Sidewalks, flower gardens, homemade streams and other types of landscaping all have one thing in common. They have a border. There is a space where you don't want the turf or weeds to encroach. Using composite or plastic bender board will help resolve this issue by making sure you have a nice separation between the two types of landscaping.
Wood fibers and glue are used to make the composite borders. They retain some flexibility but may be a bit harder to work with. Often you will use water to help shape them. The nice thing about them is that they deteriorate over time. If you aren't wanting this to be a permanent solution, this is the way to go. They'll naturally rejoin the soil over a matter of years.
Recycled plastic is used in the other type. Since there is no need to make new plastic, this option is also environmentally sound. Since it is plastic it will last much longer and never need to be replaced. The option here is best when you want the landscaping to last a lifetime.
The steps it takes to install them both are the same. A nice tip for measuring around circles and corners is to put in stakes around the path. Then you stretch a piece of string between each stake. Make sure you have enough to get the right roundness and then measure the string. Using a metal measuring tape will not give you a good measurement since you'll have to add and figure out where you might not have gotten the right angle.
Start digging when you're shovel is ready to go. The hole needs to be at least six inches wide and deeper than the border material. This is important because you need to put stakes in the hole to hold the border and have it low enough that it sits below the grass line. This will allow you to put decorative rocks on top or make it so it blends in. You don't want the border sticking up above the dirt.
Start putting the board into the trench. When you reach an end and need to add a second one, go ahead and place a second stake to be able to hold both ends together. If you need to cut the material for it to fit, now is the time to do so. If an area is riding high and will be above the trench, grab the shovel and dig out a bit more dirt to allow it to settle below the line.
Slide the dirt into the hole and cover the border. You can use your foot, shovel or tamping tool to pack the dirt down. You want to get it nice and packed before you put anything else, like rocks on top, so you can be sure it won't sink later on. Over time it may settle more, so don't worry about making a bit of a mound over the border as you fill it in.
It's not hard to make a nice border to keep the weeds from growing into the flower bed or decorative rocks. After you've dug the trench and put in the border, you'll be well on your way to creating a great looking landscaped yard. Having a border between areas is essential to keeping it looking great over time.
Wood fibers and glue are used to make the composite borders. They retain some flexibility but may be a bit harder to work with. Often you will use water to help shape them. The nice thing about them is that they deteriorate over time. If you aren't wanting this to be a permanent solution, this is the way to go. They'll naturally rejoin the soil over a matter of years.
Recycled plastic is used in the other type. Since there is no need to make new plastic, this option is also environmentally sound. Since it is plastic it will last much longer and never need to be replaced. The option here is best when you want the landscaping to last a lifetime.
The steps it takes to install them both are the same. A nice tip for measuring around circles and corners is to put in stakes around the path. Then you stretch a piece of string between each stake. Make sure you have enough to get the right roundness and then measure the string. Using a metal measuring tape will not give you a good measurement since you'll have to add and figure out where you might not have gotten the right angle.
Start digging when you're shovel is ready to go. The hole needs to be at least six inches wide and deeper than the border material. This is important because you need to put stakes in the hole to hold the border and have it low enough that it sits below the grass line. This will allow you to put decorative rocks on top or make it so it blends in. You don't want the border sticking up above the dirt.
Start putting the board into the trench. When you reach an end and need to add a second one, go ahead and place a second stake to be able to hold both ends together. If you need to cut the material for it to fit, now is the time to do so. If an area is riding high and will be above the trench, grab the shovel and dig out a bit more dirt to allow it to settle below the line.
Slide the dirt into the hole and cover the border. You can use your foot, shovel or tamping tool to pack the dirt down. You want to get it nice and packed before you put anything else, like rocks on top, so you can be sure it won't sink later on. Over time it may settle more, so don't worry about making a bit of a mound over the border as you fill it in.
It's not hard to make a nice border to keep the weeds from growing into the flower bed or decorative rocks. After you've dug the trench and put in the border, you'll be well on your way to creating a great looking landscaped yard. Having a border between areas is essential to keeping it looking great over time.
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