Landscape Edging Pavers Installation

Planning

• Landscape edging alters the look of a landscape and adds a sense of permanence. While edging pavers can be moved, it's advantageous to make any changes to the size or shape of a garden before you install the edging. Make a diagram of your yard and identify which features you want to edge and consider different design possibilities. For instance, if you're edging shrubs and flowers across the front of your home, consider laying the edging in broad curves on the two ends to offset the corners of the house.

Foundation

• Edging pavers are laid over a foundation of gravel and sand or concrete and mortar. The foundation supports the pavers and holds them in place, while allowing water to pass through. The gravel or concrete is laid in a trench 4 to 6 inches deep to prevent a frost heave from dislodging the pavers. A concrete foundation will require less maintenance over time as the pavers are locked in place by mortar. If you don't have experience pouring concrete and working with mortar, the process can be messy. Pavers laid over sand and gravel are easy to move, adjust or replace as needed.

Setting Edging Pavers

• The process of setting edging pavers over sand or mortar is less labor intensive than digging the trench and laying the foundation, but it calls for attention to details. The way you set the stones will determine if your edging enhances the landscape or takes away from its appeal. Positioned side-by-side or end-to-end, edging pavers should be level with each other. Use a carpenter's level to indicate when sand needs to be added or removed to fix the height of the pavers. If the pavers are in a straight row, run a string from the outer edge of the end paver across. The string should touch the bottom of each paver; otherwise, the paver is not correctly aligned and should be adjusted.

Maintenance

• Edging pavers reduce the amount of yard maintenance you need to do by blocking encroachment and retaining soil in a garden. If your area freezes in winter and the foundation trench is not deeper than the frost line, a frost heave can dislodge the pavers. Once the ground thaws, remove damaged pavers and dig the trench deeper to prevent future damage. If pavers are set over sand and gravel, use edge restraints to hold them in place and pack sand into the crevices between each stone. Plan to refill sand joints every year to prevent weeds from growing between them.