Circular Mowing Strips Around Trees: Better Alternatives

A homeowner wants curved mowing strips around trees but finds only rectangular pavers, leaving pie-shaped gaps. Crescent pavers are rare and only available in 36-inch diameters—too large.

Professional Perspective: Skip Modular Edging

Modular edgers (scalloped or straight) look amateurish and fail long-term. High-quality landscapes use two approaches:

• Steel edging: Clean, durable, virtually invisible.
• Maintained trench edge: A 6-inch deep, 6-inch wide V-trench cut with a half-moon edger, re-cut annually.

If You Want a Paver Circle

Use bricks set in concrete: dig a 6×6-inch trench, fill with concrete, press bricks 1–2 inches deep around the tree. Mortar joints for a tight seal. A 3×3-foot square of straight segments also works better than forcing curves.

Reference: Brick border example

— Sean J. Murphy, Amenity Architects