Edgescaping means you remove a strip of turf around the edge of your lawn to provide a low water use “buffer” zone between the grass and hard surfaces such as concrete.  In this “buffer” zone, drought tolerant vegetation is planted.  The irrigation system in the “buffer” zone is modified to drip or bubbler type heads.

The idea is to use the edgescape (“buffer”) zone to prevent spray heads from wetting hard surfaces and wasting water.  The technique works very well for water conservation and runoff prevention.  Edgescaping also looks beautiful!

***A note from Will Holoman, Senior Water Quality Analyst – “When I edgescaped my lawn, I shut off the spray heads in the area I was planning to edgescape, then let the grass turn brown.  This gave me a natural line to follow as I replaced the turf with native plants.”***

Recommended Plant List:

EDGESCAPE BLOCK 1:        Turf Substitutes

Block 1 -  Replacement of a 24” to 48” wide strip of conventional mowed lawn area or annual-color beds with a high-density, drought-tolerant monoculture Living Groundcover less than 12” high. 

EDGESCAPE BLOCK 2:        Borders

Block 2 -  Replacement of a 36” wide strip of conventional mowed lawn area or annual-color beds along the edge of the street curb or sidewalk with a row of border shrubs 18”-30” high. 

EDGESCAPE BLOCK 3:        Hedges

Block 3 - Replacement a 36” wide strip of conventional mowed lawn area or annual-color beds along the edge of the street curb or sidewalk with a hedge 30”-42” high.  A shredded bark mulch soil cover layer is required after planting. 

EDGESCAPE BLOCK 4:        Shrub Masses

Block 4 -Replacement of a 48”-wide strip of conventional mowed lawn area and/or annual-color beds with shrubby plants 14”- 36” high.  A shredded bark mulch soil cover layer is required after planting. 

EDGESCAPE BLOCK 5:        Permeable Inert Groundcovers

Block 5 -Replacement of a 24” wide strip of conventional mowed lawn area or annual-color beds with a Permeable Inert Groundcover, selected from the list below.  Placement of permeable weed control fabric will be required under a 2” layer of Permeable Inert Groundcover.

How to Edgescape:

For Living Groundcovers (Turf Substitutes, Borders, or Hedges)

1. Remove existing turf and soil to depth 2-1/2” below top of adjacent pavement.
2. For areas to be planted from flats, rototill 2” layer of composted organic soil amendment into the top 6” of soil, then roll to level surface to finish grade ½” to 1” below surface of adjacent pavement; or for areas to be planted for 1-gal and 5-gal container plants, dig plant pits 1-1/2 times the height and width of the container, and mix backfill material 1/3 composted organic soil amendment to 2/3 native soil. 
3. Relocate existing lateral line and turf heads to new edge of turf area to remain, reconnecting to existing turf-zone valve.   Adjust for proper coverage.  (Assume 25 linear feet of existing pipe and 2 existing turf heads for standard pricing). 
4. Install new automatic control valve and wiring, new ½” Sch. 40 PVC lateral line and new bubbler or microspray heads to serve the new planted area.  (Assume 1 valve, 25 linear feet of pipe and 1 head per 2 plants for base bid).  New valves, new bubbler heads and new microspray heads should be commercial-grade Rainbird or Toro equipment.
5. Provide and install plants per required spacing based on species.
6. Place 2” layer of shredded bark mulch over the entire surface, except for areas planted from flats.

For Permeable Inert Groundcovers (Decorative Bark, Gravel, Lava Rock or Rounded Rock Cobbles:

1. Remove existing turf and soil to depth 2-1/2” below top of adjacent pavement, and legally dispose off-site.
2. Relocate existing lateral line and turf heads to new edge of turf area to remain, reconnecting to existing turf-zone valve.  Cap off the line to the Turf Substitute area.   Adjust for proper coverage.  (Assume 25 linear feet of existing pipe and 2 existing turf heads for standard pricing).
3. Place a permeable weed control fabric over the entire subgrade surface.
4. Provide, install, compact and level bark, gravel, rock or cobbles as a 2” layer.