Hi all after deciding to go for driveway blocks in my back garden with a straight edge, I'm now looking at something for my front. Ideally I'd like to have the same blocks again but whereas I didn't cement the back ones, I think for the front I would have to. I then want to fill the beds with gravel rather than the bark.
This is what I have to work with, 4 corner beds and then 4 in the middle of that
At the moment I have some cheap plastic edging that I got from B&M in like an arch shape. It's done the job but some are sunken below the edge of the lawn so I have to use shears on each one if I want a tidy job and some, where the beds aren't so deep, are raised so I strim against.
At the moment I'm torn between blocks and edging and not sure what people's opinions are:-
Not sure if anyone else has any tips. We did think about squaring them off but I think it might look odd. I think the main thing to decide on is whether to have something I can run the mower over, an edge the same level as the lawn or a raised edge to strim against.
I looked after a lawn with a brick edge for many years. Where the lawn met the brick it was a pain to look after. It would have been easier just to cut the edge with shears. Using a product like ever edge can also present problems if you are in a hurry with the lawn mower it is easy to damage. Think I will stick to my half moon cutter. A neat lawn edge always makes a garden look better instantly if you are a tidy gardener.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Yes - you still need to use shears or similar, even with an edging, although I expect it depends on the grass type and length etc. Some people use strimmers to make it easier, but I wouldn't have one in a gift.
Most of those 'edging materials' available are pretty useless, because they still don't eliminate the need for shears, and many are simply not worth buying IMO. A proper brick or concrete edge will make it easier to run the mower over though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yeah I can't get on with a strimmer properly. I'm ok on the flat stuff but trying to edge with it I'm hopeless so do tend to find myself on my hands and knees with scissor-like shears to get a neater job.
Must also confess that the blocks I put in the back, although it's easy to run the mower over, you do still get the odd stray grass going over it. All the pictures you see are clearly photoshopped or somebody is still taking the time to trim despite them advertising as it being easier.
My main 2 objectives are to make it easier and if I do trim, stop the cut grass from going on the gravel. I like the idea of the contrast of the grey block and lighter gravel but even then, the cotswold gravel we have in the back is nice, but it soon goes green and crappy.
I've just purchased some cor-ten steel edging. It's 3mm so pretty much twice the thickness of the everedge product. Reason I went for this is I'm going to have it sitting proud of the lawn to make a mini-border for dwarf lavender alongside a new patio we've had laid. With the drop in ground levels there is a run of the patio which now sits c100mm higher than the lawn with a rather unsightly mortar face on show. As lavender prefers free draining I'm going to fill this long slim border up so the plants will be rooted higher than the surrounding lawn. It's certainly not cheap. Delivered, its not quite double the everedge but will be much sturdier and it can be formed with some 'gentle' club hammer manipulation to follow the sweep of the patio.
The cor-ten will give it a rustic feel in-keeping with the cottage.
If interested in the supplier then ping me a message and I'll provide the details.
Problem with the brick is if you try and edge between the lawn and the brick, You hit the cement under the soil that the brick is laid on. @Dave Humby This does sound lovely rust looks great with some orange flowers. There is a lovely burnt orange petunia that is really good.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
This is a stock image from the supplier of the cor-ten edging and the sweep will be how I will install it This is the mortar face on the patio I want to hide so will add the edging along the run you can see. Just a narrow border with mostly dwarf lavender (gets sun all day) and some spots of other plants. Thank you @GardenerSuze for the suggestion. The new border between the other edge of the patio / well will also need planting up. Going to install some stepping stones so the window cleaner can get to the windows without traipsing mud all across the patio!
Apologies for the OP for digressing your thread but hopefully it might give you some ideas
Problem with the brick is if you try and edge between the lawn and the brick, You hit the cement under the soil that the brick is laid on. @Dave Humby This does sound lovely rust looks great with some orange flowers. There is a lovely burnt orange petunia that is really good.
yes I don't really want to introduce cement if I can help it which is why the ones in the back I just laid with sand and levelled the best I could
Apologies for the OP for digressing your thread but hopefully it might give you some ideas
No need to apologise. My plan is something like this and either a level brick edge to the gravel or a proud edge. Just don't think a level thin edge is going to do much at all
but again I don't know if bricks will work because of the curves I got
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I was contemplating building some decking so I could mount deck lights and cover with gravel but bit sure how that would work and again edge to lawn
This is what I have to work with, 4 corner beds and then 4 in the middle of that
At the moment I have some cheap plastic edging that I got from B&M in like an arch shape. It's done the job but some are sunken below the edge of the lawn so I have to use shears on each one if I want a tidy job and some, where the beds aren't so deep, are raised so I strim against.
At the moment I'm torn between blocks and edging and not sure what people's opinions are:-
- Block paving but I think might be difficult to curve and although only around £40 to buy the blocks, I'm guessing having to cement them in might soon add up
- Flexiborder which looks like it will give me a similar effect and seems as though it would be easy to mow over
- Everedge which I could have either the same level as the lawn or lifted slightly so I have an edge to strim against
Not sure if anyone else has any tips. We did think about squaring them off but I think it might look odd. I think the main thing to decide on is whether to have something I can run the mower over, an edge the same level as the lawn or a raised edge to strim against.https://www.bradfords.co.uk/offers/spring-it-on/paving/pavedrive-block-paving-50mm-charcoal-cbp122?gclid=Cj0KCQiA95aRBhCsARIsAC2xvfy0ULtfFzLjgjfs2eUg9DWurhh8lybgxjfav_GvqSSHTKW-_Al2TogaArlTEALw_wcB
https://www.flexiborder.co.uk/product/grey-flexiborder
https://www.everedge.co.uk/product/classic/
Some people use strimmers to make it easier, but I wouldn't have one in a gift.
Most of those 'edging materials' available are pretty useless, because they still don't eliminate the need for shears, and many are simply not worth buying IMO.
A proper brick or concrete edge will make it easier to run the mower over though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Must also confess that the blocks I put in the back, although it's easy to run the mower over, you do still get the odd stray grass going over it. All the pictures you see are clearly photoshopped or somebody is still taking the time to trim despite them advertising as it being easier.
My main 2 objectives are to make it easier and if I do trim, stop the cut grass from going on the gravel. I like the idea of the contrast of the grey block and lighter gravel but even then, the cotswold gravel we have in the back is nice, but it soon goes green and crappy.
The cor-ten will give it a rustic feel in-keeping with the cottage.
If interested in the supplier then ping me a message and I'll provide the details.
@Dave Humby This does sound lovely rust looks great with some orange flowers. There is a lovely burnt orange petunia that is really good.
This is a stock image from the supplier of the cor-ten edging and the sweep will be how I will install it
This is the mortar face on the patio I want to hide so will add the edging along the run you can see. Just a narrow border with mostly dwarf lavender (gets sun all day) and some spots of other plants. Thank you @GardenerSuze for the suggestion. The new border between the other edge of the patio / well will also need planting up. Going to install some stepping stones so the window cleaner can get to the windows without traipsing mud all across the patio!
Apologies for the OP for digressing your thread but hopefully it might give you some ideas
but again I don't know if bricks will work because of the curves I got