Reasons for Trenching Around a Landscape Bed

Protection From Animals

• A trench filled with protective materials can help protect your landscape bed from animals that may want to eat your plants. A fence put around a landscape bed is not enough to keep out all animals, but it is an important part of the system. A 4- to 6- inch trench dug around the bed with the fence installed down into the trench will prevent animals from burrowing into your bed, while the standing portion of the fence prevents animals from being able to walk in and destroy your plants.

Irrigation

• Irrigation trenches can serve some very important functions, especially in graded landscape beds. You can dig trenches in and around the perimeter of your landscape bed to help channel running water around your plants to safe run-off spot. If you have any kind of grade to your landscape bed, the running water will eventually cause soil to accumulate at the bottom of your bed. Trenches will prevent that accumulation and allow your plants to thrive.

Running Electricity

• If you need to run electricity to various parts of your landscape bed then it is not practical to lay extension cords all over your yard. Digging trenches around your landscape bed will allow you to run electrical power to any part of the bed that may need it to help run lights, a waterfall or any other electrical landscaping effects.

Making a Border

• A flower bed can stand out better if a trench is dug around it to give it definition. You can fill the trench part of the way with materials such as decorative stones, mulch or landscaping lights to help add to the border effect.