make even an average lawn look well cared for and intentional.
The good news is that edging is one of the simplest lawn tasks to master. With the right tools and technique, you can achieve professional-looking results in an afternoon, and maintaining them takes just minutes after each mow.
Tools for Lawn Edging
There are several tools designed for edging, and the right choice depends on whether you are creating new edges or maintaining existing ones.
The half-moon edger (also called an edging iron) is essential for cutting new edges or reshaping existing ones that have become rounded or undefined. It has a flat, curved blade that you push into the soil with your foot, creating a clean vertical cut.
Long-handled edging shears are designed for trimming grass that overhangs the edge after mowing. They let you stand upright while cutting, making quick work of maintenance trimming. Some gardeners prefer short-handled sheep shears for the same job, though these require kneeling.
String trimmers (strimmers) can edge lawns quickly but take practice to use well. Held vertically, they cut overhanging grass effectively, though they can easily damage edges if you are not careful. They are best for rough edges rather than formal borders.
Power edgers are specialist tools that cut a vertical channel along the lawn edge. They are fast and consistent but expensive for occasional use. Hire shops stock them if you have a large garden to edge.
Creating New Edges
If your lawn edges have disappeared into borders over time, or if you want to change their shape, you need to cut fresh edges with a half-moon edger.
Marking Your Line
For straight edges, stretch a garden line or piece of string between two canes as a guide. For curved edges, lay a hosepipe on the ground and adjust it until you have a pleasing shape. Stand back frequently to check the curve looks natural from different angles.
Avoid creating tight curves that will be difficult to mow around. Gentle sweeping curves look more natural and are much easier to maintain than intricate shapes.
Cutting the Edge
Place the half-moon edger on your marked line with the flat side facing the lawn. Push down firmly with your foot, driving the blade about 7-8cm into the soil. Work along the line in overlapping cuts, keeping the blade vertical throughout.
The soil you cut away creates a small trench or drop between the lawn and border. This is intentional and helps define the edge visually while preventing grass from creeping back into beds. A drop of 5-7cm is ideal.
Remove the cut turf strips and shake off excess soil before composting them. If the strips are thick, stack them grass-side down in a corner of the garden. They will rot into excellent loam over 12 months.
Maintaining Your Edges
Once you have clean edges, maintaining them is straightforward. After each mow during the growing season, trim any grass that overhangs the edge using shears or a strimmer.
Long-handled edging shears make this quick and easy. Walk along the edge, holding the shears horizontally, and snip any overhanging grass. The cut grass falls into the border where it can be left as mulch or raked up.
How often you need to re-cut the actual edge depends on your soil and grass type. Most lawns need edge cutting once or twice per season to maintain a crisp line. Vigorous lawns on light soil may need more frequent attention as grass stolons creep into borders.
Edging Around Different Features
The technique varies slightly depending on what your lawn borders.
Along flower beds, create a distinct drop between lawn and soil. This makes weeding easier and prevents mulch from spilling onto the grass. The trench also catches grass clippings during mowing.
Along paths and patios, the edge should be flush with or slightly below the hard surface. This allows the mower to run right to the edge, reducing the need for trimming. If grass sits higher than the path, you will constantly be hand-trimming.
Around trees, leave a gap between the grass and trunk. Grass growing right up to tree bark looks untidy and creates problems with mower damage. A mulched circle around the base looks neater and protects the tree.
Against fences, maintaining a crisp edge is difficult since the fence prevents tool access. Many gardeners accept a slightly rough edge here, or install a narrow mowing strip of gravel or paving that the mower can run along.
Permanent Edging Options
If you are tired of re-cutting edges, permanent edging materials can maintain the line with minimal maintenance.
Metal edging strips are the professional choice. Flexible steel strips like Everedge are almost invisible once installed, maintaining a perfect line indefinitely. They are more expensive than other options but last for decades and look supremely neat.
Plastic edging is cheaper but more visible and prone to lifting over time. It works adequately in straight runs but struggles with curves. The black plastic varieties are less obtrusive than green.
Brick or stone edging creates a formal look and provides a mowing strip that eliminates trimming. Set the bricks flush with the lawn surface so the mower can run over them. This is labour-intensive to install but virtually maintenance-free.
Timber edging using sleepers or log rolls suits cottage-style gardens. Wood eventually rots and needs replacing, but it creates a pleasant informal edge. Treat with preservative to extend lifespan.
Common Edging Mistakes
Cutting edges too frequently is a common error. Every time you re-cut, the lawn shrinks slightly. Cut only when edges have genuinely lost definition, not as routine maintenance.
Creating edges that are too deep makes mowing awkward and looks unnatural. The drop should be enough to define the edge visually but not so deep that the mower drops into it.
Neglecting to maintain edges between cutting sessions lets grass grow over and obscure your careful work. Regular trimming after mowing keeps edges looking sharp with minimal effort.
Edging and Overall Lawn Care
Crisp edges look best when combined with other good lawn practices. A well-striped lawn with clean edges looks immaculate. Maintaining proper mowing heights keeps grass healthy and edges easier to maintain.
Following a complete lawn care calendar ensures your grass is thick and healthy, which makes edges stand out more impressively. Thin, patchy grass makes even the crispest edges look sad.
Regular feeding promotes dense growth that holds its shape better at the edges. Starved grass tends to thin out at boundaries, making edges ragged no matter how often you cut them.
If your lawn has other issues like bare patches or yellow areas, address these before focusing on edges. Perfect edges on a poor lawn just highlight the problems.
For more techniques to improve your lawn’s appearance, explore our complete lawn care guide collection.
A healthy lawn makes edging worthwhile. Our Year Round Lawn Treatment Bundle provides the right nutrition at the right time, keeping your grass thick, green, and ready to show off those crisp edges.
