Evening star., 1948-07-25
Neat Edgings
Will KeepOut
Border Weeds
By w. n. Younomon

Neatly trimmed edeines add
greatly to the appearance of the
flower beds and borders. The Job
OF trimming, however, is usually
so tedious that most gardeners avoid
1t. This only adds to their difficulties.
II the edgings are neglected, the
grasses soon spread into the beds
adding to the work of keeping them
clean. Then lines must be re-estab-
hshed and the grass roots dug out.
The planting OF row of edging
plants, such as ageratum or alys-
sum, does not solve this problem
for, while they hide the edging, they
DO not keep grass and weeds from
encroaching. They do, however, help
to hide a ragged edge and, because
OF their long season Of bloom, add
materially to the appearance of
the yard. Dwarf shrubs, such as box
barberry. Teucrium (Germander)
Eantolina Lavender cotton), etc.
may be similarly used, but they are
no better than the perennials since
grass may spread through them and
into the beds.
Gardeners have long used bricks
as an edging, one corner Of each
brick pointing up so that the row
has the appearance of saw teeth. If
the bricks are placed deeply enough
they will prevent the grass from ex-
tending, but for the most part they
do lack depth. If moles are a prob
lem, the bricks are far too shallow. |
When stood on end and the edges
cemented together they will prob
ably control the grass and weeds.
Wooden PIanks Decay.
Many gardeners have tried using
wooden planks as edgings for beds
and driveuays but, unfortunately,
even when treated with creosote
they soon decay. With the high
cost of lumber there is little incen-
tive to use wood. The life OF a
buried plank might be materially
increased II treated with the Eng
lish preservative, Cuprinol, but this
has not been widely tested in this
area.
Metal strippings are frequently
suggested and, before the war, espe-
cially prepared and treated strips
were offered. While most of them
are too narrow If judged by the re-
quirements implied above, they are
neat and inconspicuous. Perhaps
some day they will again be avail
able in such widths as will stop
underground shoots of Bermuda and
other grasses, even check moles.
Sheet aluminium seems suitable
although much Of it has been of
light gauge.
Some will suggest q narrow con-
crete wall as being the most in
expensive, durable and easily con-
structed Of edging materials. It
should be thick enough to withstand
expansion and contraction and the
top edge, extending just above the
surface and thus conspicuous, may
be made of brick |,
Rock or stone walls often lack
the straight lines so desirable, but
a handyman can make an attrac-
tive edging of the desired depth
and strength from pieces Of flag
stone or slate Slate, unless rather
heavy, is likely to be Clipped and
broken when run over by a lawn
mower or hit with a hoe.
Use Permanent Materials.
With the current cost of labor the
expense Of trimming lawn is such
that the cost of permanent curb
or edging is Of practical signific-
ance to the home owner.
The materials used should be
comparatively permanent, not easily
damaged, inconspicuous, and deep
enough to prevent grass roots from
"going-under," and, If moles are a
problem, deep enough to exclude
them. This implies that the edging
needs to be free from cracks that
grass roots can penetrate, and at
least IL inches in depth. The width
OF the edging will vary according
to the material. A concrete or brick I
wall will, of necessity, be at least
two inches thick. Metal edgings {
are seldom more than a quarter to
one-half inch thick. Wooden
planks vary from one-half to one
inch in thickness.
The height Of the edging above
the surface Of the ground should be
kept at a minimum, although in
most cases it will be at least one
inch. This is not Objectionable,
since the grass will hide an edging
OF that height. Where the flower
beds are raised above the level of
the lawn the wall or edging will
need to be high enough to hold the
soil. Along walks and drives the
helght above the ground should be
sufficient to keep the gravel out of (
the grass.
Keeping our grass edges trimmed
and neat is a problem at best, one I
which we should study. The choice j
between trimming tools and weekly {
Job or the installation of perman-
ent edgings of metal wood or mas I
onry must be decided in the light t
OF individual circumstances. E