How to Maintain Garden Edging Stones
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Easy step-by-step directions for how I maintain our garden edging stones. Curvy garden edging is the perfect addition to any landscape design. Stone landscape edging is a DIY project anyone can do!
This post features the backyard garden at our house on Sutton Place. It was planted along my neighbor’s fence, and the summer before we moved, it was home to beautiful peonies, dianthus, black-eyed Susans, lavender, and more.
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Along the edge of my fence row garden at the house on Sutton Place was a curvy stone border. Years ago, when the flower bed was first planted, I was able to get free stones from a friend, and began the task of adding the stone landscape edging. The stones were a lovely way to frame the garden, but this border involved some maintenance. Once a year, in the late spring, I would devote an afternoon resetting all of those stones. Along the way, I figured out what worked for me, and how to make the job easier.
The picture above shows what the edging stones looked like each spring. During the winter months, the stones would sink, and mulch would overflow onto the lawn. The border became blurry, and it always looked unkept and messy.
Where To Start
The first thing I did was dig out the stones, and set them about a foot away from the grass edge, on the garden side. (Pictured above.) In the beginning, I tried various tools to help with this process, but in the end, I found it easiest to just use my hands. Moving the stones back left ample room to level the dirt, and cut a border. After digging out a section of stones, I used my hands and a small garden cultivator to move the old much and soil to the front, towards the grass. Simply put, I was filling in the holes made by the sunken stones.
Resetting The Stones
After filling in the holes and leveling off the ground, I then set the stones back where they were to begin with. They rested nicely on top of the now-filled-in holes, and made a very nice barrier so the new mulch wouldn’t fall out onto the grass.
Easy Stone Landscape Edging
To clean up the space between the grass and the stone border, I edged a clean line in the grass about 4 – 6 inches away from the stones. The sod was always soft, so this job was very easy…and so satisfying. I used a straight shovel to make the line. You can see the nice edge on the grass in the image above.
Other alternatives for installing landscape edging are pavers, edging bricks, or large natural rocks.
Practical and Pretty
The nice edge on the grass not only looks much better, but it provided a path for the lawn mower wheels to easily run along the edging stones for a crisp, clean look. The natural stone edging provides a completely different texture to the garden bed, and even though they aren’t uniform, they add interest and charm.
Other Ideas For Garden Borders
- If used in the front yard, stone landscape edging adds incredible curb appeal. Install it along a walkway or driveway, in front of planting beds, or in front of a hedge.
- Use your creativity and natural looking garden stones to make your perennial garden the focal point of your yard. They are an excellent way to enhance the most beautiful areas of your landscape.
- Need inspiration? Stone lawn edging ideas can be found at large garden centers, online, and in magazines.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use leftover mulch and soil, gravel, or sand.
In my experience, you don’t. This once-a-year maintenance process solves the problem.
The best way to keep them in place is to lay them as close together as possible. When there are no gaps, and the stones are laid side by side, they stay in place very nicely.
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Lawn edging made with stones is not for everyone. It’s not maintenance-free, and it takes a bit of effort and labor to keep it looking nice. The end result is definitely worth an afternoon spent outside!
I did a project similar to this recently. I look landscaping weed bsrrier cloth ans use landscspe pins to hold it in place laid out the rocks on it and poured a little clean play sand around and between the rocks and then out lined the front edges of the rocks with pea gravel. I am hoping the landscape weed barrier fabric will prevent the rocks from sinking while at the same time prevent grass from growing between the rocks. I like the look but its summer now; will have to see how it winters over ( we live in Maine)!
The rocks and mulch look good, but I’m not actually a fan of having 6″ of exposed dirt. Visually or how it will collect weeds.
I never had a problem with weeds…and I had to have a path for the mower wheels. But I get it!
Re sinking garden stones – we removed the stones, dug a trench under them but unlike filling it with small stones we filled it with quickcrete. Once it rained it set up and tada we had a solid bottom to put the stones on and they no longer sink. It took a while but was a one and done fix.
Love the look of the rock border-where do you find the rocks?
You can get rocks at any landscaping place, or nursery. Mine were given to me by a friend who dismantled a grotto-like structure in her backyard. If you have to buy them, they are a bit pricey, but you could do a section at a time.
Oh my gosh! Why has it ever occurred to me to reset my rock birder. It looks so much better. I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!
I have rock borders and I do the annual resetting of the stones.
If you live in a warm climate with black widow spiders, be very careful. The first time I uncovered a black widow, I think I jumped back 5 feet! Now, I wear gloves and move the rocks with a hand tool. Spider spray is always nearby to treat any webs and nests. If I do the border cleanup in the spring, I also check the stones during the hot months, looking for the webs and small spiders.
I Love rocks!! What you have showed me, it gives me some ideas for my flower beds. Thanks for the tips!!
Rock borders are the best! When we bought our first house there were no borders separating the lawn from the beds in the 17 year old landscape so the grass had grown into the beds. So I gather some nice rocks from the hillsides of my favorite fishing rivers and it looks awesome!
I mulch part of my flowers with solid rocks found on our farm in Southern Indiana. I LOVE rocks!!! I am about to go out now because it is going to be only 79 degrees today. Can you believe it? Yesterday I worked six hours because I have been sick and the weeds took over. Maybe my battle can be won today!!! Here’s to fellow rock lovers–use them when you can!!!
Oh my gosh Ann, your flag painted on the garden shed… We have a flag painted on ours as well! Daughter Natalie and her Daddy spent one Father’s Day doing it. It’s an American flag design flying when Ohio became a state. We love it. Always have dreamed of having a “Quilt” Barn, but would need that barn first. Fun to look for those when traveling. ~Best
Enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your description of the work. I intend to do something like this around my front beds. I like the extra space outside the rock border, to help keep grass out of the beds. Great tutorial ! Thanks.
Looks great! I always had a gap between the lawn and my rock borders precisely for the mowing ease. I think it looks better that way too. :)
It’s so pretty Ann. I too had this idea of a rock boarder for my garden. I live in Oklahoma. My husband and I just retired so I decided that in our motorhome travels I will find big pretty rocks from all over the country and make my boarder one rock at a time And One Trip at a time. We started it in May. So we already have a few rocks. I can hardly wait to go again to find some more to add to it. We will go so on. I’ll let you know how it comes out.
Very beautiful work. My daughter is building a similar thin in her garden and asking my advice.
One more thing might help you an her getting less work. Putting a garment under the soil to prevent
any grass from growing by the stone border. What is that garment called, my language is finnish?
Thank you for the Idea.
So lovely! I just redid a portion of my rock border. Now I have to redo it using this method! We need to live next door to each other so I can copy in real time. :)
I love your border. The snow was pretty hard on all things garden around here. Lots of heaving in the hardscapes. Bet you were tired after you finished redoing this border!
Oh Ann, I can totally relate to not wanting to go back inside! Here in Kentucky our winter was so unusually severe and lonnng! I have vowed not to complain about the heat or any part of this summer! And haven’t we been blessed with the best spring? I love your rock border! Have half heartedly started one of my own with found rocks-thinking I will bite the bullet and purchase some rocks. Thanks for your inspiring posts!
I am not going to complain about the heat either…I may think it but I’m not saying it out loud!
It’s just beautiful Ann!
I didn’t even realized that you had to “tend” to a rock border! But, I surely see the difference in your before and after pictures. Looks wonderful, Ann!
Ann, your rock border looks terrific! We have a bed in our front yard that’s edged with rocks. I’ve never thought to dig them up so that they’c be more prominent! Well, I want to enlarge the bed this fall so I may get around to it then. It’s already too hot here to pick up rocks! Leo puts an edge around our beds by turning the weed eater on its side, digging into the dirt a bit. He saw some landscapers doing it years ago and has been doing that since then.
Yes I have seen the weed-wacker trick. My neighbor does that and I love it. I have no desire to try and do that myself though! I agree…it is getting too hot for this sort of thing. I’m not complaining though!
Looks fantastic, so sad you had to pay for rocks. I just pick the farmers fields for free but normally end up with poison ivy :( Pinning!
I have a rock border but I haven’t redone it in several years! This will inspire me to get it done soon. I’ve never bought this kind of rock, just picked them along roads whenever I can, much to my hubby’s chagrin! Must admit I’ve bought much bigger rocks used around the garden, the latest weighing about 200 lbs!
Love it…it looks fantastic! Buying rocks? Yeah…I’ve done it…but then I have a problem. Hello, my name is Donna, and I have RCF…Rock Collecting Fever…alas, there is no cure…except for more rocks! ;)
I know what you mean Donnamae! I literally could not sleep until that border was finished and the only way to get it done was to buy rocks. I have no regrets!
This was such a helpful post, Ann. We live in a fairly new subdivision, and each home is landscaped by the builders, using rocks to edge the flowerbed borders. While we have replaced the cookie-cutter plants that were initially put in, we’ve left the rock borders on the front beds. There is the black edging material in place that I am not overly fond of, and I like your idea of the 6 inches cut away from the rock edge. It looks nice and will make mowing easier. Thank you for sharing this!
You are so welcome! I used to have the black edging too and was so happy when I was able to pull it all out. Good luck with your new house!
I love your rock edge….
Thanks for the inspiration! It’s 89 degrees here in Miami and the daily afternoon rains have started….. so I’ll ask my son to do it! ;)
it looks great, I laughed when you said who buys rocks, it made me think of the day someone helped themselves to the rock border on our driveway, they hauled away all our rocks on the one side of our drive!!!Your yard looks lovely and your helper is a beauty!!! Much to regal looking for garden work, she must be the supervisor lol,
Hi Laurie! It’s so good to hear from you…and I would have a heart attack if someone stole my rocks! I’ll be by to visit your blog soon. It’s been a long time…Ann
Great tip Ann…and I am passing this on to my hubby too!!! Happy Monday!!…Love your helper!
You must not live in the South!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My yard is full of Rocks and Georgia Red Clay . You did a great job it looks very pretty. What is your beautiful assistants name ?
No I live in Northwest Ohio…and there isn’t a rock to be found! We do have a little clay though. My little dog’s name is Kelly. She’s pretty much my third child instead of a pet!
It looks so neat!!!! I love rocks as edging, so casual and cottage perfect!!! And I love your helper, I had a Gretta just like your baby doll, she was my heart. Wish I had my flower gardens in as good as shape as you do, maybe by this fall I will!!! It’s in the 90’s here today so not much will get done. Maybe tomorrow. LOL. Have a great day.
Love the name Gretta for a schnauzer!
I love and adore rock borders! I have them front and back also. And like you; I had to buy the rocks too. I mixed on some of the “Hubby has to move” sizes with the smaller easier to manage ones and loved it so much in the front I added it to the back. (Well, I am almost done in the backyard).
I have my grass butted right up to the border which in the past makes it hard to trim, but using a garden blow torch (not for the faint of heart) works wonders on trimming around rock. I think my assistant and your assistant are on the same page too….She hangs out in the shade while I’m sweating to the weeds…..Great post, I loved seeing your border!
Garden blow torch? Oh my goodness I don’t think I could handle that! I bet it does the trick though. Good luck with finishing your borders!
Looks fantastic Ann!