Install Paver-Edge Border And Mowing Strip
1. Excavate a trench for the paver-edge
- Use a string for straight areas.
- If applicable, measure off a fence or building when possible for square straight lines.
- The trench should be of paver depth plus base material depth of about 2 or 3 inches. Most concrete pavers are 2 3/8 inches thick. A 5 to 6 inch depth trench is adequate.
2. Install and grade base material. This step provides a more robust install from settling and wet conditions. Makes it easier to install a uniformly flat surface.
- Base material is crushed rock with fines. Crushed limestone, recycled concrete crushed for road base are available in most areas. The idea is to provide a base layer on top of soil. Same base that would go under paver area. 2 - 3 inches base material depth is adequate and provides an easy to grade layer to set the paver-edge on.
- You can use existing soil and grade that to save time and money. The job photos shown here are installed using base material in the trench for a more robust install. An adequate base helps hold the look and stand up to commercial mowers.
3. Install pavers as paver-edge border
- As a mowing strip, install paver-edge 1/2 inch above grade and tap to settle.
- Paver-edge can be installed flat (front to back), or with slope towards the the side that is viewed most. A pitch would be used where a planter is in the back ground.
- The base material in the trench is graded with a slight slope up towards the back allowing to show more visible than if installed flat. Cosmetic option.
- The Length of paver-edge should be installed as flat and level as possible. This is where grading base material in the trench make all the differance. A hammer made for pavers is used to tap pavers flat.
- Use a straight 2 x 4 or long level and straight edge to check the top surface is uniformly flat end to end.
