Want a Lawn Worth Edging?
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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. A well-striped lawn with clean edges looks immaculate.
The good news is that edging is one of the simplest lawn care tasks to learn. With the right tools and technique, you can create professional-looking edges in an afternoon and keep them looking sharp with just a few minutes of maintenance after each mow.
Tools for Lawn Edging
Before you start, you need the right tools for the job. The tool you choose depends on whether you are creating new edges or maintaining existing ones.
A 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 overhanging grass while standing upright. They are ideal for quick maintenance after mowing.
Short-handled sheep shears are an alternative that requires kneeling but gives you precise control for detail work around features and tight corners.
String trimmers (strimmers) can be used for quick edging but require practice. Turn the strimmer vertically and run it along the edge. Without care, you can easily scalp the grass or create an uneven line.
Power edgers are specialist tools that create fast, consistent results. They are expensive for occasional use but worth considering if you have a large garden with extensive edges.
Creating New Edges
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. Avoid tight curves that will be difficult to mow around.
Take your time with this step. Once you cut, you are committed to the line. Stand back and view the shape from different angles before picking up your edging iron.
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 small overlapping cuts rather than trying to slice long sections at once.
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 and soil from the border side. You can add this to your compost heap or use it to fill low spots elsewhere in the lawn.
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. This takes just a few minutes and keeps everything looking tidy.
Most lawns need edge cutting (re-cutting with the half-moon edger) once or twice per season to maintain a crisp line. Vigorous lawns on light soil may need more frequent attention. Maintaining proper mowing heights keeps grass healthy and edges easier to maintain.
Edging Around Different Features
Different garden features require slightly different approaches to edging.
Flower beds: Create a distinct drop between lawn and soil. This makes weeding easier and prevents mulch from spilling onto the grass.
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.
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 circular mulched area around the base looks neat and is healthier for 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 pavers or gravel to keep things tidy.
Permanent Edging Options
If you want to reduce maintenance, permanent edging materials can hold a crisp line without regular re-cutting.
Metal edging strips: 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.
Plastic edging: Cheaper but more visible and prone to lifting over time. It works adequately in straight runs but struggles with curves.
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.
Timber edging: Suits cottage-style gardens. Wood eventually rots and needs replacing, but it creates a pleasant informal edge.
Common Edging Mistakes
There are a few pitfalls to avoid when edging your lawn.
Cutting edges too frequently is a common error. Every time you re-cut with the half-moon edger, the lawn shrinks slightly. Over years, this can significantly reduce your lawn area. Only re-cut when edges have genuinely lost their shape, not as routine maintenance.
Creating edges that are too deep makes mowing awkward and looks unnatural. Stick to a drop of 5-7cm. Any deeper and the edge will crumble and look untidy.
Neglecting to maintain edges between cutting sessions lets grass grow over and obscure your careful work. A quick trim after each mow prevents this.
Edging and Overall Lawn Care
Crisp edges look best when combined with other good lawn practices. Perfect edges on a poor lawn just highlight the problems.
Following a complete lawn care calendar ensures your grass is thick and healthy throughout the year. Regular feeding promotes dense growth that holds its shape better at the edges.
If your lawn has other issues like bare patches or yellow areas, address these before focusing on edges. A healthy, well-fed lawn is far easier to edge and maintain.
For more techniques to improve your lawn’s appearance, explore our complete lawn care guide collection.
A Lawn Worth Edging
Healthy, well-fed grass makes your crisp edges look their best. Our Year Round Bundle provides the right nutrition at the right time all year round.
