Always Do This Before Mulching To Keep Grass Out Of Flower Beds

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Learning the best way to mulch your garden is an important gardening step if you're looking to give your blooms the energy and environment they need to thrive. As for grass, most of us crave a lush, healthy lawn in our yard to play, entertain, or simply to relax. When the two collide, however, frustrations can run high. Like Jon Snow going beyond the wall, these grass shoots can cross the border between lawn and flower bed, spreading between plants and, in a short space of time, completely taking over. There is one step that you can take before you mulch your garden beds that will help to keep your grass at bay, and all you'll need is one tool.

When grass enters your beds, it's not just trying to test your patience — there's science behind it. As a highly opportunistic plant, grass will seek out a well-maintained bed that is rich in nutrients after a good mulching. This is especially true in spring and fall in most parts of the U.S., when temperatures are in the magic range between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The grass will ultimately end up choking out delicate perennials and stealing the vital nutrients that you've added to the soil meant for your flowers. When mulching your flower beds, you'll want to create a defined border where the grass can't intersect the boundary. For this simple edging solution that keeps grass out of your flower beds, you'll only need an edging tool and a bit of leg power. If it's done correctly, you'll have a neat edge that will keep your lawn in check.

Before you get started, it's important that you use the right tool for edging your lawn. You can choose between a manual or motorized lawn edger, each offering different benefits. The most affordable of the two is the manual, which in most cases looks like a small shovel. This is a good option not only for affordability but also to get down deep through the grass' roots system to ensure a clean and thorough cut. A motorized edge trimmer, like this Greenworks Brushless Cordless Edger, as the name suggests, uses a motor to slice through the grass edge. They are easier to use, but don't always get right down to the roots. Our recommendation, if you're looking for a longer-lasting border, is to go for the manual option.

Grabbing the manual edger, find the line where the grass meets your flower bed and mark a spot slightly in on the lawn side — 3 inches or so will be fine. Apply pressure until the blade sinks into the soil and then pull it out. Next, move it either left or right and repeat. Once you've created the line on the lawn side, place the manual edger about 3 inches inside the flower bed and repeat, shifting the edger back and forth as you move. Then, lift the slice of grass out. Now you can add the mulch to the bed, moving some of it against the lawn border to neaten up the edge. You'll now have a neat and clean border between your lawn and your garden bed.