Hey gardeners out there, need some advice

[ctfjr]

So my upper driveway plantings are done. Now for the finishing work. . . There are two sections I planted (each side of the driveway). I plan on putting bark chips down but before that I need some sort of edging to make sure they don't migrate all over the place. Of course it has to pass the boss' approval.

On one side the driveway and planting elevations are the same. I need about 50 linear ft of edging for that.

On the other side everything starts level at the street but the driveway is slowly 'cut' into the side. By the time you get 60 or so ft into it the cut is about a foot difference. It's going to take eithers layers of something or something tall. . .

I have already been shot down by suggesting lining both side with rocks - something we have an endless supply of.

In the back yard where I planted the 6 Butterfly bushes in a row I have been given the approval for pressure treated 4X4's to make it look like a raised bed. That may be a possibility up top.

Left side

Right side - planting go beyond the tractor

Looking for creative suggestions

 

[Lil Foot]

I have already been shot down by suggesting lining both side with rocks - something we have an endless supply of.

Damn, I was going to suggest rocks.

 

[Creature Meadow]

What I do is mark the edge where I want it to be with paint works. Then I take a flat shovel and cut a trench around it. Stick shovel in ground, use knee to lift and kick dirt into the bed. When I use pine straw, I lay it past the trench into the grass and use the shovel vertical to crimp the straw into the trench. Prevents it from sliding out of the bed.

You can do the same with mulch, it will slide into the trench or V but should not come out easily.

They also make a garden bedder that will do this for you, they rent them here at Home depot.

I find the shovel just as easy.

I go around my borders and the trees as well.

Once done the first time subsequent years are easy.

No cost only time and the edges look clean and neat.

Hoping this makes sense. My brother worked for a high end landscape company and this is how they formed all the beds on the properties weather they used pine straw, mulch, or even small rocks in the beds.

 

[ctfjr]

What I do is mark the edge where I want it to be with paint works. Then I take a flat shovel and cut a trench around it. Stick shovel in ground, use knee to lift and kick dirt into the bed. When I use pine straw, I lay it past the trench into the grass and use the shovel vertical to crimp the straw into the trench. Prevents it from sliding out of the bed.

You can do the same with mulch, it will slide into the trench or V but should not come out easily.

They also make a garden bedder that will do this for you, they rent them here at Home depot.

I find the shovel just as easy.

I go around my borders and the trees as well.

Once done the first time subsequent years are easy.

No cost only time and the edges look clean and neat.

Hoping this makes sense. My brother worked for a high end landscape company and this is how they formed all the beds on the properties weather they used pine straw, mulch, or even small rocks in the beds.

hmmm. . . this might be possible. I can use 1 scarifer on the box blade to gently dig the trench. I'll try one area. Won't be doable where the driveway is much lower than bed tho - that would be shovel time.

Thanks!

 

[ctfjr]

Damn, I was going to suggest rocks.
View attachment 57893 View attachment 57894

That looks great lil foot wish I could do it

 

[Creature Meadow]

After posting looked for some You Tube videos and found a few.

If interested try searching for creating border edges with a shovel.

Also, I edge mine with the weed eater turned sideways so the string spins vertical to keep the grass from creeping in.

I know I did a poor job explain but a couple of videos may can feel in the areas I was unable to translate into words.

Happy Friday OTT!

Jay

 

[sheepfarmer]

What I do is mark the edge where I want it to be with paint works. Then I take a flat shovel and cut a trench around it. Stick shovel in ground, use knee to lift and kick dirt into the bed. When I use pine straw, I lay it past the trench into the grass and use the shovel vertical to crimp the straw into the trench. Prevents it from sliding out of the bed.

You can do the same with mulch, it will slide into the trench or V but should not come out easily.

They also make a garden bedder that will do this for you, they rent them here at Home depot.

I find the shovel just as easy.

I go around my borders and the trees as well.

Once done the first time subsequent years are easy.

No cost only time and the edges look clean and neat.

Hoping this makes sense. My brother worked for a high end landscape company and this is how they formed all the beds on the properties weather they used pine straw, mulch, or even small rocks in the beds.

I did something similar to all my beds, but an arborist told me not to do that near my trees because it pruned a lot of the feeder roots that are only down a couple of inches.

Weeding the edges is a pain. Not a big fan of roundup, but cleaning up the border once a year by laying down a hose to make a smooth line and spraying the grass that gets inside it is very tempting.

 

[Creature Meadow]

I did something similar to all my beds, but an arborist told me not to do that near my trees because it pruned a lot of the feeder roots that are only down a couple of inches.

Weeding the edges is a pain. Not a big fan of roundup, but cleaning up the border once a year by laying down a hose to make a smooth line and spraying the grass that gets inside it is very tempting.

Hey Sheep around my trees I make it about 3 feet away and I don't cut it as deep. I can see what you are saying and it makes sense.

Far as spraying be careful if you have Bermuda or Centipede as they have runners. If you spray the runner in your bed it can kill grass outside the bed as the chemical travels through the grass.

Had this happen at church guy sprayed the beds and it killed our Bermuda in some places 2 feet outside the bed.

Good practice would be to edge the bed first which will cut the runners then spray carefully inside the bed.

Have a great day!

Jay

 

[B737]

Similar to creatures idea, ive done this for stone paths and driveways... Put the box blade at max tilt with side link, then cut a sharp angled edge around the perimeter. The steep edge should keep 90% of things from escaping, just like digging it with a spade. (box blade corner edge needs to stick out wider than the tire for it to work)