Edging and Sod Removal

After I installed the pea gravel the other day I started thinking about how I was going to keep the gravel separate from the soil in the garden. After some "pillow thinking" just before sleep, I remembered seeing this metal edging on one of those HGTV shows. I recalled the landscape designer announcing his disdain for it as he removed it from a yard and threw it in a dumpster. Even though I understood his disdain, for this application at least, metal edging was my only clean choice. For about 10.00 per 8 feet, this stuff just hammers in, cutting through the soil like a knife. It's flexible, too, which allowed me to keep my curve in the patway (I love, love, love curves in the garden.) I used the 2 x 4 scrap in the photo to protect the metal edge when I pounded it into place. It worked quite well.

Here's a closer view of the edging. You can see how well it will keep the gravel out of the soil. This shot is before I pushed the gravel back in place. You can see way too much of the edging. I don't like seeing this much of it. Just a bit cheesy.

I threw this is because I opted to finish the top of the edging with this vinyl cap. It made for a nice clean line, covering the seems and providing a little cushion if someone happens to fall on it.

The shot below is of the completed edging installation. I love the clean line it provides!

Here I am beginning the laborious process of removing the sod. Since the "grass" in this part of the yard is mostly invasive bermuda, I have opted to scrape it away. I collect it, shake off the loose soil and place the tops in the wheel barrow. I am composting it separately in the back yard.

I started with the hoe, and later moved to my shovel. I had to shake it up a bit since it is so laborious and boring. Note that if you have a non invasive grass, you can just till it under and let it compost. That is how I have handled fescue in the past. It is much, much easier.

This last shot is how I ended the day. I have removed more sod since this shot, but I am taking it slowly. It's not something I love to do, but it has to be completed before I can move to the tilling and addition of compost. I will blog a bit about our composting in the next entry.

We are getting closer to planting time!