Lawn edging stones ensure a clean transition from the lawn to the beds or garden paths. They are available in numerous variants. At the top of the popularity scale are granite and concrete stones as well as paving clinker for the lawn edge. Bed borders and paving edges made of aluminum or plastic are also becoming increasingly popular. Of course, the size of the purchasing budget plays a major role in the selection, because the price differences are sometimes considerable. The hobby gardener can set the lawn edging stones correctly and in this way saves money for a specialist company. The following installation instructions show how it works.
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Set lawn edging stones yourself
So that the lawn does not grow into the path and the laborious staking out of the lawn edge is no longer necessary, lawn edging stones are the ideal solution. If you have decided on granite, paving or concrete blocks, you need the following materials for laying:
- Lawn edging stones
- wheelbarrow
- hoe
- shovel
- Sand
- fine gravel
- Pavement hammer
- Zollstock
- Spirit level
- line
- Wooden pegs
- If you value a straight line as the edge of the lawn, you should first mark it with the help of the cord attached to the wooden pegs stuck in the ground. In this way a good orientation aid is created.
- A shovel is used to dig a trench along the lawn that is as wide as the stones. The depth is 20 cm to 30 cm so that the lawn cannot grow through underneath. Ideally, the excavated earth is immediately driven away with the wheelbarrow. This makes sense because if it is deposited on the lawn, it could damage it after a short time due to a lack of oxygen.
- The sand is mixed with the fine gravel and filled into the dug trench. Since the lawn edging stones are set so deeply into the ground, it is not necessary to set them in concrete. In any case, they have to be used as closely as possible next to each other. The stones should later, when they are set, protrude about 2 cm to 3 cm over the edge of the trench.
- If you prefer to set a mowing edge instead of a lawn edge protruding from the ground, lay the stones so that they form a straight edge with the earth and the lawn. This has the advantage that you can drive the lawnmower over this stone edge.
- The stones are pounded into place with the aid of the plaster hammer. The spirit level is used to check whether the row of stones is really straight.
- Finally, the laid stones are covered with earth so that they are firmly in place. If the earth should sag after a few hours, something is refilled.
Lay lawn edging stones before sowing the lawn
Hobby gardeners who want to completely remodel a garden and create a new lawn should consider laying the lawn edging stones first and then sowing the lawn. This approach enables a wider range of creative design of the course of the lawn edge. The following laying instructions describe how a semicircular lawn edge is created that encompasses a bed. Thats how it works:
- First, the sand-gravel mixture is distributed in such a way that it covers the planned course of the lawn edging stones on the ground and compacted with a vibrating plate.
- The hobby gardener draws the contour of the edging in the sand where the edge will separate the lawn and the semicircular bed.
- Metal or wooden sticks are inserted into the earth within this line in such a way that they reflect the planned contour.
- Cords are stretched between the bars at the level of the intended pavement surface.
- With the help of the shovel, a small heap is heaped up along the marked contour, which is to serve as a paving bed.
- The selected lawn edging stones, such as basalt paving stones, are placed close to one another on this heap, with the cords serving as orientation.
- Finally, take a float on hand, with which you shape the pavement bed on both sides of the lawn edge and smooth it out. Now you can spread the potting soil for the bed on one side and prepare the soil for the lawn on the other side. The sand-gravel mixture can then no longer be seen.
These laying instructions are just one of the many creative ways in which a lawn edge can be shaped. Once you know how the principle works, you can let your imagination run wild.
Prices for lawn edging stones – an overview
- Concrete curb stones in gray: an inexpensive solution
- 6 cm thick, 20 cm high and 100 cm long = cost per piece from 1.19 euros
- Concrete curb stones rounded for a nicer look
- 5 cm x 25 cm x 100 cm = 2.80 euros per piece
- Concrete stones in red / brown for a beautiful play of colors
- 5 cm x 25 cm x 100 cm = from 4.14 euros
- Granite bricks, the inexpensive natural stones for a lawn edge
- light gray in the format 8-10x20x40 cm = cost per ton from 98 euros (unit price of around 2 euros)
- Granite paving stones in sizes 4/7, 8/11 or 15/17
- Lawn edge made of small granite paving stones creates an attractive look
- In this case, it is advisable to lay the stones in two rows
- position offset against each other
- Natural stones cost from 159 euros per ton
- Round board palisade stones made of concrete, the stable alternative to wooden palisades
- earth-brown stones 6 cm x 25 cm x 33 cm = 1.99 euros per piece
- Black basalt natural stones, the noble version of the lawn edging stones
- high-quality stones look very natural, but they also have their price
- 8 cm x 20 cm x 50 cm = from 14.90 euros
Finished ring made of real granite; the smart idea for a lawn edge around a tree.
The finished kit made of natural stone with a diameter of 1 m is available from 39.90 euros. Upon request, the kits can be supplied in 2, 4 or 6 parts, so that larger diameters can be achieved by combining them.
With regard to the price structure of the stone types, you must not overlook the fact that the shipping and delivery costs are also added. Depending on the distance, these can be considerable. It is therefore essential to always receive an individual, written offer for the delivery of the preferred type of stone so as not to experience any unpleasant surprises in the end.
Lawn edging stones made from cast stone yourself
Depending on the type of stone selected, the cost of an attractive lawn edging can quickly exceed the budget. An inexpensive alternative is to make your own lawn edging stones from cast stone using a casting mold or formwork mold. These forms are made of sturdy, weatherproof plastic and cost, for example, in the size 7 cm x 21 cm x 50 cm from 6.40 euros. White cement is more suitable for stone casting because it does not have the typical gray concrete color, is easy to process and colors nicely with the help of cement-safe oxide paint. The following materials should therefore be available:
- Formwork
- bucket
- water
- Weißzement
- Quartz sand
- cement-safe oxide paint
- Edible oil as a separating agent
Special release agents are also available from specialist retailers. Edible oil does the job just as well and is cheaper.
- The formwork is carefully brushed with the cooking oil so that the cast form can later be removed from it more easily.
- In the bucket provided, the cement mixture is made from one part cement, three parts quartz sand and possibly the selected cement-compatible oxide paint. With constant stirring, enough water is added until a viscous paste is created that is not too runny.
- The finished mixture is poured into the formwork and smoothed out.
- After about 24 hours the cement is dry and you can remove the new lawn edging stone from the mold. The formwork is usually made of such high quality plastic that it can withstand this process at least 200 times without damage. However, if you only want to work with one form, you should be patient, given the 24-hour drying time that every stone requires. Adjusted to the required number of lawn edging stones, you should therefore consider purchasing several casting molds at the same time.
Lawn edging made of aluminum, stainless steel
Setting lawn edging stones correctly is physically demanding work that can mostly only be done by men. A lighter and modern alternative are lawn edging made of aluminum. They are therefore perfect for straight and right-angled garden areas. Thanks to an additional roof width of 3.50 cm, these lawn edges are very stable and yet flexible. Therefore, they can also be used to cope with slight differences in height in the terrain, which would be much more time-consuming when laying stones. The material consists of an aluminum-zinc alloy, which is particularly resistant to corrosion. The accompanying, newly developed lawn cutter with a width of 30 cm enables women to lay lawn edges without male support.
- With the lawn cutter, the crevice is cut to the desired depth. Since the aluminum edges are offered up to a maximum of 20 cm high, the desired height can be determined by yourself.
- The elements are put together using the built-in connection mechanism. A 45 cm long fixing rod can also be inserted per meter to ensure stability. If the lawn edge is not inserted more than 10 cm into the ground, the fixing rods are essential.
- The aluminum edges are tapped again with a plastic hammer. If you only have a steel hammer at hand, it is advisable to use a piece of wood as a base and not hit the aluminum edges directly.
- A set of 10 of these aluminum lawn edging measures 0.60 cm x 40 cm x 100 cm costs from 65 euros. The fully galvanized fixing rods cost 35 euros in a set of 10.
Conclusion
The most beautiful lawn does not come into its own as it deserves when the edges are overgrown with individual tufts of grass. If the natural variant, also known as the English lawn edge, is too troublesome for you, you should consider a paved edge. With the right installation instructions, you can finally do this yourself. You can choose from a wide variety of stone types, from inexpensive concrete and sandstone to high-quality natural stone. Making concrete blocks for a lawn edge yourself is not difficult and helps to realize the project even with a small purchasing budget. If working with the stones is too difficult for you, you should pay attention to the alternative in the form of aluminum-stainless steel edges.
