Installing concrete lawn borders is one of the most budget-friendly ways to instantly improve your home’s curb appeal. These durable borders are a simple way to edge your lawn and lend a polished, finished look to your landscaping.

You can form concrete borders into any shape and color or stain them to match your style. Compared to organic borders made from wood or plants, concrete borders are long-lasting and require virtually no maintenance beyond occasional power washing.

Installing concrete lawn borders is an easy DIY project with total material costs averaging around $5 per linear foot — here’s our step-by-step guide on how to do it.


1. Get the Materials 

Tackling a DIY concrete border project means sourcing the necessary supplies, including:

  • Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete Mix
  • Quikrete Liquid Cement Color (optional)
  • Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel
  • Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure N’ Seal (optional)
  • 1⁄4-inch plywood
  • Wood stakes
  • Wood screws
  • Wood float
  • Mixing basin, wheelbarrow, or electric mixer
  • Edging tool
  • Margin trowel
  • Hammer
  • Square and/or pointed shovel
  • Screw gun
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Safety glasses

With the proper tools and materials on hand, you’ll have everything you’ll need to create custom landscape borders from concrete.


2. Dig the Trench

The first step to preparing the installation site is to clear away existing debris. You can then plan your exact border layout. Outline the shape and dimensions of your desired concrete border using a shovel. Your borders should be at least 3.5 inches thick and extend 2 inches into the underlying soil.

trench
Image Credit: Canva

To allow for natural terrain variations, dig your trench .5 to 1 inch deeper than the final planned border thickness, minus its soil penetration depth. So, for a typical 3.5-inch thick border, you’ll need a 5.5 to 6-inch deep trench. You’ll also want to make the trench 2 to 3 inches wider than the border itself on all sides. Use a square-nose shovel to neatly level the trench bottom. I recommend opting for straight vertical trench walls to offer maximum structural support. 


3. Install the Form Boards

The form boards act as a mold — this is where you’ll pour concrete to cast the border shape. Cut 1⁄4-inch plywood boards exactly equal to your planned border height, minus the 2 inches that will extend below into the ground. This correctly sizes the forms to your desired aboveground border dimensions.

Place the form boards into the trench and brace them by hammering in 12-inch wood stakes to the outside to hold them flush and secure. Be sure that the tops of the stakes run perfectly level and even with the tops of the form boards. 

Use a cordless drill or a driver fitted with a Phillips bit to drive one screw near the top and one screw in the middle of each form board into every outer stake. Then, drive an additional stake into the ground at each form board end. Screw both ends of the form into these end stakes so that the boards butt tightly together. Once you’ve assembled the first sections of form boards on one side, install matching boards on the opposite border edge. 

Spacers can help keep the width of your concrete form consistent. In my experience, it’s best to use 1-by-1-inch or 1-by-2-inch wood spacers placed at 4 to 6-inch intervals along the trench bottom. The spacers can remain while pouring concrete if you place them throughout the entire trench. Otherwise, remove spacers pre-pour to prevent flow obstruction.


4. Pour the Concrete

Next, you need to add a base layer of gravel to the bottom of the forms. This helps keep the forms stable and prevents wet concrete from seeping underneath them. It also helps prevent cracking. Compact the soil underneath the forms using a hand taper. Then, pour a thin 1⁄2-inch gravel layer into the trench between the forms. 

concrete wheelbarrow
Image Credit: Canva

We recommend using Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete Mix to construct your DIY borders, as this product resists shrinkage cracking and has a smooth finish. You can mix Quikrete by hand in a wheelbarrow or mixing tub or use a barrel-type concrete mixer. Properly mixed concrete has a thick oatmeal-like consistency and holds its shape when you squeeze it with a gloved hand. Carefully shovel the concrete mix into the forms. Make sure that the concrete’s surface is flat and slightly above the form. Then, use a wooden float to remove any excess material and level and smooth the surface.


5. Smooth, Shape, and Cure

Run an edging tool along the tops of your concrete borders while applying consistent and even pressure. Finish the edges into rounded or squared profiles on both sides. I suggest cutting ¼ inch deep control joints lengthwise to help control shrinkage cracks. It’s best to place these joints every 8 feet. 

You should plan to gently mist the concrete each day for the next three to five days. The moisture helps the concrete set to its maximum strength as it dries. Alternatively, you can apply Quikrete Concrete Cure & Seal immediately after finishing to accelerate curing. Apply the seal to the borders using a roller, garden sprayer, or brush. 

After five days, carefully pry the forms away.

Today’s Homeowner Tips

It’s best to take extra care to avoid concrete damage during this stage. Backfill any edge gaps with soil. 


So, Is Making a DIY Concrete Lawn Border Worth It?

Installing a concrete border makes your yard appear crisp, clean, and professionally landscaped. This simple upgrade also boosts the curb appeal and value of your home. Concrete lawn borders also prevent grass and weeds from invading your garden beds or lawns. Unlike wood or plastic borders, concrete also requires very little maintenance post-installation. 

Adding a concrete lawn border is definitely worth it. It’s important to take extra care when mixing and pouring cement-based products and to do your research and planning prior to installation for best results. When in doubt, you can always contact a professional in your area. You can also watch this video for additional information. 


FAQs About Concrete Lawn Borders

How can I enhance my concrete borders?

You can stain, etch, or stamp concrete borders to mimic stone, brick, tile, or other textures. You can also apply resurfacing products to simulate the look of natural stones such as travertine and granite.


How durable are concrete borders?

Properly installed and cured concrete borders typically last 20 to 30 years or longer. The functionality of lawn concrete borders remains the same even through freeze/thaw cycles, which can cause minor pitting or cracks.


Can I install my own borders?

Concrete borders are extremely DIY-friendly, even with no prior masonry experience. However, plan to carefully follow the outlined excavation, form building, pouring, and curing process.


Editorial Contributors
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Nikki Stavile

Nikki Stavile is a writer based in Tucson, Arizona. As an avid backpacker and passionate environmentalist, her work often focuses on sustainable movements at the personal and societal level.

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Lori Zaino

Lori Zaino is a freelance writer and editor based in Madrid, Spain. With nearly two decades of editorial experience, she’s written and edited for publications like Forbes, CNN, Insider, NBC, Newsweek, The Points Guy, The Infatuation, and many others. Having just completed her first home renovation, she’s more interested in home improvements than ever, dedicated to bringing you fresh and accurate content to help you update your living spaces.

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