[boddy]

Hi,

I've been digging some of my allotment today and the edges are a nightmare! Between the beds is grass - probably couch grass the way it is growing. The grass, both couch type and normal grass, has migrated into the beds (along with horsetail, but I know I won't stop that with a border!!). I was thinking about putting a border all the way round my three large beds. 
I have some wooden planks, possibly enough to do the smallest bed. I'm wondering if anyone has any better ideas before I make a start, I'll also be looking for something else for the other two. Any advice at all would be gratefully received.

[gobs]

The planks won't be enough by themselves. Put them in a bit from border and pave or concrete in between a slim, solid 'edge'. Or compost bags cut to size with stones on top might also do.

[diospyros]

I had the same problem yesterday with grass and buttercups.  I weeded quite a way along one edge and dug a bit of a trench, so the edge by the path is vertical going down about eight inches and then sloping back up to the bed.  I expect fairly quickly gravity will fill the trench back in, but in the meantime it makes a more defined edge that hopefully the weeds will have to stop and think about.  Certainly this was what the bed edges looked like years ago when I worked in a large woodland garden.

[Steveharford]

I'm using decking boards on edge with 2x2 posts to hold in position on the inside and cut off flush with the top. They come treated so should last well. Not over expensive either as they are made in their thousands.

[Yana]

I'm using decking boards on edge with 2x2 posts to hold in position on the inside and cut off flush with the top. They come treated so should last well. Not over expensive either as they are made in their thousands.

That's how I've done all my beds Steve, as and when I could get hold of the decking boards at a good price. Managed to blag that several 2.7m lengths were off-cuts because I could see a sawn edge. Got them at 'off-cut' rate, a lot cheaper than normal price.
I did have grass paths but they took longer to look after and cut than was worth it, so I've put either paving slabs or wood chipping between the beds and so very little maintenance.

[boddy]

Aha, I have some decking board down the side of the shed, I'd forgotten about them! I like the concrete idea too! I will try the sloping down atr the edges idea whilst I am getting my act together, but I know it won't hold the grass off over the winter again. I am very tempted to get rid of the grass, but there is so much of it! However if I did I could probably have three beds at the bottom of the allotment instead of two! Down by my sheds past all my beds is an expanse of grass (lots of couch I'm sure). I've already cut a few areas out and put some bulbs in and planted a cherry tree. I was wondering about taking to grass up and putting a lot of these wild flower seeds down you see sold in mixed boxes to attract wildlife. Do you thinks they'd start to appear all over the allotment too? They'd have to stand being walked through a fair bit as that's where to water butts, compost bins and shed are.

[mumofstig]

If you don't mind using Glyphosate - a once a year spray around the edges knocks the grass back enough to stop it growing in for the rest of the season.

[Goosegirl]

You could always dig down (about 8"?) round the sides of the beds and use cut-offs from old compost bags etc to line the sides as a barrier to the dreaded couch grass. When in place, you can cut off the top of the plastic so it won't show above your planking when you replace the soil.  Wish I had thought of it before doing my beds! 

[Annen]

I use loose planks, any bits I can find around the plot and support them with anything else I can find, bottles, canes, bits of old garden arch. They can be lifted out anytime I change my mind on layout and are easy to put back.  They don't stop weeds, I am learning to live with them  , but you can spot them easily as they creep under and hoik them out toot sweet.

Unintentionally, they also give the garden a rather fetching rustic effect.

[brokenglass]

I find that couch and other such horror stories run along the boards then off into the plot, I make them sound like athletes but I hope you know what I mean.