Needs some tips on hardening the edges of lawn

[4390evans]

Hey all,

Im after some help with my lawn edges, as some of you know already Ive been widening the lawn Ive filled them out with the soil from the boarders leveled and rolled them, it rained all day yesterday so I thought today might be an ideal day to get the seed down but im wondering how should I harden the edges?

The lawn has always had soft edges and if you stand to close to it it just crumbles and breaks away. I dont wanna put wood or brick or anything really round the lawn as I want the boarders packed with flowers etc I was just wondering if anyone has any tips?

[rustylady]

This stuff Gardman Green Plastic Lawn Edging You may be able to get it cheaper elsewhere.

Sink it so the top is level with the lawn.

[iam]

have you tried cutting the edges sloping away from you, it may give support till the grass roots are better established

[Two_Sheds]

Don't mow the edges until the roots have done their job of knitting the soil together: cut the edges by hand not mower until then.

I wouldn't use the green plastic edging again, it shatters into millions of pieces after a year, at least the cheaper ones do. Why not a mowing strip of brick? It doesn't take much room off your borders, in fact the plants will just flop over it if you want, hiding it a bit.

Also, your lawn shouldn't stand inches above the soil in the borders, that won't help. Some people never add compost or mulch to the borders, meaning that over time the soil levels drops and drops, leaving the lawn standing up like a little island

[4390evans]

yeah thats what ive done i thought it looked nice as a island but was gonna add some compost to fill the borders out a little as I havent much soil but if it helps ill fill it up as the compost has been reduced to £1 over here x

[Two_Sheds]

was gonna add some compost to fill the borders out a little as I havent much soil

I don't believe in bare soil, so I think we're coming at this from opposing angles.

My borders (and my veg plot) are packed with plant, I don't have any bare soil at all. As a result, I hardly ever need to water the borders and I never feed them (not much weeding to do either).

When I do get weeds, I chop them up with secateurs and drop them on the soil, where they quickly disappear (the worms drag them down under the soil), adding nutrient and humus back to the soil and the remaining plants.

[Snadger]

If you are repairing the edge of a lawn it is easier to cut a turve with an edging iron and place it at the correct position along the edge. Where the turve was lifted can then be filled with soil to the correct level and seeded. This way the seeded area will be fully enclosed and should romp away.
Remember to keep both the lifted turve and the seeded area moist at all times until its established.