How to Dig the Trench to Install Concrete Edgers

Garden edgers are used as borders around flower beds and trees and are made of a variety of materials, including concrete. Concrete edgers offer some advantages, including a wide range of colors and shapes. When installing concrete edgers, it's important to create a level, stable foundation so they do not shift later. This includes digging a trench deep enough to properly support the concrete edger and hold it in place.

Garden hose
Spray chalk
Tape measure
Shovel
Level
Hand spade
Hand tamper

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a garden hose on the ground in the shape of the edger outline. Apply a line of spray chalk beside the hose to create a line for the trench.
- 2
  Move the garden hose out of the way and walk to one end of the installation area. Place a tape measure on one of the concrete edgers to determine the height. Subtract 2 inches from the height, which is how deep the trench must be.
- 3
  Dig into the ground at the location of the chalk line with a shovel until you reach the depth determined based on the edger height. Extend the trench out at least 8 to 10 inches wide so you have plenty of room to work.
- 4
  Dig the trench all the way along the chalk line until you reach the other end.
- 5
  Walk back to the beginning point and insert a level into the ground to check for evenness. If the air bubble is not centered, use a hand spade to dig out the bottom of the trench until it is perfectly even. Repeat the process along the entire length of the trench.
- 6
  Insert a hand tamper tool into the bottom of the trench at one end and hit the ground with it four to five times with force to pack it down. Perform the same process along the entire length of the trench until the bottom is tightly compacted.

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