Landscape edging serves a vital role in the appearance and structure of your yard. Not only does it provide crisp lines that delineate one area from another, but it helps prevent soil erosion and keeps materials in their designated areas.
You have a wide variety of materials and designs to choose from when deciding on a garden edging material. This article will explore one of those options: steel borders. This versatile and durable edging is readily available at most hardware stores, making it a great choice for your next backyard project.
Benefits of Steel Landscape Edging
One of the primary benefits of steel edging is its incredible durability. Properly treated steel will withstand almost anything that mother nature can throw at it, including wind, rain, snow, and ice. This helps cut down on maintenance time and replacement costs, giving you a long-term solution.
It also does its job well. The upright design of most steel edging prevents materials like mulch, dirt, or gravel from moving from one area to another. This helps stop erosion and keeps your backyard looking neat and tidy.
Steel edging also comes in slim profile options, giving your lawn a sleek and manicured look. Other materials like stone, brick, and wood tend to take up more space and might not match the specific look of many modern homes. Steel, on the other hand, can blend in seamlessly with current design trends.
Popular Steel Landscape Edging Options
Corten Steel Edging
You probably recognize corten steel edging from its distinctive rusted look. But don’t worry, that red coating actually makes the steel last longer. It’s a layer of oxidation that protects the steel from the elements while giving it a natural look and feel. Corten steel can also be shaped easily, making it a perfect choice for a tree ring or a winding garden path.
Powder Coated Steel
Powder-coated steel has a protective layer applied to its surface, giving it a polished, uniform look and extending its lifespan. This type of edging comes in a wide variety of colors, and can even be custom-made to your exact preferences. Powder-coated edging is a great way to add an accent color to a patio or to maintain a design motif established by the rest of your home. However, pay special attention to any chips or scratches that occur. With regular maintenance, your edging will last a long time, but water can damage the underlying steel if it gets under the coating.
Galvanized Steel
The process of galvanization adds a thick layer of protective zinc to your steel edging. This makes it incredibly long-lasting with little to no maintenance required. Galvanized steel edging is a perfect option for homes prone to extreme weather conditions like heavy rains or frequent freezes. One thing to consider about this option is that it only comes in one color – polished silver.
Steel Lawn Edging Installation Guide
Despite steel edging’s extreme strength and durability, it is relatively easy to install! The specific steps of the process will vary based on the product you choose, but this guide will outline the basics you can expect.
Prep The Ground
Steel edging looks great, and it also needs to serve a purpose. One of the most important purposes is preventing erosion, but it can’t always do that on its own. Preparing your ground ahead of time will give you the best chance at preventing areas of your yard from washing out. We recommend laying BaseCore GeoCells beneath any area that is prone to erosion or will need to support heavy loads.
Measure The Area
Before you place an order online or head to the hardware store, make sure to measure the area that you’ll be laying steel edging. A tape measure should work fine, or string can come in handy if the area is an irregular or curved shape. Simply lay the string along the ground where the edging will be installed, straighten the string out, and then measure with a tape measure. It’s also a good idea to buy a little more edging than necessary in case of any accidents.
Dig Your Trench
Steel edging typically only requires a narrow trench, one of its primary benefits over other kinds of edging. A hand shovel should do the trick! Simply dig a narrow trench along the edge of your desired area, making sure that you don’t dig too deep. You don’t want your edging to be completely flush with the ground.
Fit Your Edging
Next, insert your steel edging and any necessary edging stakes into the trench. These stakes help keep the edging upright and well-shaped. Gently bend any pieces that may need to follow a curve, and cut off any excess edging.
Hammer Your Edging
Now it’s time to hammer your edging firmly into place. This is easier to do with a partner, but can certainly be done solo. Use a piece of scrap wood and a mallet to hammer the edging down, making sure not to scratch or dent the top edge. Ensure that all of the edging is a consistent height, and tap in any edging stakes.
Backfill The Area
Once you’ve fully installed your steel edging, make sure to backfill the landscaping area with dirt, mulch, or rocks. This will help prevent water from pooling along the edging.
Call Us for Help!
Backyard Bases is a proud supplier of industry-leading BaseCore GeoCell products designed to meet your landscape edging needs. Still trying to figure out where to start? Our team is here to walk you through every step of the installation process so that you can get the results you deserve fast.
Give us a call at (888)-897-2224 to start your steel landscape edging project today.