How to edge a lawn

Edging a lawn requires little skill and effort, and the results are absolutely worth it! It can help make your lawn look more distinct, picturesque and manicured. On the other hand, by not taking care of your lawn edges, you risk your beautiful lush lawn to look jagged, overgrown, untidy and sloppy.

So, if you:

• Want to know the best lawn edging techniques;
• Don’t know what tools you’ll need for the job;
• Desire a perfect looking lawn;
• Are not afraid to get your hands a bit dirty;

Then, read on.

How to edge a lawn

These are the main tools you’ll need:

• Half-moon edger;
• Edging shears;
• Long-handled grass shears;
• A sharp knife;
• A plank of wood or a piece of rope;

Now that you’ve got your equipment and tools ready, let’s see how to edge a lawn!

Step 1: Edge in a curve or a straight line

Using the half-moon edging tool, you have a couple of options:

• You can edge your lawn by cutting along the edges and borders that currently exist. Create a curve to your lawn’s edging, alternatively have straight lines. Use a rope to trace out the type of curve you’d like to have and using the half-moon edger, press down into the lawn, cutting the edges into the set curve. 
• When it comes to more straight lines, set down the plank of wood and let it guide you to edge your lawn in a straight line. 

Step 2: Mow the lawn and get rid of blades of grass that stick out

The rule of thumb here is that you should never mow more than ¾ of your lawn’s blades as this can either cause bare and dry patches which look like thatch, exposing the roots to more heat or adverse temperatures, causing them damage. Once you’ve mowed the lawn, you can use your long-handled edging shears to get rid of any blades of grass that stick out unnaturally and make your lawn look unfinished as yet.

Step 3: Getting rid of overgrown lawn

This step is related to situations where grass has overgrown on paths, walkways and other stonework. By using the sharp knife, remove each piece of lawn including its roots to get rid of the overgrowth that has resulted. Meanwhile, if your lawn and your path are adjacent to each other, consider using the long-handled grass shears to cut a clear and neat edge along the border of your path.

Step 4: An alternative solution – use different types of sheeting

This step is for those of you who simply don’t have the time or the skills to take care of your lawn’s edges over a longer period of time. Essentially, you can use metal sheeting, plastic or even wood or stone edging along the borders of your lawn so that it doesn’t continue its growth in undesired areas of your garden. This will require a bit more work, but there are professionals you can rely on to help you.

Do I really need to edge my lawn?

Lawn edging may seem like a cumbersome process for some, while it could be something fun and relaxing for others. It’s true – the process will require physical labour, however, you can really enjoy the results once your edging is done nicely.

To answer the question of whether you really need to edge your lawn, the short answer is “no”. But, if you want a well-manicured and finished-looking lawn, this is one of the first steps to take to ensure your lawn looks even better than you imagined.

Contact the professionals

Is edging for lawns not really your thing but you’d still like to get the results and enjoy being outside in your green space? Don’t worry! As mentioned above, there are always professionals you can rely on to help you edge your lawn nicely and give you that finished and crisp look.

Wondering who to contact? All you need to do is get in touch with the lawn care professionals of Fantastic Services! They’ll be able to advise you on all lawn-related questions you may have and give you tips and tricks for taking better care of your lawn.

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Image source: Shutterstock / topseller