Steel edging

Frequently asked questions

How do you install Corten steel edging?

1. Mark out: set out the line with a string line or garden hose.
2. Loosen: if the ground is hard, loosen it with a spade along the line.
3. Drive in: hammer in the edging using a wooden block to protect the top edge, down to the required height.
4. Anchor: fit the anchor stakes supplied (sliding pockets for Easyfix, clips for CORE Edge) wherever extra support is needed.
5. Join and finish: connect the lengths together, then backfill on each side.

Good to know: during its first months, Corten releases a little rust that can stain adjacent light-coloured stone or paving. Leave a small gap or rinse the edging before laying a light surface against it.

How do you fix flexible edging?

Flexible steel edging (CORE Edge, Easyfix CS, Metalflex) is bent by hand to follow the curve, then fixed with stakes:

• Easyfix: slide the pockets along the edging and drive the 34 cm stakes through them.
• CORE Edge: insert the clip into the lower opening, engage the stake and drive it down to the clip. The lengths lock together with the Dual Lock Mechanism™.
• Metalflex: nail down the L-shaped base with the 24 cm stakes supplied and bolt the lengths together.

On very soft ground, support the edging at intervals with a flat stone or a small concrete footing so it does not sink.

How do you install metal edging?

Most metal edging is installed without a trench or concrete: it is hammered straight into the ground. Follow three rules: a wooden block between the hammer and the edging, alignment checked with a string line every 2 or 3 m, and a constant height above ground (1 to 2 cm for lawn edging, about 2 cm above the grids for a stabilised gravel path). Along a driveway, bed the Metalflex base in a little concrete for extra hold.

How do you recognise Corten steel?

• Its patina: orange-brown, even, matt and adherent. It forms within a few weeks to a few months of exposure and then stabilises, unlike rust on ordinary steel, which flakes and eventually perforates.
• How it changes: on delivery, Corten is grey-brown. It darkens and evens out with wet/dry cycles.
• Its designation: Corten (weathering steel) is designated under standard EN 10025-5, for example S355J2W. Ask for the technical data sheet if in doubt.

Why choose Corten steel?

• Zero maintenance: the patina protects the steel, with no paint or treatment.
• Durability: steel does not rot or split and withstands knocks from mowers.
• Looks: its warm colour sets off ornamental grasses, gravel and timber.
• Slimness: 1 mm thick for a clean, discreet line.

If you prefer a neutral colour, choose galvanised steel (grey) or powder-coated steel (black, anthracite, brown).

How do you mark out garden edging?

With steel, the layout is key: the edging will follow it faithfully. Peg out straight lines with a string line, draw curves with a garden hose, then choose the right profile: Easyfix LI or CORE Edge for straight lines and corners, Easyfix CS for free and tight shapes, Metalflex to edge a gravel path. Allow the total length plus 5 % for offcuts.