Stone edge divider above or below height of grass?

[jtvang125]

So this is another sub-project that's part of the dry river bed project to re-landscape my front yard. For this I'm using stone pavers (7" L x 3.5" W x 1.75" H) to divide my neighbor's grass lawn and my rock based ground cover. I tried it with the 3.5" side laying down with a 1.75" height and the 1.75" down with a 3.5" height and I like the first layout more. Does being below or above the grass height matter? And if you were the neighbor which way would you prefer it?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The 3.5" height would be a real jerk move as you'd be forcing your neighbor to edge the whole thing.

 

[Pick2]

I would prefer the top of the paver level with the ground , at most 1/4 inch high. I could mow right over it and not need to get out an edger.
If it sticks up 2"- 4" and I drop my mower wheel off the far side and the blade hits the paver , I would be pissed. Dull / bent blade or a broken paver.

 

[mindless1]

With the 1.75" height, you'll probably end up with grass growing sideways and covering them, maybe eventually soil on them too, so grass growing on them, then dead grass if it gets dry... not that this is necessarily a problem if you're okay with that, but it is a difference if it's not meant to be an edged barrier.

 

[jtvang125]

The 3.5" height would be a real jerk move as you'd be forcing your neighbor to edge the whole thing.

I would think this would be easier since the grass can be mowed as close as possible and then just trim the rest with a weed wacker.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, I'd want it above the grass.

 

[Mandres]

To me it would depend completely on aesthetics. Whichever way looks better to my eye is the best way.

 

[Exterous]

And if you were the neighbor which way would you prefer it?

Ask the neighbor?

 

[Gardener]

I've seen it both at grade, and above grade, a prefer at grade for ease of maintenance.

With the top surface of the edging at the soil height, you can run a walk-behind mower wheel on it, with minor tweaking every few mows with a weedeater. If the edging is above grade, its a lot of weedeating, and the tendency of the line to deflect downward will gouge and scalp the turf.

Above grade profile also looks less finished to my eye.