Having brick edging around the garden and lawn areas is both attractive and functional. You can choose an almost endless variety of earthy brick colors will enhance your greenery and simplify mowing and trimming chores. You can build your own brick edging by yourself and perhaps this project will be the easiest of all outdoor brick projects. Here\’s how you can build your own bricks edging and stepping stones for your garden and lawn:
Lawn edging
Tools and materials you will need:
- Shovel
- rubber mallet
- flat-bladed spade
- broom
- 1 ton sand per 110 feet of edging
- 32 solid bricks per 10 feet of edging
Steps:
- First, dig up the sod about 4 inches deep where the edging is to be with the flat-bladed spade. Proceed continuously to make a cut about 10\’ wide.
- Then, put down a layer of sand and place the brick units flat upon it. Fan the units slightly to make slight curves in the direction of the brick. Know that the sharper curves are meant for cutting a wedge shaped unit.
- When the job is finished, sweep the sand between the units and in trench between the brick edges and the sod. The brick edging can be raised and fall due to the changes of weather. You can deal these problems easily by removing affected units and smoothing out the gravel underneath.
Stepping stones
Tools and materials you will need:
- wooden tamper
- framing square
- 2 inch hand level
- shovel, garden hoe
- 80 solid brick units 3 ¾ x 2 ¼ inch x 8 inch
- five penny galvanized box nails
- 10 lengths redwood plank 1 inch x 4 inch x 6 inch
- 1 bag (94 pounds) Portland cement
- For building 10 squares 16 inch x 16 inch, first place about 4 inches apart of stepping stones. For each step, excavate a square hole about 4 inches deep large enough to accommodate a 17 ½ inch frame or outside dimensions of redwood plank.
- Then, position the frame in the excavation so that its top is level with the grass line. Mix 3 parts of sand to 1 part of cements. Spread the sand and cement mixture 1 inch to 1 ½ inches of this mixture, dry in the hole. Tamp it down; you can add more if needed to bring it near the level of the frame. Lay the bricks units on the cushion. Make sure that they are flushed with the top of the frame.
Additional Reading:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/brickedgingstepstone
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68518558@N00/393874238/
