How to Edge a Lawn

Determine the exact placement of the lawn edge. Tidy the lawn edge by cutting a clean line around it using a spade or lawn edger.

From the edge defined in step 1, dig a trench to the depth of your wooden lawn edging. Remove the excess soil and put it into a wheelbarrow.

Ensure the bank of the trench is cut vertically in preparation for the wooden lawn edging which will sit against it.

Wear protective gloves to avoid splinters. On a wooden plank about 4ft long, mark the depth that you would like the edging to be buried. Some people like to have the edging protrude above the level of the lawn by a couple of inches, while others prefer to have the top of the edging level with the lawn. The latter choice will make mowing the grass easier as the wheel of the lawnmower can be run on top of the edging.

Use the marked plank to tamp the soil to ensure that the bottom of the trench is flat and at the right depth for your edging.

Without using weed control fabric under the lawn edging, your flower bed would soon be overrun with grass and other weeds. Lay the fabric into the trench, parallel with any paths. Place the lawn edging firmly into the trench on top of the fabric.

Using a scissors, trim the weed control fabric behind the edging about 3 inches from the surface of the grass.

Make slits as necessary to allow your existing plants to protrude through the weed control fabric.

Fill the trench with the soil removed earlier to push the edging firmly against your bank.

Fine tune the depth of your lawn edging by using a lump hammer. Push extra soil underneath any low points.

Walk along the filled trench to compact the soil and firm the edging in place.

Cover the weed control fabric by spreading decorative bark mulch over it and around plants, up to a depth of about 2-3 inches.