Last fall I smothered a big chunk of front lawn on a whim (when life gives you couch boxes . . .) and I'm now getting it ready for planting this spring. Two sides of the new bed border the sidewalk.
I'm curious what folks recommend for edging along sidewalks to keep the mulch in and the sidewalk clear? I was going to do a paver edge but I'm worried if it's flush with the sidewalk mulch will spill out, and if it is taller than the sidewalks will it make winter shoveling a pain?
Also interested in how you select plants to go near the sidewalk. I'm assuming I want plants on the shorter side that don't spread too much but curious if there's anything else to consider.
Edit to include photo (pavers in place currently were just to hold down the cardboard) https://imgur.com/ca5SxQE
by apieceoftoastie
16 Comments
I love dense short sedges along pavement. Don’t plant wild strawberry or purple poppy mallow right against your sidewalk as both will crawl across.
I was staring at my sidewalk yesterday wondering this same thing, looking forward to replies!
Personally I would just get a trenching shovel, go along the sidewalk vertically with it, and then go at it at about a 45 degree angle from the other side to make a trench a few inches deep. That way your mulch/woodchips/etc can settle into the trench. Then maybe berm a little at the top to control erosion.
I dig a trench about 6” deep by 6” wide and fill it with woodchips.
I don’t have a sidewalk, but I’m doing a trench along where my yard meets the curb.
Dig down to lower the profile and/or use logs, cobblestone, wattle etc as edging. I prefer limbs and logs because they provide additional habitat and are free. Wattle is more work but will do a better job if you planted taller stuff too close to the edge.
I’m keeping a 4′ strip of turf along the sidewalks and using split rail fencing to delineate the naturalized areas.
That’s what I’d recommend for keeping it clean and accessible.
Trench down and fill with mulch. It flows over the edge because the drainage isn’t enough for the rate of rainfall and the surface is flush with the edge. You can also fill the dip with low ground cover or sedge type plants that will help absorb the moisture. I’ve also seen sand and gravel or river stones used but that is more expensive and requires regular weeding to look good.
Logs if I can get them or stones. Occasionally, I’ll buy the cheap landscape timbers at big box stores. But I strongly prefer logs and stones.
I used bricks left over from another project. On the shorter sides I placed them standing up on their end to keep a few taller plants from leaning too far into the pathway. I was also careful to plant plugs of native grasses on the edge that I only let bloom once per year and kept pretty short otherwise. I think it looked nice enough and performed well.
I have a small front yard in an HOA neighborhood. I went with paver stones because I really needed a physical barrier between my beds and the neighbors’ lawns. I just installed this last year, so still waiting to see how it works out longterm, but I haven’t had issues with mulch washout or shoveling so far – granted we don’t get anywhere near as much snow here in MD as you probably do in MN.
Still working on filling everything in, but I’m generally keeping to things under 1′ tall for a 1′ perimeter around the edges.
https://preview.redd.it/o5feo9njkrwg1.jpeg?width=2096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa10c08059375dcde1c0bc9ed649dc38a9949e67
Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but I have beds along both sides of our sidewalk and I have literally never thought about this. If any mulch spills over, I kick or sweep it back where it’s supposed to go. I also have a mix of plants of varying heights, including a couple that spill over the sidewalk–it actually looks quite pretty and cottage-y to my eye. I’m trying to phase the taller plants to be closer to the house, but that’s probably going to take a couple of years as things die and get replaced.
I talk dirty to them and describe how sexy their blooms are until they can’t take it anymore
In addition to what others have already posted, I look for plants that can handle some road salt, dog pee, and roughhousing children. My local nurseries highlight plants that are extra tough. They know there’s a market for plants to grow along sidewalks and roads.
If it’s flat I just do the old fashioned edge, dig it out along the sidewalk ~3-4 inches deep, remove soil at a taper sloped up to the bed height ~6 inches back from the sidewalk (More if it’s a bigger bed, or you don’t want things falling into the walkway, etc), backfill with mulch.
If you plants are all natives and you allow them to go to seeds which you should there won’t be anything that will prevent seeds to grow between bricks , stone anything next to the sidewalks . Your best solution is to plant a really short dense sedge , I have Carex Blanda once it starts growing it gets very dense nothing can grow between if it does it’s easy to remove . I have never seen such a beautiful low growing upright sedge just stunning . You purchase plugs for Izel Native nursery you plant them closely like every 8” and you will have a covered mat of sedges in no time . Pussytoes is another good one it grows so densely and very short Antennaria Neglecta , I bought 50 plugs from Izel last year $225.00 roughly it’s a bargain they were so big and healthy I had trouble getting them out of the tray.
https://preview.redd.it/dhhbpsx98swg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfc301e4e9e51d7dcfeae97e6cdd82e524fcaffb
Carex Blanda