The Best Time To Edge Your Flower Bed (And Mistakes To Avoid)

Building a flower bed edge is a bit like framing a gorgeous, natural photo. Except, instead of a photograph, you have a collection of enchanting plant life. Some gardeners, however, may be concerned that they've waited too long to put the edge around their flora or that they've made a grave error in building a previous one. This is why we reached out to Roy Altaras, Landscape Designer at Roy Altaras Landscape Design & Build, to ease our minds about this landscaping method. It turns out, as long as you're not doing it in a winter storm, there isn't really a bad time to create a flower bed edge.  

In speaking exclusively to House Digest, Altaras explained that a flower bed edge is more than just something pretty to look at. "Edging is a fundamental part of any landscape design; it serves both the technical, the visual, and the creative aspects of the layout of the garden," he said, adding, "It comes in many forms and shapes that define style. Some are invisible, in the ground, while others are raised and decorative." You can even use a 2x6 in a genius hack for a sharp edged bed. When it comes to building out your flower bed, let your creativity shine! 

Gardeners know that when it comes to plants, timing often means everything. There is a best time of year to prep flower beds before springtime, a perfect window to grow veggies, and an ideal time to cover plants before the first frost. So, is there an ideal time to edge around a flower bed? Well, yes and no. 

According to landscape expert Roy Altaras, the best time to edge a flower bed is sooner rather than later. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, he said, "The best time to edge a flower bed or do any form of gardening is twenty years ago. If not then, and unless there's a blizzard outside, now or anytime is a good time to get it done." He added that spring and fall might be the more comfortable times to build an edge, though summer can work too if you prepare for the heat. 

If you decide to do the project in a less opportune part of the year, it is possible to successfully complete it, even if it isn't as pleasant. Even so, Altaras notes that some believe that gardening activities should be avoided when the soil is too wet. If there is too much moisture, the soil can become compacted. Should that happen, be sure to aerate and overseed to save your lawn from the issues of compacted soil.

Other than trying to edge a flower bed while you're being blanketed with snow, there are some mistakes that can be made. The biggest one of all, per expert Roy Altaras, is placing edging too close to trees. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, he said, "Give enough space for your planting areas, especially around trees. Don't cut tree roots that are thicker than two inches." It's often good advice to avoid cutting thick protruding tree roots, regardless of location. 

As for the edging itself, Altaras recommends using a flat shovel, though he acknowledges that any kind of shovel will get the job done. "There are of course tools designed for this specific task, manual or motorical," he explained. Edgers, for example, are commonly used for these projects. Additionally, Altaras and his team prefer using metal edging over other materials for these kinds of landscaping projects.