Gardeners can make a big difference to their outdoor space without breaking the bank, thanks to this simple lawn edging technique recommended by the pros – perfect for spring lawn care
Freya Hodgson and Jane Lavender
07:00, 25 Apr 2026
Mowing your lawn will never have been easier(Image: Getty)
With spring now upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to spruce up your garden and address those unruly lawn edges.
Sharp, well-defined borders not only help create a pristine lawn but also stop grass from creeping into neighbouring flower beds, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Luckily, gardening expert Bo Petterson has shared the “easiest” method to breathe fresh life into your outdoor area.
In a video posted on TikTok under the handle @dadadvicefrombo, the horticultural enthusiast showed how he creates a neat line between his lawn and flower bed.
The simple job requires only a few basic tools from the shed, including string, spiked nails, a tape measure, and a flat-head shovel, reports the Express.
The initial step involves measuring an equal distance from the grass to the soil at either end of the area you’re edging.
Gardeners have been issued key advice this spring(Image: Getty Images)
After determining the correct measurement, push the spiked nails into the ground and tie a tight piece of string between them to create a straight guideline.
If spiked nails aren’t available, Bo recommends using knitting needles or butter knives as alternatives.
Next, cut away any grass and turf that crosses over the line using your shovel – Bo advises maintaining approximately an inch’s distance from the string while doing this.
He explained: “Start working your way down the string line, cutting the sod as you go.
“Then you’ve just got to remove the sod and you got a nice straight line all the way down.”
Get perfect edges every time(Image: Goydenko Liudmila/Getty Images)
For those with a strimmer to hand, the expert recommends using it to tidy up any remaining grass, concluding: “Smooth everything out, and you’re in business.”
Sharp, straight edges create a clean distinction between lawn and border, although many gardeners favour curved boundaries, which can give a more natural appearance. In these instances, a flexible guide such as a hosepipe, rope or string is advisable.
The RHS suggests that any unwanted grass can either be added to your compost bin or piled into a separate heap to decompose into soil.
The tip proved a hit with viewers, who were quick to share their enthusiasm in the comments section. One user wrote: “That looks so good! Thank you for teaching us how to do this.”
A second added: “I’m a landscape technician, and this is exactly how the pros do it!” while another commented: “We need to do this and carve out new beds in our backyard.”
One particularly useful suggestion came from a follower who noted: “Easiest way to do lawn edging by far is use a reciprocating saw. You could do that whole stretch in about a minute.”
Comments are closed.