Landscape Edging Ideas for Hard Soil:  What Works & What Doesn't

Landscape Edging Ideas for Hard Soil: What Works & What Doesn't

Landscape edging is a great addition to your lawn. Edging can be used to decorate or compliment your lawn. But it can also be used to create a barrier around your garden bed for keeping grass out and the mulch in, maintaining a neat and clean edge.

There are a variety of landscape edging ideas to choose from to best suit your wants and needs. Some options may be better than others depending on what the climate, environment, and soil are like where you plan to install the landscape edging.

If you’ve got hard soil, you might find your landscape edging ideas limited. However, you do still have options!

One reason it can be challenging to install landscape edging if you have hard soil is because the earth not easily broken. Therefore, an option that does not require you to dig into the soil – or not dig deep into the soil - would be an easier option to install. There are even several “no dig” options to choose from, all of which sit directly on top of the surface, however they will not stop grass from spreading under.

No-Dig Landscape Edging Options to Consider for Hard Soil

Many people will want to avoid digging in hard soil because it is often difficult. Luckily, for those people, there are no dig options.

Some of these no dig landscape edging options include:

  • Bricks: You’ll want to clear away as much grass as possible where the bricks are to be laid at to help keep them in place. It also helps to pour a layer of mortar to provide a solid foundation and a sort of “glue” for the bricks to cling to. Bricks can be laid flat, stacked on top of one another, or even propped up on the neighboring brick for a more creative look.
  • Stones: Similar to brick, you’ll want to clear out the grass and set a solid base to build onto. Stones aren’t as geometric as bricks, so it is recommended to use mortar to fill the gaps between the odd stone shapes. Stone can also be strategically placed into a variety of patterns like brick.
  • No Dig Edging Kits: These kits can be purchased at your local home improvement store such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. They typically consist of individual pieces that link together, stakes to drive into the ground, and possibly connector pieces for the corners and bends. These are very superficial, meaning they do not provide much protection from grass roots invading underneath the landscape edging. These kits can be made from a variety of materials, but the most common material is plastic. The type of plastic these kits use might be a deal breaker for you due to its inability to last a while.

How to Soften Hard Soil

As mentioned before, hard soil can be hard to work with when trying to install landscape edging. If the no dig landscape edging options aren’t appealing to you, you can attempt to soften the hard soil, making it easier to work with for installation.

To soften the hard soil, start by breaking up the top few inches as much as possible. Once you have raw broken soil, add a layer of compost, mixing it in with the broken up hard soil. Adding small amounts of water can also help to soften the soil, making it easier to dig and install a different landscape edging option.

The Metal Landscape Edging Solution to Hard Soil

If you prefer not to dig, but want something that can protect your garden bed against grass roots, metal landscape edging may be for you. Products like our Edge Right landscape edging also have a sharp edge which allows for better penetration into hard soil.

Edge Right - hammer-in/no-dig landscape edging. 8 inch depth

Edge Right comes in “sheets” that are malleable and its teeth make it a great option for harder soil. This is especially true if you soften the soil a little bit first. Then, use a rubber mallet or hammer to further install the Edge Right metal edging into the ground. Edge Right will both keep your bed free from weeds and creeping grass and create a beautiful line with its COR-TEN steel that only looks better as it ages.

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