A Concrete Mowing Strip Would Give Your Flower Beds A Neat Edge With Less Trimming

Having one crisp line between the lawn and flower beds can instantly make a garden look tidier, but it also means getting the string trimmer out to maintain it. That is, unless you install a concrete mowing strip into your yard. Not to be confused with mowing patterns or stripes, mowing strips are a practical landscaping feature built into the ground: a narrow band of concrete that is installed flush with the grass. This allows one wheel of your mower to run along it as you cut to create a clean boundary with no fiddly trimming required. Hooray.

These strips are usually around 6 inches wide, and in addition to separating the turf from a flower bed, they can also help stop grass creeping into planting areas. And it doesn't necessarily need to be an elaborate job to look good and polished; just a simple concrete or paved strip will do, making this a flower bed idea even for a smaller backyard. Curved strips can follow informal planting beds, while straight lines suit more structured layouts, depending on what you have. The most important thing to bear in mind is that the top must sit level with the lawn, as a strip that's too high can catch the mower wheel and one that's too low can leave grass uncut.

It isn't necessarily a quick Sunday afternoon project, particularly if the bed has a long or winding perimeter, but it can still be a DIY job. First, you need to measure the wheel's contact area before deciding on the dimensions. You need to allow enough room for it to stay on the concrete without rolling into the flowers; usually this means making the strip twice as wide as the mower's wheels. Then, for a poured-concrete strip, mark the bed's outline and dig a small trench to accommodate the concrete and a stable base, using forms to keep the edges straight or create smooth curves. If you prefer, concrete pavers laid flat can provide a similar mowing surface as opposed to poured concrete. The thing that matters most, with either option you choose, is a stable and even surface that can withstand regular contact with the mower's wheel, whether it's a gas or electric lawnmower.

Once it's in place, the strip will need very little upkeep beyond occasional cleaning and checking for cracks or movement. You may still need to do some trimming around any corners or uneven patches, or perhaps some maintenance of plants that spill over the edge, but it should make things much more manageable.