Are lawn edging strips any good?

My lawn edges keep overgrowing and my sister has just taught me how to use an edging spade to cut them and then to cut the edges every week with edging scissors. it seems time consuming to me although it looks lovely. I have seen adverts for 3ft plastic or metal edging strips which say this stops having to do this chore.
The green is cheaper but the black mewtal would blend in better and be less obvious. BUT before I go and spend my money do they work and are they worth it. Anyone who has used them I would like your advice please.

 

Hi CM
You may still need to cut the edges even with edging if you want a good finish............I use a strimmer,it's quick and neat.

 

The thin plastic strips sold in rolls are not much use, they disintegrate after one season. All my edgings are concrete kerbstones (about 2 miles of them!) but the edges still need to be gone over with the edging tool twice a year (takes over 2 days to do it too!) as the grass grows over the edging. It does save having to go round with the strimmer or the long handled shears though.

 

Hi, The only product I would recomend is Everedge, expensive but it works. IMO it is of most benefit for long straight borders. For most of my clients though I edge by hand using sharp bacho edging shears after mowing.

http://www.amenity.co.uk/webstore/product_info.php?cPath=1026&products_id=217

 

What is IMO?

 

in my opinion.

 

Might be a stupid question but how can a strimmer be an alternative to egding shears. Strimmers trim the top and edging shears cut the sides.

 

The right strimmer does edges to perfection hbc and you are a jobing gardener

 

If a lawn with ever edge is being cut low with a cylinder or rear rotary roller mower then you can cut right to and slightly over the edge thus negating the need to strim.

Roders, with regards to strimmers I disagree. A strimmer will not trim the grass on the inside edge, only the top.

For a neat finish on borders without edging strips I strim over the edges THEN trim inside border edges with edging shears.

You can get away with just using a strimmer particularly on a weekly cut but the result is not visually as good.

 

And by using a Flymo Multi Trim you CAN cut the inside edge by swivelling the head.:thumb:

 

Dai, youve got a point although I use a big 45cc husquvarna so lack the facility .

 

How do you decide which depth of everedge to choose, 75mm,100mm, or 125mm? is it really as easy to install as it appears on the reviews, websites etc?

 

Depends on the depth of the current edges, go by the nearest size to what youve curently got.

the best tip for instaling is to make pilot holes for the spikes with a bar before you tap the edging in, obviusly edge up before hand. I use a rubber mallet to drive it in along with a block of wood on top.

 

Thanks for that Pro Gard, I've been looking at everedge for ages, will have a look at my existing edges tomorrow and then I think i'll go for it and get it ordered!

 

I'm too mean to have any edging material - I bought some plastic once and the mower chewed it up in no time at all ...

... every couple of years I cut the "turf" at the edge, move it forwards a couple of inches (i.e. OVER the path), then use a board to re-cut a dead-straight edge, and all the "bits" are used to replace the gap where I moved it forwards - which I also fill with topsoil and reseed. Doing this in the Autumn by spring it looks like normal again. Then I cut with edging-sheers during the year, as time permits.

For curved edges I use the hose as a guide, instead of a long plank.