Edging Flowerbeds With Cables

Measure and mark with landscape spray paint a border 13 inches around the flowerbed you want to border with cable. The cable border will either stop the mower from cutting past its border or keep a dog with an invisible fencing collar out of the flower bed.

Clear the area between the edge of the planting and the spray paint line of grass and weeds with an edging tool.

Mark the path of your perimeter cable with landscape marking paint. The perimeter cable should run clockwise around the yard, starting at the mower's recharging base or the power source of the dog fence. When your flower bed is along the perimeter of the yard, such as in front of a fence, it is just a matter of following the outer edge of the bed as you move around the yard. When the flower bed is not a part of the border, you must run the cable straight out to the bed from the perimeter of the yard and go around the bed counterclockwise. Bring the cable back to the perimeter at the same point where you ran it out to the flowerbed, and continue around the perimeter moving clockwise.

Lay the cable out according to your plan, maintaining a 13-inch distance from any fence, structure or planting, including the flower bed. Avoid tight 90-degree turns as you layout the cable around the flower bed. The cable cannot be cut, so when you have extra cable, arrange it neatly near the wall near the recharging base.

Pin the cables to the ground with landscape staples every 18 inches around a flower bed and every 3 to 5 yards around the main perimeter.