How to Give Your Garden a Real Edge

Autumn is the right time of year to be thinking about giving your garden a real edge – literally!

Madingley Mulch can supply edging stones and log roll lawn edging from our base near Cambridge. Here we explain why creating clearly defined boundaries is so beneficial, and also provide a few tips on how to ensure your edging looks good – and is built to last.

 

Why Edging is So Useful

Any form of edging will create clearly boundaries in your garden, and they will give the impression of neatness and order. They can also be attractive features in their own right.

Edging has practical as well as aesthetic benefits. It encourages people to walk in certain areas – that is, to stick to the pathways or driveways, rather than treading in any flower beds (and potentially damaging your plants).

There are practical benefits too; the stones (or logs, pictured below) will ensure that soil or mulch from your beds won’t spill over onto your lawn after a heavy shower, and it works in the other direction too, as the edging will stop grass and weeds from growing into the beds.

 

How to Go About It

The mild, damp conditions of autumn mean that it’s the ideal time for this type of garden project; the soil should be easy enough to dig out and we are past peak growing season, so you are less likely to damage any flowers.

Measure the area of lawn or flower bed you want to dig up with marker spray or string (you may need stakes if you want a curved border). For added neatness, trim the edges of any grass with shears.

Next, dig the trench into which the edging will fit into. A half-moon edger is a better tool option here, rather than a spade, as the former is specifically designed for jobs such as these.

The exact depth you dig down to will depend on the height of your edging, and how much you want to be visible; although it’s generally best if at least half of the edging is above ground.

Kerb stone edging, above, will benefit from being embedded in a mortar concrete bed. If you opt for log rolls, you could have some additional marker pegs to provide additional stability. The logs can be hammered in (not too hard) with a rubber mallet.

Finally, use a spirit level to check everything has been laid evenly. Any soil which you dig up for the trench can be used as infill after you have finished installing the stones or logs, or alternatively it can be used as compost.

Kerb Stone and Log Roll Edging in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

Madingley Mulch’s garden edging stones – which we can supply to customers as far afield as Hertfordshire and Norfolk, as well as in our home county of Cambridgeshire – are available with either round tops, brindle rope tops or charcoal rope tops.

Our log roll edging comes with flexible galvanized wire backing for straight and curved edges, and is pressure treated for long life and guaranteed for 10 years against rot.

We also stock a range of paving slabs and decorative stones for paths, patios and driveways if that’s what your edging is going up against.

And if you are using your edging to separate your flower beds from your lawn, we also supply a wide variety of soil conditioners and composts which will help your plants to flourish. These include our exclusive products Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight. Both contain horse manure and other valuable plant nutrients which mean both of them make an ideal mulch.

You can also call us on 01954 212144 if you’d like any friendly, professional advice.

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