Figure out what type of edging you will need. If your looking for something simple and cheap, then your basic plastic edging will do just fine. This is used for most driveway and flower bed edging projects. If you are looking for something a little more decorative for a garden landscape, you might want to consider a brick or stone edging.
Check the weather conditions for the day you plan on installing your landscaping edging. Depending on the type of landscape edging you plan on using - as larger edging such as brick requires digging to a greater depth - installation will require you to dig into the earth. If the weather report says temperature is going to reach freezing the day before your project, you might want to wait for a warmer day when the ground is a little softer. Trying to dig into frozen soil can be tough and even impossible at times.
Figure out where you plan on laying your landscape edging and mark the area with a piece of twine. Lay the twine out in the same pattern that you will lay the edging in. You will use this as a guide for your digging later.
Using a spade shovel, dig into the dirt along your twine line deep enough and wide enough for your landscape edging to fit into. Most plastic edging will only require you to stick the spade into the soil at the appropriate depth and wiggle it a little bit to make room for the edging. Concrete edging on the other hand will force you to dig a wider path. Be careful to place the excess dirt close to the hole as you will need it later for securing the edging.
Place your landscape edging into the pre dug hole and secure it with the loose dirt you removed earlier. You might have to dig a little deeper at certain areas to make sure your edging is even. If you need to cut any plastic edging, use a strong pair of tin snips.