We all take pride in our homes. While we spend thousands of dollars of remodeling our kitchen and bathrooms, choosing the exact colors of paint and floor design we sometimes let the exterior go. Our lawns are an extension of our home, our family…us so let’s spruce it up starting with the edging. If the edging is not repaired, damaged edges will continue to deteriorate, and like any bare patch, they also provide an open invitation for weeds to establish. Reseeding a damaged edge is rarely effective, so try tackling the problem using this simple technique.
Step 1: Cut Out Damage
Cut out a rectangle of sod around the damaged area. Cut a generous area, or the sod will fall apart as you lift it out. It might help to stand on a board and cut against it to get a straight edge.
Step 2: Undercut Sod
Undercut the rectangle with a spade. Try to cut the sod to as even a thickness as possible, with at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil.
Step 3: Break Up Soil
Lightly fork over the newly exposed soil to break up the surface and to encourage re-rooting. Add soil if necessary and firm well.
Step 4: Turn Broken Edges Inward
Lay the piece of sod again, turning it around so that the broken edge faces inward, and the cut edge aligns with the edge of the lawn. Check the fit and level, and make any adjustments. Butt up the edges, pressing down the replaced section firmly.
Step 5: Apply Top Dressing
Fill the hole with top-dressing and work it into the seams to help them knit together. You can reseed the hole if it is large, using an appropriate grass seed. Water, and keep an eye on the repair until the grass has started to regrow, weeding and watering if required.
Step 6: Keep it Neat
To maintain a neat edge, re-cut it whenever it starts looking untidy; this is easiest when the soil is moist but not wet. Lay a plank on the lawn to stand on and cut against, or use a taut length of string as a guide. Sever the grass roots with a spade or edger where they are spreading into the bed or border. When you have finished working in one direction, work back in the other, pressing against the cut surface to firm it.