My favorite is the concrete curb edging.

 

I agree @Ware. I plan to have this done by a company in the future.

 

My favorite is to just maintain a trenched edge. Takes a little more maintenance, but looks great. And if you ever decide you want to add to or change the layout of your landscape bed it's easy. Nothing to tear out of remove and reinstall.

 

I am in the same camp as @Mr McTurf

 

Trenching does look very good and just takes a little sweat equity...

 

Trenching is easy if you get the bed redefiner with a Stihl Kombisystem or Echo PAS

and yea, it looks way better

 

Trenching is easy if you get the bed redefiner with a Stihl Kombisystem or Echo PAS

and yea, it looks way better

What is a bed redefiner?

 

Trenching is easy if you get the bed redefiner with a Stihl Kombisystem or Echo PAS

and yea, it looks way better

What is a bed redefiner?

This is the attachment I am getting for my KM 131 motor in January (i've used the Echo one and they are pretty nice and do a fairly good job)

 

Trenching is easy if you get the bed redefiner with a Stihl Kombisystem or Echo PAS

and yea, it looks way better

What is a bed redefiner?

This is the attachment I am getting for my KM 131 motor in January (i've used the Echo one and they are pretty nice and do a fairly good job)

Thanks Ecks...

 

My favorite is to just maintain a trenched edge. Takes a little more maintenance, but looks great. And if you ever decide you want to add to or change the layout of your landscape bed it's easy. Nothing to tear out of remove and reinstall.

^^^^
This

 

Ya im thinking I'll try the natural edge. How deep do you trench it and do you make the mulch level with the grass?

 

Ya im thinking I'll try the natural edge. How deep do you trench it and do you make the mulch level with the grass?

I would go 4-6 inches, and slope your mulch down into the trench. If you make it level with the turf your grass will grow into that area (if you have a creeping variety). Having a ledge also makes it easier to trim.

 

Right on. Thanks @adgattoni

 

I agree with @Mr McTurf I love the look of a deep bed. I learned how to do this following Pete from GCI turf.

 

How do you guys handle mowing to the edge with deep beds? My current push mower's blades do not cut as wide as the tires. Weed eater?

I need to check out the time master or another mower that has a cutting path as wide as it's tires left to right.

 

How do you guys handle mowing to the edge with deep beds? My current push mower's blades do not cut as wide as the tires. Weed eater?

I need to check out the time master or another mower that has a cutting path as wide as it's tires left to right.

For now you can use the trimmer to get the edges. I would definitely look for another mower that has wider deck for next season.

 

Will the bed keep extending further and further over time if you keep shaving off a little bit of dirt to keep a straight edge each week?

 

Will the bed keep extending further and further over time if you keep shaving off a little bit of dirt to keep a straight edge each week?

Most people use the string trimmer along the edges weekly to keep the grass from spreading too much. The bed redefine is usually more of a twice a year type of a project.

 

How do you maintain the bed definition with the redefiner when you have mulch in the bed? Do you have to rake it away then back, or do you just not make the mulch that deep?

 

How do you maintain the bed definition with the redefiner when you have mulch in the bed? Do you have to rake it away then back, or do you just not make the mulch that deep?

I leave the mulch a bit shallow in the trench, then I go around and rake it back with one of those small garden claw things.

 

I'm defnietly switching to trenched beds and getting rid of the metal borders that I have.

 

I'm defnietly switching to trenched beds and getting rid of the metal borders that I have.

What's persuading you to make the switch? I currently have a mix of brick and railroad tie edges that I'm taking out this spring/summer and I'm stuck deciding whether I want to go with steel edging or au naturale trench beds.

 

I'm defnietly switching to trenched beds and getting rid of the metal borders that I have.

What's persuading you to make the switch? I currently have a mix of brick and railroad tie edges that I'm taking out this spring/summer and I'm stuck deciding whether I want to go with steel edging or au naturale trench beds.

The look is the number 1 factor for me. The extra work doesn't scare me, love yard work. I don't have a steady hand so I haven't considered it in the past because I am terrible with the line trimmer. Recently got the rotary scissors and I feel way more confident to keep edges clean.Recently did it for my tree in the front yard and loved it.

The other reason is because the metal lining/edging I was using kept shifting, no matter how much I staked it and worked it.

I do love the look of concrete edging, but I could never commit to something so permanent. (I know it can be removed, but not easily), considering I might want to change things around.

 

@Austinite Gotcha. I wondered if the steel edging would shift at all. Concrete edging sure looks easy to maintain but I can see myself wanting to change the shape of the beds every now and then.

 

if y'all go with a natural bed edge, what I suggest is applying plant growth regulator to the edge to slow the grass growth over into the trench. It makes it much easier to maintain your desired look. There are PGRs that are specific to edging. Some are just the same components as other turf PGR, but not all. I have tried Edgeless PGR and thought it did well.