Service · Tampa, FL
Landscape Edging in Tampa
Steel, poured concrete curb or clean spade-cut edges that slow St. Augustine runners from creeping into your beds and keep mulch from washing onto the lawn every summer afternoon.
Edging built for St. Augustine and Florida rain
If you have a St. Augustine lawn in Tampa, you already know the problem. Floratam and its cousins spread by thick, above-ground runners called stolons, and those runners grow fast in our long warm season. Within a few weeks of a summer mow, they creep across the bed line, root into the mulch and start swallowing your shrubs. At the same time, afternoon storms push mulch out of the beds and onto the grass. A good edge is the line that holds both back.
Edging is also what makes a landscape look finished. A clean, consistent curve between lawn and bed makes even simple plantings look intentional, and it gives your mowing crew a clear line to follow. Many HOAs in Westchase and New Tampa expect defined bed edges as part of normal yard upkeep.
Three types of edging we install
Trenched (spade-cut) natural edge. We cut a clean, V-shaped trench a few inches deep along the bed line, flip the cut sod and soil into the bed and leave a crisp vertical wall on the lawn side. It is the least expensive option and looks natural. It needs re-cutting a few times a year because St. Augustine will eventually bridge the gap, but it is a great starting point and a good fit for pine straw and natural areas.
Steel edging. Thin powder-coated or galvanized steel strips staked into the ground with a low lip above grade. Steel creates a nearly invisible, sharp line that holds tight curves and is one of the better physical barriers to St. Augustine runners, though runners can still climb over the top if they are not trimmed. It is our most common recommendation for front beds.
Poured concrete curb edging. A continuous concrete curb extruded in place with a machine, in a choice of profiles and colors. It creates a mow strip that a mower wheel can ride on, holds mulch in during heavy rain and lasts for years. It is a permanent design choice, so we lay out the curves with you before pouring.
What an edging job includes
- Laying out bed lines with a hose or paint so you approve the curves before we cut.
- Cutting back St. Augustine runners and roots that have already invaded the bed.
- Trenching to the right depth for the edge type and setting steel with stakes, or pouring concrete curb.
- Setting the edge height so mulch sits just inside and mowers can pass cleanly.
- Backfilling, tamping and touching up the lawn side.
- Optional fresh mulch or pine straw once the new edge is in.
Landscape edging pricing
Edging is priced per linear foot. Measure around your beds with a tape or a hose to get a rough idea. Most single-family homes in Tampa have 150 to 250 feet of bed edge.
| Edge type | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Trenched (spade-cut) natural edge | $1.50 – $3/linear ft | Budget, natural look, pine straw beds |
| Poured concrete curb edging | $5 – $9/linear ft | Mow strip, holding mulch in heavy rain |
| Steel edging installed | $6 – $10/linear ft | Clean modern line, slowing runners |
| Bed clean-out & weed removal | $0.25 – $0.60/sq ft | Beds already overrun by runners |
| Mulch installed after edging | $75 – $120/cubic yard | Finishing the bed |
Edging and Tampa’s rainy season
Mulch washout is the other reason Tampa homeowners call about edging. Where a bed sits slightly higher than the lawn, or a downspout drains across it, summer storms carry shredded mulch onto the grass and sidewalk. A concrete curb or a steel edge set with a small lip above the mulch line holds it in. Pair that with mulch kept slightly below the top of the edge and most washout problems go away. Read when to mulch in Tampa for timing the refresh after the edge goes in.
Planning around trees and irrigation
We hand-dig near the shallow roots of mature live oaks instead of trenching through them, and we locate sprinkler lines and heads before cutting. Bed lines near spray heads may need small adjustments so the lawn side still gets full coverage.
Where we install edging
We install landscape edging in Westchase, New Tampa, Hyde Park, South Tampa, Carrollwood, Brandon, Apollo Beach and Temple Terrace. Most edging jobs finish with mulch installation or pine straw, and some start with bed prep when the beds are badly overgrown.
Questions
Landscape Edging FAQs
A trenched, spade-cut natural edge runs $1.50 to $3 per linear foot. Poured concrete curb edging runs $5 to $9 per linear foot, and steel edging runs $6 to $10 per linear foot installed. Most homes have 150 to 250 feet of bed edge.
Steel edging and concrete curbing are the strongest barriers because they block the runners at the surface. No edge stops St. Augustine completely, though. Regular string trimming along the edge during the growing season is still needed.
Steel gives a thin, nearly invisible line and handles tight curves well. Concrete curbing is wider, creates a mow strip and is especially good at holding mulch in during heavy rain. Both last for years. It mostly comes down to the look you want and your budget.
It looks crisp for a few months. In Tampa’s long growing season, St. Augustine slowly fills the trench, so most homeowners have it re-cut two to four times a year, often when the beds are mulched.
It helps a lot. A steel edge with a small lip or a concrete curb holds mulch in during afternoon storms, especially if the mulch is kept slightly below the top of the edge. Downspouts draining into beds may also need an extension.
We generally steer people away from thin plastic roll edging. In Tampa heat it tends to heave, warp and pop out of the ground. Steel or concrete holds up much better for the cost.
Yes. Near mature live oaks we hand-dig and avoid cutting major roots. In some cases we curve the bed line wider to give the tree more room, which also helps the lawn since grass struggles in oak shade.
We locate heads and lines before we trench. If a line is in the way, we work around it or adjust the edge so the lawn side still gets full coverage.
Spade-cut edges are routine maintenance, but permanent concrete curbing or a change in bed shape may need architectural approval in some Westchase, New Tampa and Riverview communities. Check your guidelines before we pour.
Related
Other yard work we do
Draw a clean line around your beds
Free on-site estimate with a written per-foot price for steel, concrete curb or spade-cut edging, plus mulch if you want the beds finished.
Mon–Sat 7:00am–7:00pm · Licensed & insured · Serving Tampa, Brandon, Riverview & all of Hillsborough County