How to Install Edging on a Gravel or Mulch Walk

A gravel or mulch walk is one of the most simple walks to make but there is an important component that you can't overlook, or the walk will never work. There are several different types of edging and I will go through the most common ones with pros and cons for each one.

The first type of edging is the plastic edging. Plastic edging is inexpensive, flexible, and sticks up only 1/2 inch from the ground once installed. First dig a trench, place the edging in it and align the edging with your layout line. Anchor the edging by driving plastic stakes through its bottom edge with a 3 pound sledgehammer. Fill the trench with soil and then compact it down. Now the good thing about plastic edging is that it's inexpensive and easy to work with, but its flimsy and not real weather resistant. It gets really brittle in the cold and if you happen to walk on it or hit something against it when it's cold it will most definitely break.

The next one is benderboard, this is basically thin layers of wood which are usually redwood. First drive stakes along the inside edge of the curve and temporarily screw the benderboard to them. Add layers until the curve is as thick as the rest of the edging, then drive stakes to support the back. Screw them to the benderboard and remove the inside stakes. This is actually a really good way to do edging if you are willing to spend the money and have the patience to deal with it. There are many different ways to make edging and this is probably the most difficult, however there are no negative things I can say about the way this method performs.

Timbers are the next way you can do edging for your walk. Lay timbers along the edge of the walk and butt the corners together. Secure the timbers with 12 inch spikes at each corner. This is my favorite way to do edging but you have to like wood. This is too bulky for some people, but if you like the look of timber around your home this is a great way to do a walk. There are very few things that will break this type of edging and it will definitely keep the mulch or gravel within the walk itself. The timber will begin to rot after numerous years and may need replacing but I am talking about 10-15 years before you will begin to notice this issue.

Brick edging is another way you can edge your walk. The best type of brick to use for edging is pavers brick, placed on end or on edge. Dig a trench deep enough so the tops of the bricks are flush with the ground or up to 1 inch above grade. Place the bricks in the trench and pack soil around them. The one bad thing I can say about bricks is putting them in can take forever and they do tend to escape from the edge of the walk. They either get kicked or picked up, but somehow a brick edged walk seams to fall apart before any other.

The last one I can think of would be with concrete pavers. Pavers also can be used in the same manner as brick edging. Lay the pavers flat or on edge in the trench and embed them in the ground with a rubber mallet until they are flush with the ground or up to 1 inch above grade. Pack the soil around them. Now, pavers are better than brick if you lay them flat, they tend to stick around longer if they are flat and more difficult to move or for people to pick up.

These are just a few ideas you can use for the edging on your walk. You can probably tell I like some more than others. It always seems as though the ones that are harder to install are the ones that last longer, except for the bricks on end. If you want a walk that will last a long time you need to devote some time to the edging, really when you think about it, it is the key to a good walk.