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Lawn border advice

RockhopperRockhopper Posts: 38
in Garden design
Hi 
  I am after abit of advise , the grass in my garden is hard up against my wooden fence see pics , i am struggling to cut the grass against the fence and am abit worried about future rot , the fence  does have wooden gravel boards fitted but ideally would like  some form or seperation , i was contemplating digging a border of around 300 mm or so and either filling it with gravel or bark , would this be a bad idea ? If so , could anybody give me any pointers on how to go about reaolving my quandry .Thanks in advance .

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I’ve dug a shallow margin alongside my lawn where it abuts a dry stone wall. It solves the problem you describe.  I wouldn’t fill it with gravel or bark though. Just run a hoe over the gap once you’ve mowed the lawn each time to keep it clear of weeds. It doesn’t take long!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • RockhopperRockhopper Posts: 38
    Thanks , do you mean touve dug a shallow border ? So soil is showing just like a flower bed minus the flowers ? 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Yes, but if you don't want plants you can make it very narrow, just a little bit wider than the blade of your hoe. Gravel or bark would most likely still get weeds growing in them (seeds will land there) but they're harder to hoe and harder to pick up grass clippings from when you trim the edges. Grass always falls/grows sideways along the edge of the lawn so you'd need to do the edges with shears (the long-handled vertical blades type saves so much bending) or a strimmer if you have a steady hand with it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Yes, @JennyJ has described it exactly!  Here's mine:


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • anthony.haley06996anthony.haley06996 Posts: 6
    I would definately stay away from gravel. My homes previous occupier done that. Cutting the grass becomes a little bit of a death risk with all the stones pinging out across the garden.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I do a similar thing where the hedge meets the grass - I just drag a hoe along it.
    You could also put a solid edging in - timber/brick etc, so that the mower wheels [if you have that kind of mower ] have somewhere to go without falling into the border. That avoids scalping the grass edges too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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