Insert the spade vertically into the soil where you wish to cut a slot for the edging and push down on the metal step with your shoe, putting your weight on the step. Uncoated steel lawn edging develops a rusty patina over time, while aluminum does not. For instance, if you're installing edging on the sides of the driveway and a walkway leading up to the house, use a tape measure to measure each span, such as both the left and right sides of the driveway, in case their lengths vary. Step 2. The depth of the furrow will allow for some of the aluminium strip to be buried in the soil to give extra stability. What are some of the most reviewed metal edging? Steel garden edging ideas. How to edge a garden bed with brick, pavers, or stones. She is an avid DIYer that is equally at home repurposing random objects into new, useful creations as she is at supporting community gardening efforts and writing about healthy alternatives to household chemicals. Lay one piece of edging into the furrow to gauge the finished height. The metal comes in different finishes and colors, with the most common being silver, black, brown and green. Factors include how much of the edging is buried in the soil and if the length is to be straight, or if curved, how tight the radius is. Spread the gravel base and tamp it. This may vary depending on the metal product. Always read the instructions that come with the edging because no matter the brand or the style, there's one side that's meant to face out toward the lawn, while the other side faces the soil, mulch or landscaping materials in a flower bed, for instance. If the edging has a front and back side, make sure every piece is facing the proper direction. Hammer in the pegs. When it comes to metal edging, two materials rule the yardscape: steel and aluminum. A nice example of metal edging. If you prefer a steel edging and live in a climate where it may rust, choose a coated steel if you want it to maintain its original hue over the years. For straight sections, the edging can be assembled as it's placed in the ground, but you should still lay out enough along all of your edges. Wet the soil in the trench using a garden hose if the ground is hard or if it hasn't rained in a while. Metal landscape edging stands out among common forms of edging as far as its overall appearance, longevity and durability are concerned. Comes in three styles - from rusted steel lawn edgings to galvanized steel garden edging. How to Install No-Dig Garden Edging The simplest technique is without digging deep into the Earth. This is the most permanent method and can last for ages. Metal bends easily, allowing you to create clean, graceful curves along your garden bed. Tamp down the dirt by walking so your weight falls with one foot on the front side of the edging and one foot on the back of the edging. Either hammer the edging all the way down to the desired depth now or just hammer it deep enough to stay put and go over it again. Before you buy metal or any type of lawn edging, measure the perimeter of the project area. For each area you plan to edge, stretch the twine as an outline from the starting point to the ending point of the area you want to edge. Even once you backfill the area, if the bottom of the edging isn't securely set into the ground, it will pop out easily, as is the case with solar landscape lights. The slot or narrow trench required for metal edging installation is a lot narrower than needed for most other types of landscape edging since the spikes or posts that hold the metal in place install vertically rather than at an angle. There are actually mow curb machines that will mold an edge as it lays the concrete. Pull the rope with your hands then measure it. If you’re going for a simple yet sophisticated vibe, go with metal edging. Fill up the trench behind the edging back with the soil you dug out and then compact it to hold the edging firmly in … Mark out your garden design. How to install no-dig garden edging. Metal landscape edging is the little black dress of a garden: elegant, strong yet understated, tailored and timeless. How much do metal edging cost? Adjust the depth of the furrow if necessary. You can also freely install aluminium edge as you go. Keep the edging right up against the sides of the pavers, on the side opposite the lawn. Corten metal lawn edging and metal garden edging is an inexpensive and easy landscaping idea. Corrugated steel is a bit different from many other forms of metal edging in that it's essentially a roll of corrugated metal cut into common edging heights. Others may require cutting a notch in the bottom to make the metal easier to bend. Holes for metal spikes align if the pieces are properly positioned, making it easy to secure one piece to another during the installation process. For curves, use chalk or spray paint. The easiest types of garden edging to install are corrugated metal rolls or plastic edging. Hammer stakes into your lawn on either side of the area where you intend to install landscape edging. How much corrugated steel sticks out of the ground is entirely up to you as long as at least 1/3 of the total height is below ground. Clean, straight lines and moderate curves are possible with metal lawn edging depending on the thickness of the edging and its composition. Use the wider joiner pegs to overlap the strips. Bend the edging with your hands if necessary to accommodate curves in the border. With your pruning shears, cut away any small roots that get in the way of your trench. Our flexible edging – Flexline – is entirely flexible yet incredibly sturdy making it unbelievably easy to work with. With a hacksaw, make a slight score cut along the line and then, along the same line, make a one inch long cut up from the bottom. Learn How To Install Metal Landscape Edging. The number of pegs you need will vary from every 1m up to 3m depending on the stability of the edging. Straighten and measure each length of twine, add up the total length and then add at least another foot or so to account for overlaps, which vary depending on the style of the edging you'll use. Concrete and pavers give you the ultimate way to garden edging. You may have to tug away at stray bits of turf or remove small rocks or clumps from the trench, so keep a garden trowel and some gloves handy to remove debris as needed. Usually every 2m is sufficient. Photo – Sure Loc Edging Here are some garden edging ideas to get you started. Work your way down the entire strip of connected edging, hammering it into place so it sits completely vertical on its own. Set the edging along the contours of the site and anchor it with landscape spikes driven through the tabs. The metal lawn edging bends easily into smooth, graceful curves and stops the spread of grass roots. Twine offers a handy way to measure curves and irregular shapes. This is easiest if another person holds the edging a few inches away from you, keeping it vertical until most of the edging is secure. Wiggle the shovel back and forth to create a deep notch in the soil, continuing the process down the entire length of the area you plan to edge. We supply a very simple system using aluminium strip and galvanised steel pegs. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Collier Metal Specialties: How to Install Commercial Steel Edging, Dakota Tin: Corrugated Metal Landscape Edging, Sure-Loc Edging: Aluminum Landscape Edging, Gertens: How to Edge Your Lawn with Concrete Edging Stone or Metal Edging, Sure-Loc Edging: Aluminum Landscape Edging Installation. Though it involves a substantial cost upfront, it can prevent any kind of grass to spread in your garden. For powder coated product use a cloth over the peg to protect the finish. Tap any connector sleeves fully into place. Use a hack saw or angle grinder to cut the last piece to the desired size. Designed to create that neat and tidy delineation between walkways, garden beds, rockeries and the like; to impede the ingress of grass and weeds; and, keep in mulch. {found on flickr}. This makes your garden edging quick and easy to install yourself! Garden edging in a range of designs to protect and partition. Install Edging (optional) Starting at one end of your planting bed, pound a segment of plastic or metal edging into the ground, using a rubber mallet or a small sledgehammer. Since a tape measure cannot follow a curved garden edging, measure the rope you marked instead and cut it to find the true length of your garden bed. A really cool idea for edging a flower bed in the garden is to use metal pipes. The instructions also offer the best suggestions for bending angles into the material, as some metal edging is easy to bend by hand by positioning a block of wood over the edging and tugging the edging upward. Remove any existing garden edging. Silver Aluminum Landscape Edging Project Kit (4 - 6 ft. pieces) with 616 reviews. How to install a basic garden edging with timbers, metal, or plastic. Excavate channel along perimeter. Make sure the bottom of the edging faces the trench. Do not completely push the channels into position in case you need to adjust overlaps later. Make sure there are no rocks or roots blocking your desired path. Secure the edging by hammering 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) stakes into the ground on the inside and outside of the edging every 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m). She's written numerous DIY articles for paint and decor companies, as well as for Black + Decker, Hunker, SFGate, Landlordology and others. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Besides the composition, thickness and height of any piece of metal edging, the way it's designed for installation also varies from one type to the next. Some forms are also a little easier to install in your garden than their nonmetal counterparts, as the pre-installation digging essentially requires a slit rather than a wide hole. Garden edging completes the look of your landscape, while giving plants their own space to grow. Remove grass (dig 3 inches deep) from the area where you want to install the bricks. Align to pieces of aluminium and use larger peg to join together. Easy Bend Edging' or with 'Corner Stakes' or you can make a good corner bend like this: Mark a straight vertical line on the inside of the edging where the bend will be made. This makes it easier to push the edging into the ground. Other concrete edging options include using preformed concrete. Since aluminum is a softer metal, it's easier to bend, but it's also more prone to dents and dings, which may happen if a car backs over it. Push any loose dirt into the trench on the flower bed (back) side of the edging. Align to pieces of aluminium and use larger peg to join together. You can then fill them with soil or tiny pebbles and add small succulents on top. Pack down the dirt this way along the entire length of the edging. How to install a garden raised bed border. There are no metal stakes included with or attached to this edging. If you are using an edging that requires a wooden stake behind each overlap, tap those into place behind the overlapped area and then secure the metal to the post using the screws recommended by the edging company. This makes your garden edging quick and easy to install yourself! Prior to installing your steel landscape edging, call your utility companies or 811, the national "Call Before You Dig" number, to inform the companies about where you plan to dig. The edgings are designed to be installed about halfway below the surface. Collect required tools; mallet, pegs and aluminium. Make the trench a little bit wider than the width of your edging material. Set the edging pieces loosely into the trench, making sure the starting end of the edging sits at the start of the trench. Easy installation video that includes: selecting thickness of Corten metal landscape edging, available sizes, and stake placement. Tie a string to each stake and stretch it across your edge. For curved or angled sections, it is best to assemble or bend the pieces ahead of time rather than trying to do it once it's in the trench. Some of the most reviewed metal edging are the ProFlex 24 ft. x 4 in. Stake-driven edging includes many of the synthetic edging products available in stores such as rolls of flexible plastic edging or steel edging. Wiggle pieces into place to create overlaps as needed. It's just a matter of personal choice. All metal edging can be cut to length with a hacksaw, tin snips or a similar tool, so keeping a little extra on hand is a good idea in case you ever want to replace a portion. Set the edging pieces along the trench so all the pieces are approximately where you need them. How to install garden edging (in 5 steps) Using the spade, dig a trench about 3 to 6 inches deep. Dry fitting comes in handy to determine areas that may need to be bent or cut. And you’re finished! How to Install Flagstone Edging Lay out the site and excavate it to the depth required for your materials. Lay out your steel landscape edging roughly along your trenches. Layout perimeter for edging. People that install these usually charge by the foot and have a couple of different designs available. For this reason, it could do a better job holding mulch or other landscaping materials in the garden bed, as many other forms of metal edging are designed to sit nearly flush with the ground. Work out where the pegs are going. Divide the length in inches by 4 or by the width of the bricks tack. This will further ensure that you have what you need to complete your edging project. The edging should sit 1/2 inch above the ground. COVID-19 Update to Customers All of our stores in New Zealand are open and continue to have a comprehensive range of measures in place to keep team members and customers safe. Thin aluminum can be very flimsy, so if you're set on using aluminum, pick the thickest option available. Metal landscape edging is the little black dress of a garden: elegant, strong yet understated, tailored and timeless. Black Aluminum Landscape Edging Project Kit (4 - 6 ft. pieces) with 620 reviews and the ProFlex 24 ft. x 4 in. Dig a small trench with a clean vertical edge using a square spade. Whether the spikes are attached or not, you'll still have to hammer the average metal edging into place to ensure it stays put. In assembling curved sections and corners, or even with straight edges at odd lengths, it may b… Be careful, as metal edging is easily dented or damaged. Includes planning, equipment and material acquisition, area preparation and protection, setup and cleanup. Place the peg into the ground as close as possible to the edging and knock into the ground with a hammer or mallet. Both of these types of materials are designed for DIY installation. Install it in your yard with these simple step-by-step instructions. Some metal edging has the spikes already attached to the bottom of the strip or metal teeth that look like an enlarged view of a saw blade. However, painted aluminum and steel offer the sleekest, most refined garden edging look because they almost disappear against the grass and garden bed. For this reason, aluminum is best if nearly the entire height of the edging sits close to ground level rather than sticking up an inch or so. Smooth off any rough edges. Whichever type of edging you choose, your first step will be digging a shallow trench for your edging. Move the string up and down the stakes as needed to mark the desired height of your garden edging. Shape the edging for rounded or circular designs by gently bending the edging around a circular form. Easy to install and maintain, metal garden edging can simply be pushed into the ground, so you can easily control your garden borders. Corrugated steel edging is quite flexible, so it's a good candidate for curved beds or even complete circles. Corrugated metal landscape edging from Dakota Tin. Garden edging is a popular way to separate garden beds from the lawn. #4. It’s also great for keeping pests at bay and even helps stop pets from digging up your prized flowerbeds. Learn how to install garden edging with this instructional guide from Bunnings. Ther is a great benefit to installing garden edging.it keeps mulch soil separate from the lawn area so it looks neet tidy and creates a modern look to the garden area. Elegant & formal or simple & functional – edging strips and rolls available to suit all types of gardens. It also tends to be more flexible and lightweight than comparable steel edging. While the edging is in position and completely vertical, place a scrap wood block on the top edge and tap it down with a hammer or mallet, starting near one end of the edging. The plastic types of garden edging have a prominent black bulge along the top edge. Steel is a long-lasting, tidy, simple, and easy to install material for garden edging. How to install a Basic Premade Garden Edging. Mark out your garden design. Use one long strip of edging around a curve so that it doesn’t need to be joined in the middle. Again, this varies depending on the brand and style of edging. For straight lines, use a string line stretched taut from either end. This means a straight-edged garden spade or shovel is the perfect tool for the job. Spread cement over the section in which you wish to edge with bricks. Place the edging material in the trench. How to Install Metal Landscape Edging Step 1: Moisten the Soil Wet the soil in the trench using a garden hose if the ground is hard or if it hasn't rained in a while. A long-time design secret of professional landscapers, metal has edged its way into the amateur home garden to offer a clean-cut and practical solution to keep plants and materials in place. Place the metal edging in the trench with the stake pockets facing the bed. Steel tends to be sturdier and more durable, while aluminum edging is generally more flexible. Metal Garden Borders. No other metal garden edging product flexes so evenly, giving a perfect result every time with so little effort. And for those structured, straight lines, you can’t beat our Rigidline and Hardline range. We supply a very simple system using aluminium strip and galvanised steel pegs. Place the flexible plastic edging on top of the compacted base material where the edge of brick path will be. File a Couple of Bricks or Pavers. Outline where you’d like edging then position aluminium. Putting concrete edging or a mow curb in your yard is not a difficult process. The final step is to back fill the soil against the edging. Overlap edging pieces by 2 inches. Alternatively, we can cut to size when you order. Bend or cut the material as needed to fit into place. Fit edging along perimeter and secure with support stakes. Landscape Edging Installation Labor, Basic Basic labor to install landscape edging with favorable site conditions. Instead, a wooden garden stake or post is used behind seams to prevent gaps between pieces of edging. These steel edging pieces are perfect for adding character to gardens, raised beds, flower beds, lawns and driveway borders. Most metal edging range from $10 to $100 in price. Step 1. Sit the bricks on the cement mixture. A long-time design secret of professional landscapers, metal has edged its way into the amateur home garden to offer a clean-cut and practical solution to … This is important for areas near lawns, as the edging height should be lower than the mower blade when mowing the lawn. Hammer in first peg at starting position of edging. The twine should sit exactly where the edging will go. For instance, the ends on some pieces of Sure-Loc aluminum edging are cut so the top of one end sits above the bottom adjacent edge rather than overlapping it. Metal Bender Board Edging. Insert them into the ground and line them up. Our recommended installer is Mach Gardening Services. Garden edging can help to make your garden beds look neat and tidy. Please contact Andrew on  0430 136 858 for a quote or for more information see the website. Once your edging in is the trench, peg it into the ground on the back. This should keep the edging strong … If the bottom has teeth or spikes in it, the bottom edge is obvious, but if not, the bottom edge is likely just a straight piece of metal without a rolled edge on top. Lay the edging into the trench. The two main metal edging varieties I came across were made from aluminum or steel. Aim for a total trench depth that is 3/4 to 1 inch less than the height of the edging for any standard low-profile edging.