Landscaping for Grass Edges

Edgeless Lawn Edging

• One approach to maintaining a clean edge along a grass lawn area is to use a lawn edging tool. The manually operated tool resembles a shovel except its blade is perfectly flat and sharp enough to cut through sod, which results in a clean edge. Otherwise, sod creeps into adjacent beds and even can grow over the edge of paved surfaces. Electric- and gas-powered lawn-edging tools exist, and those versions make it easier to maintain a large area.

Paved Border

• Instead of trimming sod with a lawn-edging tool, you could install a border of concrete, cement pavers, bricks or natural flagstone to act as a paved barrier to spreading grass. The edging becomes part of the landscape design in the shape it takes and also in the color, texture and pattern of its material. A material that matches or complements other hardscape features results in a cohesive, integrated appearance. The paved border has the important function of allowing the lawn to be mowed right up to its edge for a clean-cut look. The paved border must be even with the surrounding soil level, however, so the wheels of a lawnmower can travel over it at the same cutting height used for the grass.

Flexible Vertical Edging

• Wood, plastic or metal flexible edging also can be used to make a sharp transition from grass to a surrounding garden bed. Unlike pavers, flexible edging is used in a vertical orientation and can be nearly invisible, with only a thin edge of it showing above the soil surface. For that reason, flexible edging's color and texture do not play a big role in landscape design, but the edging is an effective material for creating curved shapes in a lawn. Flexible edging can be installed low enough so it is not damaged by a lawnmower's blade, or it can be installed a little higher to serve as a solid surface against which you can use a weed trimmer to cut the edge of a grass area. Often the latter installation is used on the uphill side of a lawn so the edging can act as a barrier to prevent mulch and soil in adjacent beds from migrating downhill and into grass.

Lawn-Landscape Interface

• The transition between a lawn and adjacent areas of the landscape may be defined with edging material, but the planting design in the neighboring areas is also relevant. For example, it is usually unwise to plant large shrubs and trees right next to a lawn because doing so creates a very abrupt interface. Instead, make a gradual transition in height with a mixture of low-growing perennials and ground-covers. Use shrubbery in the background to frame the plant composition, and punctuate it with a series of small trees as deliberate focal points. Keeping the trees well back from the lawn's edge is also important so the grass isn't shaded unnecessarily.