How to Maintain a Garden Rock Border
Easy step-by-step that shows how to maintain a garden rock border. Curvy garden edging is the perfect addition to any landscape design. Lawn edging with rocks is a DIY project anyone can do!
Along the edge of my fence row garden is a rock border. Years ago my first batch of rocks were given to me but I didn’t have enough to finish the border. I actually had to buy rocks…which at the time I thought was ridiculous. Who buys rocks? I’m so glad I found the money back then, in a tight budget, to do it. I love the casual and cottage feel it gives the garden but there is some maintenance involved. Once a year, you devote an afternoon to spruce up your garden edging. Here are a few tips that will show you how to maintain a garden rock border.
The picture just above is how my rock border looked in late spring when I started cleaning my beds. The rocks had sunk more than ever before. Months of snow and ice had definitely taken its toll.
How to Maintain a Garden Rock Border
The first thing I do is dig out the rocks and set them about a foot away from the grass edge, on the garden side. This leaves me a nice space to level off in order to move the rocks back towards the border. I work in sections so I don’t have to move around so much. After I dig out a section of rocks, I use my hands and a small garden cultivator to move old mulch and soil back towards the border. Simply put, I’m filling in the holes the sunken rocks have made.
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After filling in the holes and leveling off the garden edging, I then set the rocks back where they were. They rest completely on top of the old mulch and make a very nice lip so the new mulch won’t fall off the bed. Some years, depending on how much energy I have, I consider it finished at this point. This year however, I went a step further. It was a beautiful day and I just didn’t want to go back inside.
Easy Lawn Edging
I made the lawn edging by cutting the grass/sod about 6 inches away from the rocks. The sod was soft so it was very easy. Below is a pic I posted on Instagram when I was finished.
Garden Edging anyone can do!
I was hot and sweaty but so happy with the garden edging when I was finished. It not only looks much better, now the mower wheels easily run along the lawn edging for a crisp, clean look.
See: Best Hardy Perennial Flowers
As always, my assistant was in the yard with me but wasn’t much help! She loves being outside after suffering through a long and very cooped-up winter.
Lawn edging made with rocks is definitely not for everyone. It’s not maintenance free and it takes a bit of effort. I think the end result is definitely worth an afternoon spent outside and if you don’t have to pay for the rocks, it’s basically free!
See: Backyard Garden Landscaping Ideas
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