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How to Install a Mowing Strip
A mowing strip is an edge given to a lawn . They're both practical and aesthetic: they cut down on edge trimming and make the shape of your lawn really stand out. Mowing strips also prevent lawn edges turning brown beneath overhanging vegetation as the season gets going. Mowing strips are installed flush with the lawn surface – your mower can run right over them. A width of 15–30 cm is usual. Smooth surfaced materials such as stone, concrete or brick are commonly used. To give a sense of unity to your garden, repeat the materials used in your paths and patio. Make paths and patios form edges to your lawn, particularly in small gardens. To minimise cutting, choose paving slabs in the smallest size. If your house is brick, use the same or a contrasting colour – dark grey/blue engineering bricks look great with yellow/buff ones. Materials used in the garden have to be frost proof. Curving or circular lawns are best edged with small paving units such as bricks, laid either on edge or in a single course of stretcher bond (end on); granite and concrete setts are also good for curved areas.
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You will need: two pegs and a garden line, or paint or sand to mark out; a spade; wheelbarrow; rake; trowel; sand; spirit level; your chosen materials; mortar mixture if you are using bricks, blocks or slabs.
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Mark out the area using the line, sand or paint. Remove the turf from the strip. Do this in sections, taking only 2.5 cm (1 inch) or so of soil. Stack turf, grass side down in a pile in a corner of your garden. In 18 months or so they will have turned into a good pile of loam , ready for reuse in your garden. Dig out the soil along the strip to the depth of your edging material plus 2.5 cm or so.
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Level the soil along the strip using a rake. Then spread a layer of sand along the first part of the new mowing strip. Tamp this down with the rake.
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Put the first unit of your mowing strip into place and settle it into the sand. Bricks and blocks can be laid on edge, side by side, or on end lengthways in a single row. Tap the brick, block or slab down firmly with a piece of timber or the handle of a trowel. Check with the spirit level, use more sand if you need to make up the level. Then add the next unit. You can mortar a brick, block or slab mowing strip into position either at the time of laying, or by brushing in a dry mix of mortar when you have finished. If you are pointing with wet mortar make sure that you finish with a 'bucket handle' finish - that's when the finished level of the mortar joint is just below the surface of the brick. Alternatively you can use a dry mix. Brush a mix of 1:3 cement and sand into the joints to fill them, then brush off the excess. Use a watering can with a fine rose fitted to water the edge, then leave it to set. If you are using concrete blocks they are designed to be laid in sand. To keep a single row firmly in place, you can set them into a haunch of mortar.
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Continue laying your strip until you have finished.
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Dig out soil to match material plus 2.5 cm. |
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Spread sand,lay strip, and check it is level. |
Edges are kept trimmed by the mower. |
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