7 Garden Edging Mistakes (and How to Fix Them in NZ)
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 highest-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, we’ve expanded our guide to the top 7 garden edging mistakes and how you can avoid them.
1. Choosing the Wrong Material for NZ Conditions
One of the most common mistakes is selecting edging that doesn’t stand the test of time.
- Plastic: Often warps under the harsh NZ UV sun and becomes brittle, cracking within a few seasons.
- Timber: While cheap initially, timber in contact with damp soil will eventually rot. It also tends to warp and shift as it swells with moisture.
- Concrete: Heavy and expensive to install. It is also vulnerable to ground movement, leading to cracks that are difficult to fix.
The Fix: Choose metal landscape edging. Particularly steel garden edging, which 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. Choosing a long-lasting material from the outset saves you time, money, and endless frustration down the line.
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2. Installing at the Wrong Depth
Even the best edging material won’t perform if it’s not installed correctly.
- Too Shallow: If you set it too high, mulch and soil will spill over. It also makes mowing difficult, as you can't run the mower wheels over the edge.
- Too Deep: The edging disappears visually, and grass roots can easily jump over the top into your flower beds.
The Fix: EverEdge garden edging is available in three depths: 75mm, 100mm, and 125mm. We recommend burying the edging so that the top of the spike is just covered, leaving about 15mm-30mm of the edge face visible.
This creates a perfect "mowing strip"—you can run your lawnmower wheel right over the grass edge without hitting the steel, eliminating the need for hours of whipper-snippering.
3. Overlooking Curves and Corners
A common oversight in garden design is failing to plan for the natural flow of curves and corners. Straight lines can feel too rigid in a garden, while awkwardly forced bends can break the visual rhythm of a landscape.
The Fix: Use the "Garden Hose Trick." Before you buy your edging, lay out a garden hose or a rope on your lawn to define the shape of the bed. Stand back and look at it from different angles (from the house, from the patio). Once you are happy with the flow, measure the hose to see exactly how many metres you need.
💡 PRO TIP: How to bend it EverEdge is designed to be flexible. To create a smooth curve, bend the steel over your knee or around a tree trunk. For a sharp 90-degree corner, clamp a block of wood against the steel and bend it by hand to get a crisp right angle.
4. Ignoring "Rust Run-Off" (The Corten Trap)
We love the look of Corten Steel (Weathering Steel). It adds a beautiful, rustic warmth to NZ gardens. However, a major mistake people make is installing it directly onto porous, light-coloured pavers before it has weathered.
When Corten is new, it goes through a "bleeding phase" where rusty water can run off during rain. This can stain concrete or limestone pavers.
The Fix:
- Use a Buffer: Install a small strip of river stones or gravel between the steel edge and your pavers. This acts as a drain for the run-off.
- Pre-Weather It: If you must install it next to pavers, lay the edging on a tarp in your backyard for 2-3 weeks and water it with a saltwater mix. Once the bright orange rust has darkened to a deep bronze, the "bleeding" phase is mostly over, and it is safer to install.
5. Forgetting to Check for Underground Pipes
There is nothing worse than driving a steel spike into the ground and hitting a water pipe or irrigation line.
The Fix: Before you start hammering, take a moment to visualize where your services run. If you have an irrigation system, flag the sprinkler heads and trace the lines. If you are edging near a house wall, be wary of shallow stormwater pipes.
6. Not Pre-Cutting the Turf
Many DIYers try to hammer the edging directly into established lawn without preparation. While EverEdge is strong, hard dry summer soil can be like concrete. Trying to force the edging in can cause the spikes to bend or the line to become wonky.
The Fix: Use a half-moon edger or a sharp spade to cut a clean vertical slit in the turf before you place the edging. This creates a guide for the spikes and ensures your line is perfectly smooth and level.
7. Joining the Sections Incorrectly
The final mistake is a visual one. If the sections aren't clicked together properly, or if the join isn't flush, you will see a small gap or "step" in the line.
The Fix: EverEdge features a unique locking system. Ensure the male and female sections are slotted together fully before you drive the spikes in. A rubber mallet is your best friend here—use it to gently tap the top of the edging until the joins are level and seamless.
The Unassuming Hero of Garden Design
Steel garden edging is a visually powerful addition to any garden design—when done correctly. It transforms a space from ordinary to immaculate.
Avoiding these seven mistakes ensures your edging delivers both beauty and practicality for years to come. If you’re looking to upgrade your garden, explore EverEdge’s full range of steel landscape edging solutions, available across New Zealand.
Need advice on which profile to choose? We are here to help. Contact our team via our website or email us directly for advice on your project.
