Decided to try the mower strips (garden edging) first, since they're smaller.
If it doesn't work, they should be easy to remove, right?
It's actually turning out rather large since, in my soil, anything you dig
ends up as wide as it's deep, it's bank run gravel, really well drained,
so, about 9x9".

I mixed about 3/2/1 pea gravel/portland/sand. The portland I'm using first is
a bit iffy, but the lumps break up.
I'm filling the trench about 2/3 with rubble and the dry mix,
then placing stones, flattest side up on/into that, then filling in with the mix
and smoothing it out, at the end with a soft brush.
Finally, using a watering wand, I water it down until it won't absorb any more.

If this works (it LOOKS good!), I'm doing all the mower strips and several paths
with this method.

Besides using up all this material that's sitting around, I really like
the technique:
You have any amount of time to go get more stones and to set them;
you can prop them easily to exactly where you want them, regardless of thickness;
no curing starts until you're satisfied;
it stays in place with the simplest of support,
completely inert and adjustable, unlike wet mixes;
There is almost no clean-up and very few tools involved.

I was going to use flashing or plastic edging to reduce the width and
keep the edges "neat", but, looking at it now, it blends into the surroundings
in a way I really like.
I can even slope the top slightly so it's a bit higher towards the flower beds.

Can any of you think of a reason this might not work?
I can't, but who knows?

I live in the Hudson Valley; -every hole you dig is at least half stones
often more. Other places may have a surplus of other materials
that might work for this. You could set just about anything with one flat
surface into a dry mix, as long as it's outdoor and durable.

You could also use sackrete mix instead of my pea gravel mix.

I'll post some pics if anyone's interested.

The other thing I kept wishing I'd done, is keep a small tub of dry
portland/sand ONLY, at hand for brushing in over the top at the end.
Other than that, and no rain, it seems to work fine. I'll check the curing tomorrow.

Here's a pic of the first couple of feet. The trowel proved unneccessry.

The mixer needs a new motor, heigh-ho. Hope it's cheaper than a new mixer.
Then I'm putting this stuff everywhere!
I have a lot of stones set in stone dust. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
You can't see them for weeds!
Never setting stone in anything but concrete from now on!

I also did a mower strip along a daylily bed, without digging as far down as you did (I am inherently lazy), just dug flat rocks so they lay flush with the soil, lifted them, poured a base of cement and twisted them back into position. Result? No weeds between the stones.

Here's my more artistic rendition of a cement mower strip:

As for the digging, I dug the edges last year and wanted a year to be sure
just where I wanted them. That decided, my daughter's Beau dug them deeper,
nothing like a bit of brawn to dig around here!

Crazy week at the factory.
Tomorrow I get to really do it, mixer fixed!

Kimmiesophie and Myloki, thanks for the compliments!

I've got 40 feet of edging now and hope to finish that bed tomorrow
and take some pics. The mixer helps my achy shoulder, but doesn't really
speed it up. More stuff to put away, cover up, etc.

Aline, after a day doing this, typing's about all I'm good for. So I'll keep posting
if you can stand it. Hope to have a "depth test" report tomorrow.

I did finish, here's a close-up. There's a pic of the whole thing
in the gallery.

Now, god help me, I have what seems like a great idea for paths,
but I may be too out of topic here. I should post on "Accoutrements"?

I'm doing something similar, but my dry "edging" initially is meant to keep my dog from digging under the fence with tie wire "anchors" looped over sections of the fence bottom then embedded in the dry pour every 6 inches or so. Eventually the barrier will form the foundation for a concrete rabbit frustrator. I'll be threading chicken wire under the existing fence line, bringing it up about a foot high on either side. I'll be bolting temporary 1"x12" forms through the fence, using the chicken wire as additional underpinning of the cement "frustrator." As the cement hardens to the point that the forms can be removed, but still soft enough to enhance, I'll be using a hose to create an eroded look to the cement so it doesn't look so obviously form poured.

We'll see if foot high barriers are enough to discourage the bunnies from entering the yard. I figure that if they are determined enough to burrow under the barrier then the dogs will get an extra bit of exercise and protein. If they still find a way over the barrier, then I can add more chickenwire and cement to add more vertical discouragement.

I don't figure to have this completed anytime soon, but I do hope to have the chicken wire part of the project done by the end of winter.

Did I mention that my yard is an acre in size? That's 200ft per side. Whew. Am I overly ambitious or what?

Jo

It's just regular horse fencing 4' high with 4 inch openings. It's pretty beat up and stretched out, especially after some of the cattle walked over (!) the fence in search of some hay I once was foolish enough to put in the yard.

My friend and I had considered refencing the whole yard, with 5' high fencing that has 2 1/2" openings, (burying 12 inches for the dog and keeping out the bigger bunnies) but it looks like the frustrator will help to keep out most all of the bunnies and keep the dog in for considerably less money, if considerably more effort. I'm going to wrap the fenceposts with something to keep them from being embedded in the concrete. That way, if we win the lottery and decide to (pay someone to) do tradional fencing with 12" buried at a later date, the fence posts will still be useable. Sigh.

Damn concrete is heavy.

I may be crazy, but at least I'm a productive lunatic.

Tah!

Let me make sure that I understand though - none of this is MIXED wet before placed? It's all poured dry and THEN watered down? Tell me it can't be that easy.....

Fgirl, everything except the big pieces is thoroughly mixed dry, then used to set
the bigger things on, and for filling in spaces between them.
Don't water it (gently, a bit at a time, with a wand) until everything is
right where you want it and swept with a soft brush until you can see
the things you want exposed.

If you're a junker, you might consider bottle bottoms, tin cans or lids,
old flatirons, canning jar lids, or other durable things you can get a lot of,
cheap or free.
I'm saving bottle caps for some smaller project.
Have FUN!

Thanks for the clarification, tips and warning! I have rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks in my yard! We have made 2 paths with rocks and I have a pile of MORE rocks just waiting for inspiration.

I may try an edging in my daughter's play area. I already have the trench and it's filled with rocks I let her paint. I can't keep the grass out of it so this would be a good place for an experiment. If it goes wrong - it's only a small bed and only in her play area!

Play area path sounds great! With colored stones, cool!
Another word of warning, swinging the wand about at the end with joyful abandon,
I've several times just missed the too-near wheelbarrow with more dry mix in it!
Keep an eye on the kid.

I have no idea Bonnie. Just tiling a table with them seems too dull.
A bowling ball maybe?

What did you do when you needed to stop for the day? I mean, how do you make a stopping point? Does your mow strip show where you stopped and started? Is there something special you did to not show a "crack" line?

Hmmm...am I explaining myself correctly?

Thanks.
Lorna

Hope the link works.
Try the slide show option if it does.
I'm still using this technique all over my gardens.
I drive tractors over the edging, no sign of breaking after four winters
except an occasional edge stone coming loose, not having enough mix under it,
it's an easy fix (if you want to bother).

I've made a total of about 400 feet of edging, a path-steps going up a hillside,
many details, like the plinths for the tire pots I store hoses in,
bases for various sculptures, a lot of stuff! All dry-mix.
And I still have a big stone pile! Never ends.

STAY UPWIND! Your lungs will not be happy breathing this.

Seriously, your gardens are wonderful and your dry-mix projects are inspirational. Thanks so much for sharing.