How to Extend a Landscape Bed Using Rock Edging (Easy)

Rock edging is a great way to keep mulch and other materials in place while adding a natural touch to your yard. In this video, we'll show you how to use rock edging and natural fieldstone to create an attractive landscape bed.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

I could listen to this guy’s voice all day!

[@tomtwiss8506]

These videos you make a top notch. Every time a question comes up in my mind while watching your videos you always explain it before the end. So informative and enjoyable.

[@gardenhike]

Thank you Tom, I appreciate it, nice to hear…

[@marcellacoblentz8433]

Another great video. You are very artistic with your rock work! Two important points you made: don’t put anything around the tree trunk and landscape fabric not a good idea. Too many landscapers here create mulch ‘volcanoes’ around trees!

[@TheSeedsower107]

Such a beautiful natural look ! I love working with field stone. Thank you for sharing your project .

[@lisakeith7313]

Love your yard & it's zone 4, like us! It's what we hope for in our yard. I think we binge watched almost all your videos. And you show how to create berms around existing plants. So many show how to make the berm first, then add the plants. We live on a corner lot, along a 4-lane highway & have many city/state ordinances to comply with, as to not disrupt the visual safety zones of drivers. (Surprisely, the state has less restrictions than our city.) While we can't get rid of the traffic, we want PRIVACY, but we need items that stay on the more narrow & dwarf size...for SD zone 4. Currently, we have an "ordinance approved" black 3 ft fence along the roads, some deciduous trees planted on the corners of our property. Last year, we added more narrow conifers of different colors, shapes & textures, & hydrangeas. This year we created beds with cardboard covered with mulch, added perennials along the fence & between the trees. We want to add rock along the edges. Wish we had made berms for more difference in elevation...but we have to be careful of not blocking the view for traffic. Maybe we can still add them. Thank you so much for sharing your yard & the detailed explanations.

[@gardenhike]

Great to hear you enjoyed the videos, I’ve enjoyed sharing. Good luck on your project!

[@ytubechannel997]

Great demo. Love the integration of natural rock into the landscape. The Ohio Buckeye fall color is awesome.

[@Anonymously4051]

Beautiful, thank you for this information. I’ve learned so much from this channel

[@Mariefrancegrsce]

Just beautiful 😍blue, red plants.

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

Beautiful job - thanks for showing the steps to this DIY!

[@susanpeterson9558]

Beautifully done❤

[@CBKITCHEN644]

Looks great 👍👌

[@joeyc8458]

Love all your videos. Getting a ton of info through them!!! What is best to control weeds coming through the rocks without any tarp down?

[@gardenhike]

We hand pull a lot of them but Decimate by Fertilome (Glufosinate Ammonium) does a good job. I’ve also used Roundup with no injury problems to the trees and shrubs.

[@vbcoachron]

Very cool. Thanks!

[@acts2.387]

Looks great!❤

[@quinnjensen7068]

Love the video! Could you tell me which deciduous green tree is in your new bed?

[@gardenhike]

MaacNificent Amur Maackia Maackia amurensis ‘JFS Schichtel’ A lot of great qualities on this one. Enjoying watching it grow!

[@quinnjensen7068]

@@gardenhike amazing!! Thank you. My neighbor has this tree and we’ve been unable to identify it. I absolutely love the look in the springtime.

[@jasonscoggins01]

Nice video

[@rachel5046]

Beautiful rock edging. I am going to do the same since I have so many rocks and boulders in my yard…SW Washington is very rocky. Silly question…how do you mow close to the rock edging without damaging the mower? Or do you just weed wack near the rock edging and then mower after?

[@gardenhike]

I mow as close as possible with a mower and then use a string trimmer/weed wacker. Rock edging adds additional time to maintenance, but using a straight-shaft professional string trimmer makes it go fast.

[@Shelikestocookandgarden]

Looks great!

[@beautifulshadesofgreen]

goodness me, your video are so informative and easy to follow. Silky question, what grass killer did you use thats safe enough for that tree in that bed 😮

[@gardenhike]

I used glyphosate at low rate.

[@antoniochang4553]

can one place the rocks on a bed of concrete? I. noticed in some of my jobs that people tend to walk on the rocks and as a result they are no longer aligned and no longer form the nice curves. The bed of concrete will also stop weeds growing in between the rocks. What are you thoughts on this?

[@gardenhike]

If rocks are the effect you are looking for, sure, you could put the rocks on concrete.

[@burgundy-sweatshirt]

Using grass killer doesn't cause a problem for the new plants?

[@gardenhike]

I have never had any problems. It’s recommended to wait 7 days before planting. Make sure there are no soil sterilants in the herbicide.

[@burgundy-sweatshirt]

@@gardenhike Cool! 'preciate your response

[@CliffordAllison]

Great video and you are very talented ! How do you manage the lawn grass maintenance next to the rock? Do you have to weedwack often or how do you do it?

[@gardenhike]

I use a straight shaft string trimmer each time I mow, about once a week. My favorite brand is the Shindaiwa and I currently use the t262 model. The engines run forever and it has a nice smooth, balanced, bump feed head (I can’t say this about all trimmers, and I’ve used many of the top brands). I spray the seams in the rock where the grass does sneak through twice a year.

[@creatingmygarden]

What kind of spray do u use between the rocks?

[@gardenhike]

I’ve lightly spritzed with Roundup but you have to be super careful to avoid killing out in the lawn. I’m going to try using my own “brew” going forward. I’ve read a vinegar, soap and salt solution works good.

[@romaidaostrand845]

@@gardenhikehow has your homemade brew worked out?

[@yuliafirzon3794]

What are you using as a grass killer?

[@gardenhike]

I used Roundup. A good alternative is Decimate by Fertilome -(Glufosinate Ammonium). It acts by inhibiting the plants ability to utilize nitrogen and has limited translocating potential so works well along edges and landscape beds.

[@yuliafirzon3794]

@@gardenhike thank you! I see you applied it close to the tree trunk and seems like it’s safe. Do you think I can use it on my arborvitae/ evergreen flower bed between plants and shrubs? I worry that the Roundup might kill the plants along with the grass and weeds.

[@thedivide3688]

❤

[@Nikki-ws2jc]

Where are you getting your fresh soil from?

[@gardenhike]

I purchase from a landscape supply company (Rocks and Blocks) and an aggregate company (Knive River Corporation).

[@Biome23470]

Looks nice for people, but nothing natural about it. Useless for pollinators, lousy habitat for birds - except maybe robins and sparrows.