To install brick lawn and landscape edging, start by creating a mason line or marking out the edging with landscape marking paint. This will help guide you and ensure that your trench and bricks stay on track.
– Attach a string to the stake at the desired height for the top of the bricks.
– Dig a trench with a square shovel, ensuring a clean edge where the bricks will meet the lawn.
– Adjust the width and depth of the trench based on the size and backing of the bricks.
– Fill the trench with gravel, tamp it down, and repeat the process with another layer of gravel.
– Add a layer of sand on top and make it smooth and level.
– Carefully place the bricks, avoiding any stains, discolorations, chips, or cracks.
- Position your bricks in the desired location and use a mallet to gently tap them into place. It’s okay if they stick out slightly over the lawn, as they will be tamped down later. Just make sure they don’t protrude more than about 1/8 inch.
- When encountering a curve in your landscaping, spread the bricks slightly further apart to navigate the bend more easily. To prevent them from drifting too far apart, leave space for a wedge-shaped keystone or arch-shaped brick between every third or fourth brick if necessary.
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Step 5: Trim Your Pavers
To avoid having to recut bricks if you need to make changes to your layout, it’s best to cut them near the end of your project. While a wet saw is efficient for cutting bricks, it may not be necessary unless you plan on doing a lot of future tile and brick work. If you have numerous cuts to make, you can rent a wet saw for the day to expedite the process.
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Place a brick over the gap left for a keystone when cutting your pavers.
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Use a masonry pencil to mark the brick where it meets the other bricks, indicating where it needs to be cut. For a wedge-shaped keystone, extend the marks to the edge of the brick to outline a pie-shaped wedge. For cutting bricks to length, simply measure and mark where the brick should end.
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Using a circular saw with a diamond blade, cut the brick along the marked lines. You can mist the saw with water periodically or rent a wet saw to prevent overheating and minimize dust while cutting.
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Place the new keystone in the designated spot along the landscaping curve, and place the bricks that were cut to length in their proper positions in the layout.
Step 6: Secure Landscaping Borders
This step is optional but recommended. Bricks can easily be displaced by lawnmower wheels or children playing, causing them to gradually shift back into your flower beds over time. Installing edging behind the bricks provides added support.
- Remove any sand that may be behind the bricks and interfere with the landscaping border. The landscape edging should sit on the gravel behind the bricks but remain hidden. In some areas, it may be necessary to remove some gravel to prevent the edging from protruding above the bricks.
- Firmly install the edging against the back of the bricks and secure it with anchoring spikes every 12 inches to hold it in place.
Step 7: Compact Your Bricks
To ensure that the top of your brick edging is level with the adjacent lawn, you’ll need to tamp them down and make them flush. The sand base underneath the bricks allows for some adjustment, allowing the bricks to settle nicely into place. Using polymeric sand helps to keep them in place.
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Take a board and place it on top of a section of your bricks. Use a rubber mallet to hit the board and compact the bricks.
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Continue compacting the bricks until they are level with your lawn. While working, check that the bricks are also flush with each other.
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Using a broom, spread dry polymeric sand over the bricks. Then, tamp down the bricks again. This will push the sand into the gaps between the bricks, helping to secure them in place.
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Activate the polymeric sand by spraying water onto the bricks using a hose.
