Short answer
No-dig edging is a low, L-shaped plastic strip held down by long spikes driven with a mallet, so there is no trench to dig. It works well for holding mulch in beds and around trees and for marking a clean line. It does not stop grass roots, because almost nothing is below the surface. Dimex EasyFlex is the best-known example. For a lawn edge that blocks runners, use buried steel or plastic instead.
How no-dig edging works
Look at no-dig edging from the end and it is an L. The short wall stands up a little above the soil to mark the edge. The flat foot lies on the ground on the bed side. Spikes go down through holes or slots in the foot and hold the whole strip against the soil. Once mulch covers the foot, only a thin lip shows.
The best-known example is Dimex EasyFlex. Its listings describe a recycled plastic strip with an L-shaped no-dig profile and nylon spiral spikes driven in with a mallet. The 20 ft EasyFlex kit listing says it comes with 6 spikes and 1 connector (listing claim). Listing heights run roughly 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on the item, so check the one you buy.
Because nothing is buried, the strip does not need a trench, does not hit roots or rocks below a few inches, and can be pulled up and reset in minutes.
Where no-dig edging works, and where it does not
| Job | Good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Holding mulch in a bed | Yes | The lip keeps mulch from washing onto the lawn |
| Rings around trees | Yes | No digging among surface roots |
| Rocky or root-filled soil | Yes | Spikes slip between obstacles a spade cannot cut through |
| Renters, temporary beds | Yes | Comes up cleanly and can be reused |
| Stopping lawn grass spreading | No | Runners grow under a strip that sits on the surface |
| Deep gravel or rock | No | Too low to hold more than a thin layer |
| Patio or paver edges | Only rated products | ICPI says bed edging is not a paver restraint |
For grass control, a buried strip at least a few inches deep is what stops runners. See lawn edging and plastic landscape edging. For a deep rock bed, see edging for gravel and mulch.
No-dig vs dig-in edging
- Effort: no-dig is spikes only. Dig-in needs a narrow trench the length of the bed.
- Grass control: dig-in wins, because the wall is underground where runners travel.
- Looks: both are low. No-dig shows a slim lip; round-top coil shows a bead.
- Moving it later: no-dig wins easily.
Types of no-dig edging
-
01Most common
Plastic no-dig edging kit
Best for: mulch beds, tree rings and quick bed outlines
- Profile
- L shape
- Install
- Spikes and mallet
- Height
- About 1.5 to 2.5 in (listings)
- Example: Dimex EasyFlex, recycled plastic with nylon spiral spikes (listing claim)
- Bends to curves without heating
- Buy extra spikes for curves
-
02Alternatives
Other no-dig plastic kits
Best for: the same jobs, when you want a different height or color
- Form
- Coil or sections
- Install
- Spikes
- Color
- Usually black
- Store brands such as Vigoro sell no-dig plastic too
- Compare spike count per foot across kits
- Check the connector type
-
03Heavier
Rubber surface edging
Best for: beds where you want a wider, mulch or brick-look border
- Material
- Recycled rubber
- Install
- Spikes or lay-on
- Look
- Wider border
- Heavier sections stay flatter
- Same weakness: does not stop roots
- Full guide: rubber edging
How to install no-dig edging
Clear and mark the line
Lay a hose where the edge will go and adjust until the curve looks right. Pull grass and weeds along the line and rake it level so the foot sits flat.
Lay the strip
Unroll the edging along the line with the flat foot on the bed side. Let it sit in the sun for a while if it is stiff from the coil.
Join the lengths
Slide the ends together with the connector from the kit before you spike near a joint.
Drive the spikes
Drive spikes through the foot with a rubber mallet at the spacing the maker gives. Add extra spikes on tight curves and at each joint. Keep the spikes vertical.
Cover the foot
Spread mulch over the foot so only the lip shows. Water the mulch to settle it.
What you need
Other methods are covered in how to install landscape edging.
Cost
No-dig edging is plastic, so it falls in the plastic range: about $1 to $3.50 per linear foot in material, per LawnStarter. The real saving is labor: there is no trench to dig and no soil to haul. See landscape edging cost for every material.
Paver edging: a caution
The 100 ft EasyFlex kit is marketed for paver edging on a Home Depot Canada listing. For a patio, walk or driveway, ICPI Tech Spec 3 says restraints should be spiked into the compacted aggregate base and that bed edging is not an acceptable paver restraint. Use a restraint sold for pavers and follow the paver edging guide.
Still choosing? Try the edging picker or see flower bed edging.
Questions people ask
Does no-dig edging really work?
For holding mulch and outlining beds, yes. It is quick to place and easy to move. It does not work as a root barrier: the strip sits on the surface, so grass runners grow straight under it. For that job, use edging buried a few inches deep.
How do you install no-dig edging?
Clear the line, lay the strip with the flat foot pointing toward the bed, and drive the spikes through the foot with a mallet at the spacing the kit says. Join lengths with the included connectors. Mulch over the foot to hide it.
Can no-dig edging be used for pavers?
A 100 ft EasyFlex kit is marketed for paver edging on a Home Depot Canada listing. For a patio or walk, ICPI guidance calls for an edge restraint spiked into a compacted base, and says bed edging is not an acceptable paver restraint, so use a product rated for pavers.
How tall is no-dig edging?
It is low. EasyFlex listings give heights of roughly 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on the item. Check the specific listing, because heights differ by kit size.
Will no-dig edging stay put through winter?
Spikes hold it well in most soils, but frost and mowers can lift it. Check it each spring and tap any loose spikes back in. Add extra spikes on curves and at joints.
Sources
- Dimex EasyFlex no-dig edging kit listing (Do it Best)
- Call 811, Know what is below (national call-before-you-dig line)
- LawnStarter, How much does landscape edging cost? (updated December 27, 2025)
- Dimex EasyFlex no-dig edging kit, 100 ft (Home Depot Canada listing)
- ICPI, Tech Spec 3: Edge restraints for interlocking concrete pavements
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Products, sizes and listings change; check the product details before you buy, call 811 before you dig, and follow the maker’s instructions.