Pour concrete edge + lay paving stone

[frankeman90]

Problem:
Want to create a border between flower bed and lawn. Have tested in one area with
- Landscape fabric
- Stone dust 10cm
- Paving stones

Result: Looks terrible after a couple of years. Grass and weeds everywhere between the stones.

Proposed solution:
1. Dig 20 cm deep and 25 cm wide.
2. Place pressure-treated boards and build a frame in the trench. Top of board level with final height.
3. Fill with 10 cm sand and compact with a mallet.
4. Insert rebar and fill with concrete.
5. Level with a board for even height.
6. After the concrete has cured:
7. Mortar the paving stones onto the concrete frame with mortar between the stones.

Soil conditions:
Sandy at least 40 cm down in the ground.

Planning to use the following stone:
https://www.byggmax.se/marksten-grå-p02195

What do you think about this project, is it worth trying?

 

[TottoGBG]

I think it's going to be really, really ugly. Can you post a picture of how it looks now?

 

[frankeman90]

What would become really, really ugly?

The idea is to first cast a channel, somewhat like in the picture below.

Then place paving stones on top of this. With mortar fixed under the stone and carefully in the joint. Only the top will be visible when grass and flower bed are placed against the stone row.

I'm not too fond of the idea of having a visible concrete edge; it probably won't look very nice. And I want a straight line with the same height - but I'm not prepared to spend days on groundwork.

The question is, will it work to mortar the paving stones? I can live with a crack or two over the years.

I am also attaching a picture of the current stone, but the new solution is intended to be placed directly between the lawn and a flower bed (not a planter box).

 

[TottoGBG]

Concrete is concrete, I think. Going through the trouble of making a mold and then pouring concrete on top seems unnecessary. Instead, dig out, lay a base layer, compact it, and then set concrete pavers in the same dimension as large cobblestones in the damp concrete. Or even better, real large cobblestones, which are stylish and never lose their appearance or value, unlike paving stones, which quickly become dull. Or make your mold out of a simpler material than treated wood, cast and press in shells, broken fine china, and pebbles as decoration, at least that would be a bit original in our time. Think mosaic.

If you're going to have paving stones, choose one that looks nice for at least the first few years and not a cheap, gray, and dull one.

 

[TottoGBG]

The simplest option is, of course, a buried edge in steel, such as corten steel, but there are other options too, black or shiny for example.

 

[Kanakas123]

Problem:
Want to create a border between the flowerbed and the lawn. Tried at one place with
- Landscaping fabric
- Stone dust 10cm
- Paving stones

Result: Looks terrible after a couple of years. Grass and weeds everywhere between the stones.

Proposed solution:
1. Dig out 20 cm deep and 25 cm wide.
2. Place pressure-treated boards and build a frame in the trench. Top edge of the board at final height level.
3. Fill with 10 cm of sand and compress with a sledgehammer.
4. Place rebar and fill with concrete.
5. Level off with a board for even height.
6. Once the concrete has cured:
7. Lay paving stones on the concrete frame with mortar between the stones.

Soil conditions:
Sandy at least 40 cm down into the ground.

Planning to use the following stone:
[link]

What do you think about this project, worth trying?

Now I'm curious about the result?