How to Edge & Border Flower Beds

Choose your edging material. You can use stones, bricks, pavers (paving stones), or heavy plastic landscaper's edging.

Lay a hose on the ground to mark the position of the edge if you are making a new border. Stand back and check to see that you like the look. If you are making a new straight-edged bed, check to see that the edge doesn't veer off at an angle. Then, use spray paint to mark the edges onto the grass.

Remove all sod along the entire perimeter of the bed. Either follow the edge of the existing bed or follow the paint marks you created; use a spade to do this. You need to dig to a depth of six inches to prevent the grass from creeping into the bed, according to Nancy Downs, Master Gardener of Colorado State University Extension. The width should be wide enough to accommodate your edging material with a little extra space. For example, if you choose stones that are approximately five inches wide, make the trench six inches wide. If you choose plastic landscaper's edging, a two-inch wide trench will be sufficient.

Backfill the perimeter trench with sand. Leave just enough empty vertical space for the edging material you have chosen. Plastic landscaper's edging should sit flush with the ground, except for the top rounded edge, while decorative materials can protrude from the ground as much as you want.

Position the edging material on the new sand bed that you have created, and fill any gaps with more sand on the garden-bed side and topsoil (which you can shake off the sod) on the lawn side. You can cover the sand on the garden side with mulch.

Tamp the soil side down with your foot, adding more soil if necessary.

Tamp the top line of the edging with a rubber mallet or shift it about by hand if it is not even across the top.