Adding a brick border to a flower bed can add so much charm to a home. We have gotten lucky with our homes because they all have had old bricks stacked in the yard. If you have a similar experience, this is a great project to put them to good use! If you don’t have bricks lying around, you can often find them on Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, and of course a home improvement store.
In our current home, I used a pile of bricks found in the yard and edged two different flower beds. The bricks around the green hosta and blooming hydrangea bush give the perfect English garden look I was going for.
If you look in the back corner of this listing photo, you can see the large green bushes by the sliding door. We pulled out the large shrub and discovered the brick border that was covered in dirt and hidden for many years.
Once the shrub as removed, I pulled up the brick to re-lay it properly.
Here is an example of a brick border we created in the backyard of our second home. It added so much character to the yard!
How to Install A Brick Border
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At the end of this tutorial, I have a full list of items to purchase to try out this easy DIY on your own.
Step 1 | Dig a trench
Using a flat spade shovel, dig a trench as evenly as possible to lay the bricks. Dig down far enough so that the bricks are at the level you would like. I wanted my brick to be close to the same level as the pool surround so I dug down about the height of the brick.
Step 2 | Add A Layer of Crushed Gravel
Next, you will want to add a few scoops of the crushed stone. This helps with drainage and leveling. You want this barrier between the brick and the soil to prevent the brick from eroding. I recommend adding gravel as you lay each individual brick and not laying down a bunch of gravel at once.
Step 3 | Lay the Brick
When laying the brick, there are a few different things you need to pay attention to. First, you always want the brick is level horizontally. Second, you want the brick to be vertically sloped away (slightly) from the flower bed (for drainage). Third, continuously check that you are making a straight line.
It turns out I have a really tough time making a straight line as I lay my bricks. After the third time of pulling up the bricks because they started to get off track, my husband brought over a leftover fence panel to help with my straight line. This was perfect! I used the wood as a guide and aligned the top of each brick.
Step 4 | Tap with Rubber Mallet
With each brick that you install, use the small level to see what needs to be moved to get the brick flat. If one side is too high, use the mallet to push it down. If the next brick is too low when you go to install it, add more gravel. This will get it even with the height of the previous bricks. Use the mallet to get it the proper placement.
Step 5 | Check the Level
As you connect more and more bricks, you will want to use your long level to keep the bricks even. Use the small level for each individual brick to make sure it is level and slightly sloped away from the flower bed.
Step 6 | Repeat
Continue to lay the bricks until you have completed the border! Your final piece may not perfectly fit the size of your bricks. Get as close as you can to the edge and then you have a few options. The first option is to fill in the remaining border with gravel or soil. The second option is to flip a brick sideways so that it is a half of the width to complete the border. If you flip the brick on its side, you will need to dig deep so that it is the same height as the other bricks.
Once. the bricks are laid, you will want to backfill soil on both sides of the brick. As you are filling in the sides, brush dirt into the cracks of each brick as well. This will keep the border intact and sturdy.
Purchase List
- Gardening gloves
- Bricks (similar)
- Flat Shovel
- Crushed gravel
- Rubber Mallet
- Short Level
- Long Level
- Wood Scrap (optional)
This project takes a little patience but it is pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Plan on spending a few hours to complete this project. Once enjoy the instant charm added to your yard!
Looking for more DIY’s to Try Outside?
- How to Camouflage Your Meter Box with Paint
- Build Your Own Composting System at Home
- Hardy Perennial Plants to Split & Share with Friends
- Upcycling an Old Iron Arbor with Spray Paint
- How We Painted Our In-Ground Pool
- Create an English Garden in Your Backyard
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