Lawn edging

Has anyone come across a good lawn edging material? I have seen plastic sections but they don't look very good. I know that bricks can make a good edge but my concrete/motar never lasts a winter.

I love neat edges to my lawn but keep breaking the edge down with the mower. Then I get the half moon out to clean it all up and the lawn keeps getting smaller! It would also be good if I could get away with mowing over the edge at times instead of having to use edging shears each time.

Any suggestions?

Carrie

 

I remember seeing a garden program that used aluminium strips that were about four to five inches wide that you can buy.
They were used to place around the edge of a lawn area and looked very effective and set so you could cut up and over the edge without doing damage to the lawn edge.
I know what you mean about stone edging when it comes to cementing them in place, as my cement doesn't last a season either!

 

Here You go:

http://www.everedge.co.uk/home.htm

expensive but effective, Ive used it for clients before. A tip, trench it in rather than driving it in.

 

Another, IMO slightly easier to use:

https://vault2.secured-url.com/riteedge/index.htm

 

Keep a long plank of wood handy to lay along the edge of the lawn (assuming the lawn edge is straight) then you can use it as a runner to stop the mower fron 'falling' off the edge of your lawn, that way you can mow right up to the edge.

 

"and the lawn keeps getting smaller"

You need to "lift" a piece of turf all along the edge, reposition it 4" outward, cut a brand new edge, in the "original" position, and put the bits you cut out into the gap. Fill the rest of the gap with top soil, and re-seed.

If you can afford a retaining edge that would be a more permanent answer. I have some ghastly concrete things along mine - they are about 2' long, 1" wide, and 9" deep. I'm re-siting them so that they are 2" below the turf, and then overlapping them with the turf. They do a reasonable job of preventing cars damaging the edge, and stop the weeds growing through the bottom of course. but they move over time ... I suppose they should be concreted in :(

 

P.S. I mow over the edge of my lawn; my mower has a driven-roller, rather than a "wheel at each corner", so the blade doesn't drop with only an inch, or so, overlapping the edge.

 

Thanks everyone for the input.
I think the rite edge might be the answer, Paul, after I have taken Kirsten's advice about restoring the edge.
Carrie

 

Yes, there is a black hard rubber one, with a rounded top, and about 4 inches that you sink in the ground.
Its in our stores here.