How to Edge Wood Paths

Measure the height of the walkway at the highest point. For heights of 4 inches or less, use 4-inch-wide boards. For heights from 4 to 6 inches, use 6-inch-wide boards. If the walkway's surface reaches as high as 8 inches, 8-inch-wide boards are also available.

Lay out the boards temporarily along the edges of the path. Cut any board lengths to fit, using a chop or miter saw. Score the ground along the outside edges of the boards with a garden trowel or half moon edges. Set the boards aside.

Dig a 3- to 4-inch-wide trench along the inside of the ground's score lines.

For edging that sits flush with the top of the walkway, dig the trenches so the heights from the bottom of the trenches to the tops of the path boards measure 2 inches more than the width of the edging boards.

For raised-lip edging, dig the trenches so the heights to the top of the path boards match the width of the edging boards. In places where the distances from the ground to the top of the path boards already match the width of the edging boards, no digging is necessary.

Tamp the bed of the trenches with the butt of a scrap board to compact the ground. Fill the trenches with 2 inches of gravel, for drainage. Tamp the gravel.

Pre-drill pilot holes along the upper edge of the edging boards for screwing to the ends of the path boards.

For flush-edging boards, make the holes 1 inch down from the upper edge.

For raised-lip edging, drill the holes 3 inches down from the upper edge.

Set the edging boards in place and drive screws through the pilot holes and into the ends of the path boards.