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The Best Way to Edge a Garden Bed

Valerie Albarda

By Valerie Albarda
Updated March 29, 2021

Use this two-step process for a neatly edged garden bed that keeps both lawn and mulch in their proper place.

Skill

Beginner

Time

Few Hours

A person cutting the edge of a garden bed with a flat blade spade.

Outlining the Exterior of the Garden Bed

A person cutting the outside edge of a garden bed with a flat blade spade.

First, face the garden bed and slice into the turf repeatedly until you’ve outlined the entire bed. Don't remove sod at this point. This is your opportunity to reshape the bed, changing the contours to make room for plant growth or to simplify mowing.

Cutting the Interior Trench of the Garden Bed

A person cutting the inside edge of a garden bed with a flat blade spade.

Once the bed has been edged in one direction, it’s time to finish the job. Face away from the bed and slice into the turf at an angle to sever the grass clods. Remove these clods and compost them.

The bed will now have a very clean edge with a V-shape trench. It not only looks good, it also slows the migration of grass roots into the bed and prevents any mulch you put down from washing into the lawn.