Beat the heat: landscape edging strategies for summer garden care

19 December 2023

Despite four New Zealand regions experiencing a year’s worth of rain in the first six months of 2023, some areas are likely to experience water shortages over the summer months. Gardeners face the challenge of preserving the health and beauty of lawns and garden beds; however, with a proactive approach and a handful of EverEdge’s strategic measures, you can ensure the garden not only survives, but thrives in the face of a potentially long and dry summer.

Installing Everedge metal landscape edging stylishly defines garden zones, pathways, garden beds and lawns, but it delivers more than a cohesive aesthetic appeal. Garden edging benefits the garden’s health, even during periods of high temperatures and water shortages. Here are three ways you can help protect your garden during summer:

1. Apply mulch

When it comes to conserving moisture and protecting your garden beds, bark mulch is a game-changer. Where water scarcity is a concern, incorporating bark mulch into your garden significantly helps water retention. Not only does it reduce water evaporation, but it also minimises water runoff. Consider a 2-inch layer of bark mulch for your plant beds to reap additional benefits, including weed control and protection against future winter frosts.

Trees also benefit from mulch as it duplicates the conditions of a forest floor, improving root system and tree health. Care must be taken to keep it away from the trunk to avoid it softening the wood making it vulnerable to disease and infection. Install garden bed edging or a metal tree ring to effortlessly keep the mulch in situ.

a small tree in the middle of a lush green field

2. Adjust how and when you water the garden

As water scarcity becomes a challenge, adjusting your watering practices is crucial. Installing a water butt to harvest rainwater and recycling household grey water, sourced from baths, sinks, washing machines, and dishwashers, further boosts water-saving efforts, ensuring a reliable water supply during drier spells. Landscape edging promotes a more sustainable and water-efficient garden by preventing soil erosion and runoff, metal edging helps retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for excessive watering.

Avoid watering the lawn and garden during the heat of the day when it will evaporate much quicker. Instead, try to water in the cool of the evening or the very early morning – morning is preferable as it gives the plant time to dry before sundown.

3. Get weeding

Weeds not only compete with plants for essential nutrients but moisture too. During the growing season manual weeding is a necessity to eliminate these water-draining intruders so your plants and shrubs have the greatest opportunity to thrive. Garden edging creates a physical barrier that prevents unwanted grasses and plants from spreading onto lawns or garden beds – the ideal solution for those wishing for a lower maintenance garden design.

In the face of a changing climate and increased water scarcity, adopting water-saving practices is crucial for maintaining a lush and vibrant garden. By implementing these expert tips, you can create an environmentally conscious and resilient outdoor space. If you would like to learn more about Everedge NZ’s metal landscape edging, or wish to discuss a project, call us today on 021 925 389 or email simon@everedgenz.co.nz.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Explore EverEdge

Why EverEdge? →

See our products →

Shop Now

WHY EVEREDGE?

SHOP NOW

Man installing edging along a lawn path in a garden.

The gardener’s guide to avoid garden edging mistakes

by Simon Mullinger • 25 August 2025

A well-designed garden isn’t just about the plants you choose; it’s the finishing touches that make all the difference. Garden edging frames your beds, pathways, and lawns, creating a clean, structured look while keeping soil, mulch, and grass exactly where they should be. But despite its time-saving capabilities, small mistakes during planning or installation can leave you with an untidy or high-maintenance garden – exactly what you didn’t sign up for. As a supplier of the best high-quality steel landscape edging products in New Zealand , EverEdge has heard it all – from shallow installs that allow grass to creep back in, to cracked or warped materials that ruin a carefully designed border. To help you get it right the first time, here are the top three garden edging mistakes and how you can avoid them. 1. Choosing the wrong edging material One of the most common mistakes is selecting edging that doesn’t stand the test of time. Plastic and timber edging might look appealing initially, but they deteriorate quickly over time, accelerated by harsh weather. Plastic warps under the sun, while timber is prone to rotting and shifting. Both often require replacement within just a few seasons. Even if you opt for the more expensive concrete garden edging it is vulnerable to ground movement and freeze-thaw cycles. By contrast, metal landscape edging, particularly steel garden edging, offers durability, flexibility, and a clean aesthetic. It can be shaped into sweeping curves or sharp angles without cracking, and it resists corrosion for decades. EverEdge products are designed for professional results and are trusted by landscapers across New Zealand for everything from garden bed edging and metal tree ring edging to driveway edging. Choosing a long-lasting material from the outset saves you time, money, and endless frustration down the line. 2. Installing at the wrong depth Even the best edging material won’t perform if it’s not installed correctly . A frequent error is laying edging too shallow. This allows mulch and soil to spill over and gives grass and weeds the perfect opportunity to creep back into your beds. Too deep, on the other hand, and the edging becomes buried, disappearing from sight and failing to give that crisp separation between lawn and border.