Sue Ferris
What if you’ve moved into a new home you love but the backyard is lacking? Are there a slab of brick pavers that just don’t suit the space? Turn the dull corner into something lush, you’ll be surprised to see what a difference saw-tooth brick garden edging makes.
Using old bricks – here reserved from the lifted slab – you can create rustic garden border. It’s a great way to delineate between lawn and bed, and it’s an easy brick-laying job.
Watch: Charlie creates a saw-tooth brick garden border
Gather your supplies
- Recycled bricks
- Plant selection
- Pebbles
You’ll also need
- Long-handled crowbar
- Set-out paint
- Mattock
- Wooden stakes
- Rubber mallet
- Stringline
- Bagged mortar mix
- Wheelbarrow
- Trowel
- Scissors
Here’s how
Step 1
Remove old bricks from slab with crowbar. Use set-out paint to mark new garden border. Using mattock, dig trench about 150mm wide and 115mm deep along marked line. Hammer stakes into ground at just beyond the start and end of garden bed and along the curve.
Step 2
Wrap stringline around 1 stake at desired height of edging and run along other stakes
Step 3
Mix mortar in barrow. Trowel into trench to a depth of about 50mm. Lay first brick in trench at 45° angle, then keep laying row, using stringline as a guide and tightly butting together. Haunch ends. Leave mortar to set.
Step 4
Remove stakes and stringline. Dig holes, add plants, backfill and water in. Fill bed with pebbles.
Brighten up a dim spot
Trees cast shade, so watch how shadows move across your garden. If the patch under the tree gets morning sun and afternoon shade, you’re good to go with hydrangeas!
