There is always one area of a lawn that gardeners have difficulties with. It could be around trees, close to buildings, or most commonly, along the edges. This includes curbs, garden beds and pathways. It can be a strange problem as well since individual grass plants will appear to grow well, so well they grow over the path, garden bed or curb. However, I did say individual grass plants and the reason I say it’s a strange problem is because the area between the plants is bare earth – the grass just doesn’t seem to want to grow there.
Sound familiar at all? Is there a solution? Gardeners have been trying a wide variety of solutions for decades, some with success, some without. Every garden is different and for each the source of the problem is different. Generally speaking, the source of the problem is in the location. Edges, like curbs and paths, block the natural flow of water. The result can often be too much water, or not enough if there is a slight slope up to the path or curb. Where grass grows close to raised garden beds the problem can be exasperated by shade from the raised bed and the plants in the bed.
If you can identify the cause of the problem, you can take steps to solve the problem. If too little water is the problem then adding water retaining products may help. Likewise, if too much water is the problem, taking corrective action to improve drainage could help to resolve the problem.
Generally speaking, using a grass that is suited to those conditions is the best option. For gardeners who have a single grass type as a lawn – for example, those with Bermuda Grass lawns – there are varieties that tolerate shade and there are also varieties that tolerate either damp or dry conditions. Use a lawn seeding tool to prepare the area and sow your seed liberally. Water well and within a month you will find that your lawn is growing strongly, right up to the edges.
