Learn how to recut flower bed edges – part 2 with video! These easy steps using a simple flower bed edger will leave your landscape edges stunning, looking like a new bed!
Well hello there spring!
It feels so good to be mowing that greener than green grass once again! And of course, play in the garden beds.
Today I even painted house trim! I do love my sunshine.
But one thing never fails…
Come spring, barely before the snow has melted, my original post How to edge flower beds like a pro starts to gain some traction.
And I truly know why it continues to do well.
Because this simple technique of using a flower bed edger works, leaving stunning results!
How often do flower beds need re-edging?
I re-cut my flower bed edges every spring. Because over the course of a year, the soil tends to flatten out, and the flower bed edges grow frayed over time. The flower beds just take on a brand new look once they are freshly cut once again.
Since the flower bed edges were already cut, the lawn edge just needed sharpening up with a blade which is much easier than starting fresh!
NO need for any plastic edging, stone edging, brick edging or any other edging materials this round. All you’ll need is one simple flower bed edger and a little bit of your time.
Here’s how to quickly this clean up your existing bed edges that will deliver outstanding garden design results!
No flower beds yet? I suggest to start at Part 1.
This post contains some affiliate products in which I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products I love to use. All opinions are my own.
Read the entire series
How to edge flower beds like a pro (using a very simple flower bed edger!) – Part 1
How to recut existing flower bed edges like a pro (you are here) – Part 2
PLUS! View helpful video below at end of this post!
How to recut flower bed edges like a pro
Supplies you’ll need:
hand garden tools (fork and trowel)
Yard trimmer (I love my battery-run version here)
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Part 1
This post is based on the fact that you already have flowerbeds and have used a flower bed edger.
If you don’t yet, learn how to cut them at:
Part 1 – How to edge flower beds like a pro HERE
Part 2
1. Using a half moon flower bed edger, create a fresh cut along your existing flower bed edges to sharpen them up.
Once spring transpires, your flower bed edges will have a fuzzy look.
Most of this is due to the grass growing. However you will also note, the soil levels out, becoming level with the lawn, which reduces the sharpness of what it can be.
The key is to achieve a sharp edge and get a trench back in place.
Recut with flower bed edger
1. Create a fresh edge cut with a flower bed edger.
I simply go along the flower bed edge with a half moon edger and slice off the very least I feel I need to. Just enough to create a sharp edge once again.
Slicing the edges is like cutting into a cake. It isn’t difficult, because your edge is already there. However the fresh cut makes all the difference in the world, since it adds depth once again.
Tips:
Avoid shaping flower beds with sharp curves. If you work with a lawnmower dimension, it will be much easier to mow around your flower bed edges.
Try cutting after a rainfall so your soil is softer to work with.
Crumble up turf
2. After slicing the edges, tap soil off turf chunks.
The weeds are removed first, then the soil is removed from the sod pieces by turning them upside down and banging the shovel against the soil until it loosens.
The sod is then placed upside down in the compost (so it doesn’t reroot) or placed into the green container for recycling.
Trim the grass
3. Trim grass by clipping the grass edges horizontally and vertically. NOT on an angle.
Now with edges cut, it’s time to give the grass its final trim, much like a haircut.
The grass edge is trimmed horizontally so it’s level with the lawn, and vertically so it looks completely clean looking directly down onto the edge while standing up.
However do not angle your trimming, or you will lose the flower bed edger sharpness.
Garden shears like above do the best job, or for easier upkeep, use a yard trimmer.
How to trim with a yard trimmer:
- Turn the lawn edger head upside down, and run the cutting line against the edge.
- Do not angle the yard trimmer. First cut horizontally, then vertically, not on an angle otherwise you’ll round out the flowerbed edge.
- I also use THIS light duty battery operated yard trimmer. The head rotates so I can hold it upright while the head cuts upside down. It works fabulous.
- Gather up most grass clippings by hand, then use a garden fork to spread the rest out to compost.
- Dig your shovel into the cut, then lift up the soil towards the back, creating a fresh trench.
- Smooth out the new soil mound with your hand or garden fork, and you’re done!
Freshening up edging against different types of walkways
If you are working against driveways, concrete sidewalks, garden walkways or otherwise, you can skip the lawn trimming, but do all the rest.
- Recut the soil edge with a flower bed edger to create fresh depth.
- Mound the soil up and away from the cut.
- Smooth out soil surface and remove weeds.
The 2 minute video below this post will show you the entire quick process!
Before
In spring, the fuzzy edges before the refresh.
After
And after: How to freshen up flower bed edges like a pro!
Stunning difference isn’t it?
How to mow around recut flower bed edges
Since the recut flower bed edges are deep, you’ll want to avoid running your lawn mower too close or into the trench.
Instead, simply mow as close as possible around the edge, then follow up with garden shears or a weed trimmer after mowing.
This is where it really pays to create flower bed edges that don’t have tight curves. If you design with a lawnmower shape and size in mind, you can simply walk along our flower bed edging when you mow without having to constantly back up the mower to fit.
Modifying your flower bed edging is relatively easy. Recut some edges so they are of a larger radius, which also adds more space in your flower beds as well.
General flowerbed upkeep
- Remove debris, and fluff up the soil.
- Redig the trench so the flower beds maintain that soft uphill mound of soil.
- Smooth out the mound for a flawless finish!
Video – How to edge flower beds
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Click above to see a short 2 minute video of the entire process!
How’s your garden looking these days? Think you’ll try these tips?
How to recut flower bed edges like a pro - part 2 with video
Instructions:
- Note how fuzzy the flower bed edges are? Let's sharpen them back up!
- Using a half moon edger on a slight angle, cut along the flower bed edges.
- Cut up any turf chunks and tap off the soil. Turn upside down in compost.
- Using garden shears or weed trimmer, trim the grass along the edge of the flowerbed both horizontally and vertically to create the sharpest edge possible. Do not trim on an angle as this will soften the edge.
- Remove the grass clippings by hand.
- Dig a trench against the cut edges, then mound up the soil by pushing it up and towards the flowerbed. Smooth over with hand.
- Fluff up the soil while removing any weeds.
- Upkeep the edges by doing all of the above steps (except for cutting with the half moon edger) after each lawn mow to ensure they look their sharpest!
- Recut all the edges each spring (and fall if needed) to keep them looking their best!
Notes
Pin the image below to save it for later!
Other gardening tips you may enjoy:
Read both Flowerbed Edging posts from HERE
Create a rustic shed with reclaimed wood!
Make a Potting Shed garden tool hanger
DIY an easy potting bench with sawhorses
Read all my Garden Posts HERE
Do you mulch your flower beds?
Hi Pam! I top up the soil with a mixture that includes organic fertilizer every 2-3 years. However I don’t add bark mulch to my beds if that is what you are asking. I personally would use landscape fabric and bark mulch for beds that I know I won’t plant anything more in.
Donna,you did a great job,very professional looking. Beautiful.
Absolutely Gorgeous!!!!
My grandma always did deep edging like this in her yard and it made her summer trimming (which she did with hand sheers) so much easier.
Looks beautiful…
the flowerbeds look so beautiful and nice job with the edging
Your flower beds look beautiful. Did you mulch over your soil at some point?
Oops…I see that you have already answered my question when Pam asked it.
Haha, all good!
Thank-you Janet! The only thing I do with the soil is top it up every 2-3 years with a soil/organic fertilizer mix. It keeps it fertile, and light to work with.
Well it really looks great! Thanks for the inspiration Donna!
Today I started edging my flowerbeds like this. It is a workout when it is brand new but i love how they look!
Oh I agree. It is VERY much a workout for brand new beds, but after it’s done, the upkeep is totally do-able!
Since the edge of the grass sharp, how do address mowing the grass on the edge? The mower wheels would be too short to match the soil. Have always loved the look, but don’t quite get it. Thanks for the clarification.
Hi Kirstin!
When I mow, I get as close to the edge as comfortable without going over the edge with the lawnmower wheels. A weed trimmer positioned ‘flat’ takes care of the rest along the cut.
Then I position a weed trimmer upside down, and cut ‘up and down’ along the entire edge. This can also be done with hand clippers.
It’s a lot easier to do than explain. Haha!