Using a Bread Knife for Precision Edges on New Beds

I tend to make a lot of small bordered beds. I don’t like to use a shovel for edging because they aren’t very precise. Enter the most versatile of garden tools: the bread knife!

This year I’m going to grow 24 morning glories using the Masonry Ladders. I will wire two ladders together so the arches will be tall enough to easily walk under. I need to make 8 small bordered beds. I use my bread knife for precision bed making. Unlike a shovel, it creates very precise edges.

First I make a template for the size and shape of bed I want; usually I make it out of cardboard. Since I’ll be bordering the beds in wood, I made one complete border for one bed from the wood to use as my template. It’s 4 feet long and 1 foot wide.

I laid the template down where I wanted the bed.

Then, using a bread knife I cut straight down about 4 - 5 inches into the grass around the outside of the template.

I then removed the template, and from the inside, I cut into the grass at a 45 degree angle and ran a few inches past my initial cuts.

I repeat this process all the way around. The grass just lifts right up and you have nice straight sides.

For the center part where the grass is left, I cut under it with the bread knife, clean out the area and drop the wood border into the cleaned bed. It’s ridiculously easy!

Done!