Steel Garden Edging

Flower Bed Preparation

• 1

  Sketch out the intended flower bed areas on a sketch pad. Gentle curves are usually more aesthetically appealing than straight lines or sharp curves.

• 2

  Lay a garden hose on the ground to mark out the flower bed boundaries. Adjust the garden hose as needed until you are satisfied with the curves of the bed. Stand at several angles to view it.

• 3

  Sprinkle powdered chalk along the edge of the garden hose to mark the flower bed boundaries. Remove the garden hose.

• 4

  Cut a trench along the chalk line with a flat spade or shovel, removing all grass. Remove grass from the flower bed, as well, and prepare the soil for planting. Dig the trench vertically, straight into the ground to a depth of 5 inches.

Install the Edging

• 5

  Lay a piece of edging in the trench, starting at one end of the flower bed. Steel edging typically comes in 10 or 20 foot lengths.

• 6

  Bend the edging with your hands to accommodate curves or tap it lightly with a rubber mallet to bend the edging if needed.

• 7

  Lay another piece of edging in the trench, butting up to the first piece of edging so the brackets on the edging overlap. Bend it as needed to fit curves.

• 8

  Slide a stake into the brackets to secure the two pieces of edging together. Continue laying edging to fill the trench.

• 9

  Cut the final piece of edging to fit the trench. Score the face of the edging lightly with a hacksaw. Make a cut 1 inch long on the top of the edging, following the score line. Make another 1-inch cut on the bottom of the edging, as well. Bend the edging back and forth until it snaps.

Finishing Work

• 10

  Place the final piece of edging securely in the trench.

• 11

  Tap the edging in several places with a rubber mallet to push it securely into place in the soil. Use a sledge hammer in clay or hard soils, taking care not to damage the edging.

• 12

  Rake the soil in the flower bed into place next to the steel edging, so it sits 1 inch lower than the lawn.