Some landscape companies charge by the hour and others charge per linear foot. Hourly rates range from $40 – $50 per hour. The standard charge per linear foot is between $3 and $6. So if you need 100 linear feet installed, it’ll cost $300 – $600. It usually takes 1 person 1 hour to install 10 linear feet. It should be noted that the cost to install paver edging is higher than plastic edging. Also, prices will increase if the terrain is hilly and the soil is hard.

The purpose of edging is to separate the lawn from the garden beds. Edging keeps the mulch, rock and dirt in the garden bed where it belongs and out of the grass where it shouldn’t be. While edging isn’t necessary, by not having it you risk wind and rain water pushing out mulch and dirt into your yard, which is a mowing hazard.

Unless you want to do a natural edging border with a small trench, the two most popular edging options are black plastic and bullet paver. They each have pros and cons. Plastic edging is much cheaper to buy and it’s the option that most homeowners go with. The downside is that it can be damaged by a lawn mower and can crease along curves. Paver edging is more expensive but it won’t get ruined by a lawnmower. If you can afford it, paver edging is higher quality, looks better, and will last longer. Click here for more extended discussion on the topic.

It doesn’t need to but it can. The purpose of landscape fabric is to prevent weeds from growing through and into your garden beds. So the fabric should go right up to the edging but it doesn’t need to go under it. However, it could be helpful to back tuck the excess fabric underneath the edging to secure the fabric in the ground.

The ultimate goal is to make sure the paver edging bricks are level with one another. The brick edging should be 1/2 inch above the garden beds to ensure the mulch, rocks or dirt don’t spill over into the grass. Play sand can help facilitate level bricks especially if the ground is rocky and uneven. However, in most cases, just laying pavers on the dirt will suffice. Foregoing sand will also save you time and money.

Make sure the top of the edging is about 1 inch above the garden bed. It should not be flush with it because then the mulch or rock in the bed will spill over into the grass. The whole point of edging is to guard against that happening. Once the edging is installed, you should backfill dirt on both sides of the edging. This will help secure it in place and keep it from dislodging.

After you’ve dug your trench and laid the edging, you will need to stake it down before filling the trench back up with dirt. The purpose of hammering in edging stakes is to secure the edging in the ground so it doesn’t shift over time. In straight areas, you should install one stake every 8-10 feet. Around curves, you should install one stake every 4-5 feet.

You should ask for a ballpark estimate on the total cost for your flower bed edging. Be prepared to tell the edging company what type of edging you have, how many linear feet you’ve ordered and where you need it installed. Ask the edging service how long they’ve been doing it and what their process is like. Google their company name to make sure they have good reviews online. Click here to get a free estimate on edging installation from His Workmanship.