Bees

son progresses, the grass creeps into the beds and takes over. It seems like I am doing more grass pulling than anything else. I can’t afford to put in edging

around my many beds. I don’t want to use weed killer spray, either. Is there a solution?

A: One solution, coming up. The first time you do this will be the most work. It’s called hand edging.

You ideally do the hand

edging in spring, when the soil is damp and grass and roots are not growing wildly.

There are several tools you can use, but the results are the same.

You will put a straight edge between the grass and soil where the line is supposed to be. Landscapers

often use a flat-edged shovel. Or you could use a soil knife. It is important that the cutting edge is sharp.

Facing the bed, step down on the shovel and cut a clean line. Toss the soil and grass parts into the bed. Sort out the grass lumps so they do not root

themselves again.

You’ll be left with a clean drop off about two or so inches deep with the soil gently sloping away and up into the bed from the cut. Grass will not grow over the cliff that you created. Keeping that clean edge drop-off will stop the grass invasion.

Occasionally during the growing season, touch up the mini cliffs around the beds.