what does everyone use for edging

Duh, meant to say "spring"

i'm going to TRY to post a picture of the rock and cement border. It is not a real close up, but I hope it will be better than nothing... here goes... I am not too good at this so no guarantees!

nope... *sigh* ok, will try once more.

I got it!!! Surprised even me! OK, some of the rocks are just piled on top of others since I had extras. The lower ones are SET into the wet cement, you will notice the EDGE of the cement is about 3 inches of flat cement. This creates a mow edge. This is not meant to be a 'real' close up, if I had known I'd want to give a 'how to', I'd have gotten closer.

Nothing is cemented down here,,,although I did make all the little cement blocks, half circle and sitting doll ,,,,,,,,,,,,,i just did this box

Wha would you do around the flower circle? Mulch or seed grass? I have 3 morch or these half cicrle boxes I'm going to make along the fence going down the drive way in the backyard area,,,,, the neighbor had the nerve today to tell me if any flower come thru the fence on her side she is going to clip them off ,,,,,,PPPPST,,,,LOL it would be an improvement!!!

JMR

another

my before pic of MY MESS

Pre flower beds

thought i would keep a picture journel of mt progress

i have my work cu out for me

Great stuff, you guys! I love the effort we all put in to making our gardens look great.

I can't imagine anyone telling you they'd cut the flowers off that went thru the fence!!! MOST people would love the "free flowers" you were providing them! With that hog-wire fence, you're going to have lots "go thru". I hope the fence is on the North side of your property so the flowers will be less likely to move their direction!

I would use mulch, unless you add a border of mulch or something around the base of your cement, the mowing will be a nightmare, especially the "corners" where the cement meets the fence. The bark mulch looks nice in your setting.

I wish I had been smart enough to take pictures all along the way, to document the journey!

psychw2, thanks for the pics, now I know what you mean. Great idea. How deep did you have to dig down?
Janemarie, I can't believe your neighbor would have the nerve to even say that. Me personally I would throw some kind of seed for an invasive over the fence when she wasn't looking. LOL

I only dug my "trench" about 5 inches total. I really loved the way it turned out and would do it again in a heart beat. The cement made maintaining the edge easy and eliminated a LOT of work pulling weeds between rocks.

Did you a quick set type cement? Do I ask too many questions?

Does poison ivy have a flower? *evil chuckle*

I used ready Pre-mix Quik crete. In the EARLY spring sometimes HD would have it in 40# bags on sale. My home town did not normally carry that small and I can use 40# "all day" but if I have to go to a 60# or more... whew.... I'm done in FAST!!!

I poured a section at a time and would put a "break" in the pour with that fiberboard stuff between sections to allow for expansion. Also, by putting breaks in, it would have been easier to rip a section out later if I wanted to change the shape.

You really had that all thought out ... even to allow for expansion! That's awesome.
How far apart did you make the 'breaks'?

I put the breaks in depending on the shape mostly. At least as often as 6 feet. At tightly curving areas, I put in a little more often breaks. I tell you, using laminate you can make TIGHT curves! But remember the tighter curves can be a PAIN to mow around an inside curve, outside curve, no problem.

One more idea for shade: hostas

Here is a midsummer shot of a shade bed with hostas, goatsbeard and astilbe blooming. The bleeding hearts were done by then.

I have been experimenting with Bugleweed as a way to create a soft edge into the mowed grass and so far it is working.I planted them all along the edge of the flowerbed and they haven't spread out of control yet. When I mow,I just mow part of the Bugleweed as if it is the grass and then the leafy part that is in the grass grows back. It is getting a lot of attention from people seeing it for the first time. I don't know what it will look like when it is at the flower stage next Spring, but I am hopeful it will be beautiful. And besides, the Hummers will love the nectar no matter how it looks.

Are you able to post a pic posyblossom? I think that would look incredible.

YES Please post a picture of that Posy, I really want to see that too!

Well I can try a pic,but I must warn you, I have all this fancy pic equipment and don't know how to use it yet.

JMR - how did you make those blocks? How many moulds do you have? How many did you use at once? I would love to make some for my beds but could use a little help, if you wouldn't mind that is.

This message was edited Oct 14, 2007 9:53 AM

Psych and Dawn, I just wanted you to know that I took some pics of the Bugleweed edging but I could not get them to scan into the computer. Low and behold, Hewlett-Packard sent me the wrong install disc. No wonder I have been having problems. They will send me the right one in 5 to7 days,so I"ll post a pic or two as soon as I can reinstall the Scanner and Photosmart. Ugh, computers are fun when everything goes right,but incompatable software is the PITS.

I so agree with you, posy.
I can't wait to see pictures.

I keep trying to post a pic of the bugleweed edging,but it won't post. It keeps trying and trying,but knocks me off the site. anyone know what I am doing wrong?

posy:

how large is the photo. If it's too many KB, you may be timing out.

Thanks Candy, that is what it is,but I can't make it small enough yet. I have this new Hewlett Packard Photosmart system and I am all over the place with it. I'll keep trying.

Lousy first pic. I am trying again with a different pic.

Anyone interested in joining a current Christmas Swap, this one still has room:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/777280/#new

What do we swap Christmas for??

LOL.. Ok Victor, ya got me... let me be more explicit!! There is a gift exchange that is taking sign ups. It involves a homemade decoration and homemade goodie. I guess you'll have to LOOK at the link to read more info..

Hhttp://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/777280/#newerbie

Sorry - just teasing!

I know you were teasing but you have to admit, I did kinda "ask for a wise crack" with the way I posted that!!! LOL.. what's a guy to do? A woman opens a door like that, ya just gotta walk thru!!!

Good answer!

I'm always looking for open doors.

Yeah. They have to be open all the way, though, or his nose gets hurt.

hehe...reminds me of when I first moved out here, from a big city. I was still locking doors all the time. The landlord came by and went to open the door and walk in like he was used to doing out here...lol....he almost broke his nose, he hit the locked door so hard....

THAT'S funny!!

Too funny!!!!!