Grass Borders and Edging

[mass_burner]

I am experimenting around the property with non-edging techniques. That is, using an air gap to prevent grass from growing into planting beds, gravel areas, etc. The point for me is not pulling out the edger after mowing and the obvious work involved in installing pavers, edging, etc.

When I'm up against a mulched area it works fine. My problem is the area around the deck, its bordered with pea stone, and I can't seem to make keep gap without the gravel falling into and filling the gap.

Any thoughts?

 

[Jags]

Roundup.

 

[mass_burner]

Roundup.

won't this work back into the lawn? I don't want a strip of yellow, half-dead grass as a border.

 

[Jags]

won't this work back into the lawn? I don't want a strip of yellow, half-dead grass as a border.

It will eventually give a barren dirt strip (how ever wide you spray). I boarder all my buildings and trees this way (generally 6-8"). If you keep it managed it is simply a bare dirt strip. Maybe not the look of a city dwelling, but works great in farm community.

 

[begreen]

We have brick edged paths. That should provide a 4" barrier to the lawn but it doesn't. The grass will cross it in a summer. This year I'm using Round Up too.

 

[mithesaint]

won't this work back into the lawn? I don't want a strip of yellow, half-dead grass as a border.

Yep. I have a nice 2-3" wide circle of dead grass around all my trees and most of the beds. Works great for keeping the grass in check. The only problem I have is that I tend to get severe cracks in the dirt area between the mulch and grass. Can't be good for the roots, but hasn't killed anything yet.

 

[flyingcow]

If you have the time, use a strip of cardboard or whatever, to protect the good grass//plants from the "drift" of the round up. Once you get the rhythm down it doesn't take long. Round is absorbed thru the leaf/blade of the plant and goes down to the roots that way. I've even used a paint brush and painted the leaves of the offending plants. That works too..most of the time. I'm a horrible painter.