Installing Brick Landscape Edging Step-by-Step

Brick landscape edging will add a graceful finishing touch to your lawn, driveway and patio area. It will help stop grass creeping into your driveway and into your flowerbeds. As it helps reduce yard maintenance, edging will also increase your property value. Follow these step-by-step directions to incorporate brick edging into your landscape.

Step 1: Choose Location for Edging and Measure

If you are defining a curved flower bed, lay down a garden hose in the shape you desire. When you are sure it is correct, outline the hose with chalk or biodegradable spray paint. If you are adding lawnmower edging to a driveway or walkway, check the existing edge for straightness. Measure and record the total length of the flowerbed or lawnmower landscaping that you plan to install.

Step 2: Choose Suitable Brick Edgers

Purchase mineral-dyed cast concrete "brick" edgers that can interlock in a curve for the flower bed. Any rectangular or square shape that either interlocks or has very sharp straight edges will work for the lawnmower edging. Genuine clay brick is too soft for edging.

As a precaution, call utility and cable companies before you dig your trenches. This will help ensure that you avoid all subterranean lines, including TV and electrical cables.

Step 3a: Prepare Border Area for Flowerbed

For the flowerbed edging, lay out the bricks so the line you made is centered under them. Decide how far above ground you want the tops of the edgers. Dig a trench to the desired depth with the spade and move the edgers out of the way. Dig out all stones, root, and other obstructions.

Make the base of the trench as level as possible. Add a thin layer of sand under the edgers to help ensure they will be level when installed. Align the pieces end-to-end in the shallow trench, and tap them solidly into place with a rubber mallet. Fill in the trench with soil, compacting it tightly along the bricks. When you are ready to plant, lay down landscape cloth, pushing it tightly against the edgers to control weeds.

Step 3b: Prepare Border Area for Lawn

For the lawn landscaping, place a few edgers at each end of the edging line to measure the width and depth of the channel you will dig. Excavate the channel they will rest in for the flowerbed edging. These edgers should be only ½-inch above grade when installed, as they will settle to ground level later.

Lay the bricks in the trench so they fit as snugly together as possible, flush with the edge of the paved surface. Check they are staying level every 10 bricks with the carpenter's level. Tap each edger with the mallet toward the paved surface edge. Pack in soil around the edge opposite the paved surface tightly. When finished your edger installation, clean away loose soil from the area.