GB2376863A

GB2376863A - Lawn edge strip

Info

Publication number: GB2376863A
Application number: GB0123249A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Burnham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-26
Filing date: 2001-09-27
Publication date: 2002-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-27
Also published as: GB0123249D0; GB2376863B

Abstract

The edge support 1 for a margin of a lawn comprises an elongate generally L-shaped support member having a base part 3 fixable to ground beneath the lawn, and an upstanding wall part 2 to retain an edge of the lawn. The base part 3 may have elongate apertures 22 to allow grass roots 14, to grow therethrough. It may have several zones 50 at which it may be cut or broken to permit bending of the wall part 2. The edge support may be provided with connectors (39, Fig 12) to connect it to further edge supports via flanges (33,34, Fig 11) on the wall part and the base part.

Description

LAWN EDGING The present invention relates to a device for producing a neat edge for lawns, borders, garden paths and the like. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a device to demarcate and support an edge of a lawn, and to a method for using such a device.

Creating a lawn with a neat edge where it meets flower beds, borders, paths, ponds and the like can be difficult. There is a risk that the edge of the lawn may crumble, especially if the turf is not very well knitted together. If a damaged edge is trimmed back to shape, for example with a spade or an edging tool, the lawn inevitably shrinks and the bed, path, etc

w widens. Damaged sections ma) even need to be removed and re-turfed.

1 9 A particular problem may arise in the case of garden ponds. where the surrounding turf can easily be damaged or even undermined. Clods of soil falling into a pond can make the water 1 Z7 unacceptably muddy, necessitating frequent cleaning. It is not always a satisfactory solution to pave the immediate surrounds of a pond.

It would be helpful to provide a barrier to discourage the spread of grass from the lawn into beds, borders and paths. pai ocularly when regular weeding would be inconvenient or impracticable.

Simple lawn edging materials. such as vertically inserted ceramic tiles or metal strips, arc well known. However, if the lawn is lower than the bed or vertical edge. mowing becomes difficult, and if only one side of the edging material is supported, such as where the lawn is

higher than adjacent portions of a flower bed. or where the lawn borders on a pond, the jaceTit portion edging material can easily fall over. It may be attached to posts. stakes and the like. extending deep into the ground. but these can be unsighth and arc not compatible with waterproof membranes such as are used to line garden ponds.

Substantial gravelled areas are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional grassed awns. However, for gravelled areas as well as grassed ones. a neat edge can be difficult to produce and maintain. particularly when the gravelled area is higher than a neighbouring area, and there is a risk of gravel falling or being kicked. say, into the neighbouring area. There are hence problems with edging graveled arecs akin to those with

edging traditional grassed lawns. particularly when it is desired that a gravelled area extends L L7-t, up to a pond. The term"lawn"as used herein should therefore be understood to refer to both traditional P z, L traditional grassed lawns and to gravelled garden areas, except where clearly restricted to one or the other by context.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means to support and protect a periphery of a lawn. particularly adjacent a pond, bed or border, which obviates the above

problems and permits the creation of a neat and durable edge to the lawn. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for protecting an edge of a lawn using such means.

According to a first aspect of \e invention, there is provided an edge support means for a margin of a lawn as defined herein, comprising an elongate generally L-shaped support member having a base part adapted to be fixable to ground beneath the lawn, and an upstanding wall part adapted to retain an edge of the lawn.

The base part may be apertured, to allow grass root growth therethrough.

Preferably, the base part comprises a lattice of strut means joining the wall part to an elongate member, optionally extending parallelly to the wall part.

The lattice may define a plurality of elongate apertures extending substantially between the wall part and the elongate member.

Said elongate apertures may comprise at least one third of a total area of the base part.

The elongate apertures may each extend transversely to the wall part.

Each elongate aperture may have a smooth rounded periphery.

The base part, preferably the elongate member, may be provided with anchoring means.

The anchoring means may comprise peg means adapted to cooperate with apertures in or adjacent to the elongate member.

The wall part may optionally extend downwardly from the plane of the base part so that the edge support has a T-shaped proiile.

The clongate member may be provided with a plurality of severable zones, any one of which may be cut or broken as required to permit alteration. at any desired point, of the alignment of the wall part.

The wall part may thus he detormabic. cithej con\'exl\ or concaveh.

The wall part may comprise zones of weakness. better to alew its bending.

The edge support means may be provided with connection means to connect it to further edge support means.

The wall part may be provided along its upper margin with strengthening means, such as a 1 , It', Llppel'i-nai, Z7 /One of increased thickness or a flange means, optionally a flange means extending towards the base part.

The base part ma\ be provided along its margin remote from the wall means with strengthening means, such as a zone of increased thickness or a f1ange means. optionall) a strengtheniiip I I I flange means extending towards the wall part.

The connection means may conveniently connect via flange means of adjoining edge support means.

The edge support means may be provided adjacent a junction of the wall part and the base part with reinforcing means adapted to resist flexion of said junction, particularly bending of the wall part away from the base part.

The reinforcing means may comprise a simple reinforcing bead extending along the junction or more complex shapes, such as a C-shaped bead, disposed with a convex side towards said junction.

The edge support means may comprise a plastics material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or poly (vinyl chloride).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting an edge of a lawn which comprises the steps of providing an edge support means as described above, locating the base part thereof to a ground surface, and laying lawn material on top of the base part with an end of the lawn material abutting the wall part.

When the lawn is a grassed lawn, the lawn material may comprise turf, which may be a freshly laid turf or alternatively may be a peripheral zone of an existing lawn.

Alternatively, where the law is a gravelled area, the lawn material may be gravel.

The method may comprise the step of removing existing turf or other lawn material from the lawn over at least an area court bonding to an extent of the base part.

Alternatively. the method may comprise the step of peeling back existing turf from said area.

The method may comprise the step of anchoring the edge support means to the ground using a peg means or other anchoring means.

the method may further comprise the steps of providing a plurality of edge support means. and linking them in series, either before or after disposing them in position on the ground.

To protect an edge of a lawn adjacent a pond. the method may further comprise the steps of digging the pond and laying a waterproof lining means over a base of the pond and a surface of the ground surrounding the pond, and the base part of the or each edge support means is

then disposed on top of said waterproof lining means, and the turf or other lawn material is laid on top of both the base part and the waterproof lining means.

Embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a plan view of part of an edge support embodying the invention : Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the support of figure 1 in use;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support of Figure 1 in use adjacent a pond, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative form of edge support in use adjacent a pond;

Figure 5 is a plan view of part of another edge support embodying the invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a further edge support with strengthening elements; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a variant form of the support of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the support of Figure 1 in use with a gravelled "lawn" ; Figure 9 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a plan view of the edge support of Figure 9 with all the removable panels knocked out to allow flexure in either direction of the support; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the support of Figure 9 taken along the line XI- XI thereof ; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting member; and Figure 13 is a scrap cross-sectional view showing a zone of weakness and taken along the line XIII of Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings, and to Figure 1 in particular, an edge support 1 for a lawn comprises a generally vertical, in use, wall 2 and a generally horizontal, in use, base member 3. In the embodiment shown, the wall 2 and the base member 3 comprise a single L-shaped moulding of thermoplastics material, although in an alternative embodiment, the wall 2 and the base member 3 are formed separately and fastened together. In other embodiments, the support may comprise other materials such as wood or metal, especially aluminium.

The base member 3 comprises an elongate strip 4 and a plurality of diagonal strips 5 connecting it to the wall 2. The diagonal strips 5 slant in alternately opposing directions to form a series of triangular apertures 6. This configuration imparts excellent rigidity to the

base member 3. while saving raw materials and allowing grass roots to grow down through Z7 L-z, the base member 3, helping to. J1chor it in place. The strip 4 is provided with a plurality of holes 7, spaced one from another, each configured to receive a peg (not shown in this view) to help to anchor the edge support !.

The edge support ! may be used in the configuration shown in Figure I to support a straight lawn edge. To support a concave or convex lawn edge. the frame strip 4 is severed along any or each of dotted tines 8. The wall 2 may then be folded concavely or convex. In the wall 2. at the apex of each triangular space, a fold zone 9 may optionaHy be provided to allow bending of the wal) 2. However, this may not be necessary, especiaiiy with hghter gauge material. The servered ends of the strip 4 ma) be overlapped where necessary.

The strip 4 may be grooved, notched or otherwise weakened along the dotted lines 8, to case culling. Similarly. each fold zone 9 may he grooved, notched or otherwise prepared for easy folding. However, in a preferred embodiment, both the wall 2 and the base member 1 arc composed of thermoplastics material of thickness two to three millimetres, which may be folded manually without especial preparation. Similarly, the strip 4 may then be cut at any convenient point along its length with readily available tools, such as a knife, scissors, garden shears, secateurs or the like.

In use. the edge support 1 is disposed as shown in Figure 2. When a grassed lawn is being laid from scratch, the edge support 1 is placed, with the base member 3 on a generally level surface. at a boundary between. for example. a flower bed 10 and an area 1I which is or will be lawn. A peg 12 is inserted through each hole 7 of the base member 3. A turf 13 is then

laid on top of the base member 3, such that an end of the turf 13 is in contact with the wall 2.

The remainder of the area 11 may be turfed conventionally.

If a lawn is being grown from seed, soil is placed on top of the base member 3 and in contact with the wall 2, and the area 11 may then be seeded conventionally.

If the edge support I is to be used to edge an existing grassed lawn, a turf 13 is either cut out of the existing area 11, or a corresponding zone is undercut and peeled back. In either case, sufficient space is created to emplace the edge support as above, and the turf 13 is then replaced or folded back into position, as appropriate. Any gaps remaining between the turf 13 and the wall 2, due, for example, to previous damage to the edge of the lawn area 11, can be filled with soil and reseeded, or plugged with small pieces of turf, as desired.

The wall 2 of the edge support'thugs creates a neat edge to the lawn, resistant to crumbling and other damage. The weight of the turf 13 on the base member 3, and the presence of the pegs 12, keep the edge support 1 securely in position. In a preferred embodiment, the wall 2 is dimensioned to be almost as high as a typical turf thickness (normally from twenty to twenty-five millimetres). The wall 2 may thus conveniently be about 20 millimetres high.

The lawn area 11 can then be mown right up to its edge, which is supported by the wall 2, without the wall 2 being damaged by lawnmower blades, or vice versa. Edge trimming, with shears or a strimmer, for example, may be unnecessary. Roots 14 of grass plants 15 growing on the turf 13 (only some of which are shown, for clarity) may in time grow through the apertures 6 in the base member 3, anchoring the edge support even more securely. In this connection, the apertures are show as triangles. However, other shapes may be used, as described below.

! n normal use, it is envisaged that the base member 3 should extend perhaps 70 to 80 millimetres from the wall 2, to provide sufficient stability, In an alternative embodiment. larger edge supports ! may be provided, with a turf 13 already in situ thereon, for convenience.

Clearly, edge supports 1 may b provided with walls of a convenient length, and a member of walls may be connected, end-to-end, to provide a desired continuous length of v\all 2.

Standard male-female engagement devices may be provided at each end of each length, and one embodiment of such a connector is shown in Figure 12, described in more detail below.

for the edge support 1 to be used adjacent a pond 16. there is a slight variation in the installation method. A pit is dug for the pond 16. and the pond 16 is hned with a waterimpermeable membrane ! 7. which is extended to underlie tile area It. I he base member 3 is then placed on top of the membrane 17 as shown in figure 3.' ! lie pegs] 2 are set far enough from the edge of the pond to be able to penetrate the membrane 17 without possibility of leakage. Such a perforation in a periphery of the membrane 17 would not cause the leakage problems that could result from the use of retaining stakes at a margin of the pond 16 itself.

1'or a grassed lawn. the turf 13 may then be placed on top of the base member 3 and in contact \\ilh the wall 2. as described above.

A neat and secure edge can thus be provided for a pond in a lawn area. without recourse to concrete rims. paving slabs and the like. There will be very little tendency for soil to crumble into the pond. and the lawn can be mown up to its edge without its giving way.

In this application of the edge support 1, a short downward extension 18 of the wall 2, below the general level of the base member 3, may form a sideways'T'-shaped support. This is useful for cosmetic and other purposes, as shown in Figure 4.

The edge support I may be made of appropriately coloured materials, such as green plastics material, and may have appropriate surface textures moulded or embossed into a face of the wall 2 exposed in use, to blend in with its surroundings.

Figure 5 shows a plan of an edge support 21 with an alternative configuration of base member 3 to that shown in Figure 1. The wall 2 and the base member 3 comprise a single Lshaped extrusion of thermoplastics material. The base member 3 is provided with a plurality

of elongate apertures 22, which may be formed by stamping out portions of the base member 3 (which is typically only two or three millimetres thick). Each end 23 of the elongate apertures 22 is rounded, conv'-iently being substantially semicircular. This shape reduces stresses in the material of the base member 3 around the elongate apertures 22, compared to shapes with distinct corners, reducing accidental breakages. The elongate apertures 22 extend generally perpendicularly away from the wall 2 towards an elongate strip 4 defining an edge of the base member 3 remote from the wall 2. The strip 4 is provided with a plurality of holes 7, each configured to receive a peg, as for the edge support 1 of Figure 1.

To support a concave or convex lawn edge, the elongate strip 4 is severed along a line between its edge remote from the wall 2 and an elongate aperture 22. The wall 2 may then be folded concavely or convexly, as for the edge support 1 of Figure 1, overlapping severed ends of the strip 4 where necessary.

A plurality of narrow slots 24 are also provided in the base member 3, also with rounded ends 25. The nan-ow slots 24 supplement the elongate apertures 22. lightening the edge support 21 L7 7,further. and providing additional routes through which grass roots may grow and engage with the base member 3, anchoring. the edge support 21.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the base member 3 is an unapertured sheet.

Alternatively, the base 3 ma\'e provided with slits or notches, extending from the wail 2 towards an opposite margin of the base member 3. to Ilcilitate bending of the \\a11 2.

Figures 6 and 7 show, in cross-section, edge supports 31,32 with strengthening elements. The wall 2 of each edge support 31.32 has its upper rim 33 folded over. This trengthens the

upper rim 33 without making the \a) ! 2 much more difficult to bend convexl\ or concaved. as described abo\c.

The base member 3 of each edge support .). 32 is pro\ idcd adjacent its edge remote from the I wall 2 with a Hange 34 extending therefrom upwardly and slightiy towards the \\aH 2. This strengthens the base member 3 and may engage with a turf 13 (not shown) placed thereon, helping to anchor the edge support 31.32. It does not make the base member 3 significantly more difficult to sever, where required.

The folded upper rim 33 and the flange 34 are simple shapes to be formed in a continuous t plastics extrusion (which may he cut into individual edge supports as required), the recesses 35, 36 formed between the upper rim 33 and the wall 2, and between the flange 34 and the base member 3. respectively, providing convenient points of attachment for connecting elements 39 to join adjacent edge supports.

The edge support 31 of Figure 6 is provided with a reinforcing element 37 with a C-shaped profile adjacent a junction of the wall 2 and the base member 3. The edge support 32 of Figure 7 is instead provided with a reinforcing bead 38 of generally quarter-circular profile along the junction. The reinforcing element 37 and the reinforcing bead 38 each strengthen the respective edge support 31, 32 against any tendency for the wall 2 to be bent away from the base member 3, for example by someone treading on an edge of a lawn supported by the edge support.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The base member 3 is apertured similarly to that of the preceding embodiment, but is additionally provided with zones of weakness 50, two of which lead from an edge of the base 3 at a converging angle across the frame strip 4 to connect to the rounded end 23 of each aperture 22, defining a removable panel 51 of generally trapezoidal shape.

A cross section of such a zone of weakness 50 is shown in Figure 13. It may easily be fractured by manual pressure to remove the panel 51, allowing the support to be bent in either direction. Figure 10 shows a support where all the panels 51 have been removed. Of course, it is not always necessary to ru love every panel. Where the degree of curvature required is shallow, alternate panels 51 may be left in place, and where no curvature is required, all the panels 51 in that section may remain unbroken. Essentially, any panel may be removed to allow curvature at that section of the edge support.

Figure 8 shows an edge support 1 supporting an edge of a gravelled"lawn"41 adjacent a flowered 10. The base member 3 is placed on a generally level surface, as for a grassed

lawn, and a peg 12 is inserted through each hole 7 of the base member 3. Gravel 42 is then t7- poured on top of the base men'er 3. and is retained hy the wall 2. restraining it from spilling on to the flowered 10. In this use. an apertured base member 3 is not required, as plant growththroughthegravelled"lawn"41isnotdesired.

A gravelled "lawn" 41 is frequently laid over a sheet 43 of"geotextile". which is permeable

to moisture. but too finds apertured to allow shoots and roots therethrough. Geotextiie ma\ I I-Ilift up at its edges, which is unsightly and allows weeds to grow. If an edge support 1 is placed on top of the geotextile sheet 43 and is pegged into place with the pegs) 2 extending through the sheet 43. the sheet 43 can be neatly mamtained in position.

. \n edge support means as described above thus pro\ides a conveniem and recliabte means of prov) ding a neat and durable edge for a tawn. \\here it meets a f) o\\ermg bed. a horder or t pond. It can he used for straight, convex or concave edges \\ith mmimal adjustment, tne lawn can be mown up to the edge with lItfe risk of damage, and the la n edge does not require frequent trimming, tidying and repair. The edge support can equally we !) he used to edge gravelled garden areas as to edge traditional grassed lawns.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An edge support means for a margin of a lawn, as defined herein, comprising an elongate generally L-shaped support member having an upstanding wall part adapted to retain an edge of the lawn and a base part fixable to ground beneath the lawn and comprising an elongate member joined to the wall part by an apertured lattice of strut means.

2. An edge support means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate member extends substantially parallelly to the wall part.

3. An edge support means as claimed in either claim I or claim 2, wherein the lattice t defines a plurality of elongate apertures extending substantially between the wall part and the elongate member and comprising at least one third of a total area of the base part.

4. An edge support means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongate apertures each extend transversely to the wall part.

5. An edge support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base part is provided with anchoring means, optionally peg means adapted to cooperate with apertures in or adjacent to the elongate member.

6. An edge support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate member is provided with a plurality of severable zones, any one of which

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may be cut or broken as required to permit alteration. at any desired point, of the alignment of the wall part. either convexly or concavely.

7. An edge support means as claimed in claim 6. wherein the wall part comprises zones of weakness adapted to facilitate its bending.

. An edge support means as claimed in an\ one of the preceding claims. wherein the L-1 \\a ! ! part is provided aiong its upper margin with strengthening means. optionat) \ a 1irst flange means extending towards th, base part. and the base par), is provided L, ~I I III (, means. 0 1 along n. s margin remote from thi wai) nleans with strengthening means, optionatk a second Hange means extending towards the watl part.

SE An edge support means as churned in anv o e of the preceding claims, provided \\ith connection means to connect it to further edge support means.

1 (). An edgL'support means as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on claim 8. wherein the connection means is adapted to engage the first and/or second flange means of adjoining edge support means.

, l I I zl- !). An edge support means for a margin of a lawn substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of protecting an edge of a lawn comprising the steps of providing an edge t I-t L, support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, locating the base part

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thereof to a ground surface and so laying lawn material on top of the base part that an end of the lawn material abuts the wall part.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lawn material comprises turf.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lawn material is gravel.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 comprising the step of removing

or peeling back existing turf or other lawn material from the lawn over at least an t-I area corresponding to an extent of the base part.

ZD 16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 comprising the steps of providing a plurality of edge support means, and linking them in series, either before or after disposing them in position on the ground.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 comprising the steps of digging a pond and laying a waterproof lining means over a base of the pond and a surface of the ground surrounding the pond, disposing the base part of the or each edge support means on top of said waterproof lining means, and laying thereon the turf or other lawn material.

18. A method of protecting an edge of a lawn substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.