Edging lawn/flower bed with block pavers

[Steve Campbell]

Hi folks, I want to edge the end of my lawn/flower bed with block pavers so it kind of extended from my driveway (see photo). It isn’t holding anything in and is really just as a mow guide so it will be flush with the grass. What’s the best way to do this ? Lots of advice on internet seems totally over the top(50mm sub base MOT, concrete etc)

How would you set the pavers so they remain in place but not so a bomb wouldn’t shift them !

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Just a thought , but since I see a drain at end. Why not put a few sections of ACO drainage with either steel or plastic covers. Would form an edge but also act as drainage... Set them in a wet concrete mix.

[Steve Campbell]

Drainage not a problem in this location prefer the look of extending the drive edging in charcoal blocks. Whatever is simplest but looks ok to be honest. That drain is on the road (turning space for our close). Never done anything like this so looking for the simple idiots guide LOL. It’s 2.4 metres so ~ 24 blocks

[smokey mow]

If it was me doing it I would dig a shallow trench (maybe 300w x 300deep) and then bed the pavers on concrete.

If the soil is clay then I would also drop a length of steel bar in the concrete to prevent any future cracking or movement.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

I’m a cheapskate, I would dig a shallow trench and bed them on sharp sand, it’s not like they are going to be walked on .

[Techno9000]

I’m with Smoky Mow.
You can just lay on sand, but it will eventually move over time and look poor compared to what’s already laid beside it.
Lay it on a reasonable bed of concrete and it will last for time.

[sherman]

Dig a shallow trench.
Put an inch of dry postcrete dust down.
Lay out the bricks
Brush a bit more dry postcrete into the gaps
Spritz with a little water to activate the postcrete snd it will set fine.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I have done precisely this.

I just dug a trench with a trowel, laid the blocks onto the soil, then packed soil around and in between the blocks. No concrete, no mortar, no sand. It helped that our soil is fairly heavy and clay-ey.

There were one or two places where there was a significant difference in level so I did use a bed of mortar, but 90% of it is just bedded into the soil.

The blocks are firm enough to wheel the mower over, and the blocks haven t moved. And if I ever want to move the boundary of the lawn it s simply a case of lifting and moving the blocks.

I would certainly do it without mortar initially as a test to see what it looks like, then you can mortar them in place if you’re happy to commit. But in my experience they’ll be firm enough without.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 16th June 07:23

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks all. Definitely like the idea of simple but don’t want to do it twice. There is no foot traffic here except for mowing the lawn. Currently thinking a layer of sharp sand might suffice to get it to the right level…..or a dry mix sharp sand and a bit of cement to go a little more robust ? If I went for the latter, what kind of mix would I use ? 4:1 or is that overkill. I don’t want to mix it wet, just lay it dry and let moisture do its thing.

[119]

Not the most attractive but as you have then there already, I would tie it in with the same concrete edgings.

Might look a bit odd with just a random row of pavers there?

[spikeyhead]

If you didn't want it moving, lay the blocks end on. You'll need more, but won't need any sub base