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Outdoors > Patios > How to Lay Edging Blocks

Learn how to lay edging blocks of different styles to frame your garden like a picture.

Edging blocks are specially made for outlining and defining flowerbeds and gardens and they come in many size, shapes, and colors. They do for the garden what a picture frame does for a painting. This demonstration presents a few of the available styles and offers installation tips, as well.

Step by Step Instructions with Video

Step
1

Define the Garden Edges with a Cutting Tool

Define the edge of the flowerbed with a garden edger. You will want to trim and shape the sod before working with the edging blocks.

Step
2

Use a Mattock to Loosen the Soil

Use a hand tool such as a small mattock to loosen the soil along the cut.

Step
3

Make a Shallow Trench and Lift Out the Soil

Make a shallow trench, using a garden trowel to displace the excess soil.

Step
4

Tamp the Bottom of the Trench with a Wooden Block and Mallet

Tamp down the bottom of the trench with a block of wood and a heavy mallet.

Step
5

Drive in Stakes to Mark the Ends of the Trench

Drive a stake into each end of the trench and the lay an edging block beside each stake.

Step
6

Lay an Edging Block Between the Stakes and Tie a String at Block Level

Tie a string between the stakes at the same elevation as the top of the blocks. Blocks do no need to be level, as they will follow the rise and fall of the terrain, but they do need to be straight and even.

Step
7

Set the Rest of the Blocks

Set the rest of the blocks in place and tap them with a mallet to get them flush with each other and even with the string. Some block styles have interlocking edges. Others do not interlock and almost rest on top of the ground rather than lying in a trench. Curved blocks are a perfect solution around trees.

Step
8

Backfill the Soil

Backfill the soil behind the blocks with a garden hoe. Do the same in front of the blocks if necessary.

Step
9

Compact the Soil with a Tamper or Your Foot

Compact the soil with a tamper or your foot.