Edging installation labor is billed at a simple hourly rate of $60 per hour per worker. Installation speed depends on the edging type, soil density, and layout complexity. Installing flexible plastic or metal edging generally takes 1 labor hour per 15 to 20 linear feet. Heavier concrete bullet pavers or stone edging typically take 1 labor hour per 10 linear feet due to trench leveling requirements. Hourly billing ensures you only pay for the exact labor time required to finish your border.

While landscape edging is not strictly structural, it serves as a critical barrier between grass lawns and garden beds. Edging prevents turf grass and aggressive weeds from creeping into flower beds, while keeping mulch, soil, and decorative stone from washing out onto the lawn during heavy rains. It also creates a crisp, clean border that acts as a boundary for lawnmowers and string trimmers.

The choice comes down to budget and durability: Black Plastic / Poly Edging: Highly affordable, flexible, and quick to install around curved beds. However, plastic can become brittle over time or sustain damage if hit directly by lawnmower blades. Concrete Pavers or Stone Edging: More durable, visually appealing, and impervious to lawnmowers. While initial material costs are higher and leveling requires more labor, paver edging provides a permanent, high-end look.

Weed barrier fabric does not need to run directly under the edging material itself, but it should extend right up to the inner edge of the border. When installing plastic or paver edging, tucking the outer edge of the fabric into the trench beneath or behind the edging secures it firmly in place and prevents weeds from sprouting through the seam.

While pavers can be laid directly onto firm, level soil for quick budget projects, spreading a 1-inch leveling bed of coarse sand makes leveling uneven bricks significantly easier. Sand fills ground voids, prevents individual bricks from shifting during winter freeze-thaw cycles, and ensures the top edge remains consistently 1/2 inch above the soil line.

Lawn edging should be buried so that roughly 1/2 to 1 inch of the top border sits above the soil and mulch line. Burying edging too deep allows mulch to spill over into the turf, while leaving it set too high creates a trip hazard and exposes plastic rims to lawnmower blade damage. After setting the edging, backfill and tamp down dirt firmly on both sides to lock it into place.

Plastic coiled edging is held secure using metal or hard plastic ground stakes hammered through pre-molded tabs along the base. Drive stakes at a 45-degree angle pointing back toward the garden bed for maximum holding power. Space stakes every 8 to 10 feet along straight runs, and increase density to every 3 to 4 feet around tight curves to prevent flexing.

Look for a service with clear hourly pricing, reliable reviews, and clear expectations regarding customer-provided materials. Calculate the approximate linear footage of your garden beds ahead of time and order your preferred edging materials, stakes, or pavers. Hiring a transparent, labor-only service gives you hardworking muscle to handle trenching, staking, and brick setting without paying inflated contractor markups. Click here to get a free estimate on edging installation from His Workmanship.