How to Edge Flower Beds with Landscape Rocks

Using landscape rocks to edge a flower bed adds form and function to your garden design, reducing weeding time, and enhancing the attractiveness of your garden. Landscape rock can be either natural stones or manufactured landscape rock edging. These instructions are for a landscape rock border that follows the level of the ground. Do not use these instructions for flower bed edging that you want level with the horizon on unlevel ground.  

Design Criterion

Flower bed edging should reflect the shape of your flower bed and the flavor of your garden design. A square or rectangular flower bed would lend itself to square or rectangular stones while a curving flower bed will look nicer using a more round stone. Lower profile edging can be mowed over with out damaging the mower blade saving grass trimming time.

Local stones are the most accessible and least expensive. Garden supply stores carry a wide variety of natural and manufactured landscape stone edging material. Choose a stone that is suitable for your installation and the look you are going for. This is also a good time to incorporating electrical or irrigation lines into your flower bed edging plan.

Lay Out

Calculate the number of linear feet of materials that you need by measuring the perimeter of your flower bed.

Step 1: Prepare Trench

The landscape rocks need a pocket to set in securely. Dig a trench around your flower bed equal to the width, and a depth of at least 1/5 the height of the rocks you are using. Calculate 1 or 2 inches of sand into your depth. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to clear grass roots. Contour the trench to match to bottom contour of the rock you are using. Now is a good time to install any electrical or irrigation lines that want to pass under the trench.

Step 2: Install Ground Fabric and Sand

Install a layer of ground fabric centered in the trench to prevent weed infiltration. Next, install a uniform layer of sand, ½ to 3 inches thick, on top of the ground fabric. Use a deeper layer for more irregularly shaped stones.

Step 3: Set Stones

Choose a spot to begin and set stones one at a time. Slide each stone laterally a couple of times and tap into place with a block of wood. Once you have a few rocks in place begin filling the joints with sand. Continue in this manner of setting a few rocks and filling the joints with sand all the war around.

Manufactured landscape rock edging has a very uniform profile. Sand may not be required to install these blocks. Refer to the manufacture’s installation instructions.

Step 4: Trim

Trim off excess ground fabric with a utility knife and tuck cut ends into sand.

That’s it. Stretch your legs and enjoy.