A well-defined border makes all the difference in a garden bed or landscape. Strategically placing garden edging lends structure while keeping mulch and soil neatly in place. The right edging choice also complements the overall aesthetic for stunning curb appeal.
Key Benefits of Installing Garden Edging
Before diving into the various material options, consider why garden edging belongs in your landscape:
Containment – Edging contains mulch, gravel, and soil in planting beds to prevent spread into the lawn. This enables maintaining crisp boundaries between spaces.
Protection – Borders safeguard plantings and tender roots from lawn mower and string trimmer damage.
Order – Straight lines or flowing curves lend landscape beds a tidy, deliberate look.
Durability – Materials like stone, concrete, and metal withstand frequent lawn maintenance.
Decoration – Colored or uniquely textured edgings enhance visual interest.
Weed Control – Barriers block underground weeds and grass encroachment.
Water Conservation – Soil stays moist longer within firmly encased planting beds.
Curb Appeal – A perfect edge signals care has gone into every aspect of outdoor space.
Garden edging options cater to all needs and budgets for enhancing landscape beds. Determine which materials work best for the demands of your property before installation.
Popular Types of Garden Edging Materials
Numerous edging materials stand ready to give landscape beds polish. Consider the scale, cost, and effort involved when deciding which suits your unique garden design.
Brick
Timeless and charming, brick edges have graced gardens for centuries thanks to durability and classical style. Both new and reclaimed brickwork beautifully delineates landscape borders with straight, stackable lines or sweeping curves. Their weight keeps bricks firmly anchored and soil contained over many years. However, digging trenches and mortaring bricks proves labor-intensive.
Stone
Similarly long-lasting, natural stone borders like granite or limestone boulders add casual elegance to gardens. Their organic shapes provide flexibility in designing soft, freeform edges. Fieldstone and flatter types easily build straight borders too. Choose locally quarried stone for the best availability and price, as weight drives up shipping costs quickly. Consider mortaring only larger stones to allow for minor garden bed expansion over time.
Concrete
For more contemporary schemes, poured concrete edges achieve crisp definition. Concrete offers versatility by molding into nearly any size or pattern before drying rock solid. Quick-setting preformed pavers, curbing, and mow strips stand ready for faster, DIY-friendly installations. Their affordability makes it practical to edge large beds, driveways, and sweeping lawns. However, removing or changing concrete once set proves extremely difficult.
Metal
Corrosion-resistant metals like galvanized steel, powder-coated aluminum, and corten steel add sleek lines with durability. Their industrial vibe suits modern gardens beautifully. Flexible coils easily shape curves while retaining strength. Or install straight sections around geometric beds and trees for precision. Use anchoring stakes every couple of feet to prevent shifting. Combine with hard edges or soft plantings to offset metal borders’ rigid feel.
Plastic or Rubber
For tame budgets, flexible plastic or rubber garden edging offers an economical solution. Choices range from hollow spikes to push into soil to interlocking panels overlapping lawn and bed. Easy snap-together DIY installation suits homeowners lacking heavy equipment for digging trenches. But plastic borders lack long-term permanence and follow-through on style.
Wood
Preservative-treated planks and landscape ties create casual yet distinctive borders reminiscent of vegetable gardens. Their natural beauty pairs effortlessly with cottage-style beds. Overlapping boards allow for gentle curves to define spaces organically. But wood decomposes faster than other materials. Avoid using non-rated landscape ties, as the chemicals that help preserve them may leach into surrounding soil over the years.
Key Considerations When Choosing Garden Edging
Factor in the following to select optimal edging for your unique space:
Intended shape – Curves, angles, or combinations determine suitable materials like flexible metal and rubber or strictly linear concrete.
Soil type – Loose, sandy soils demand deeper anchoring than dense clay and compacted earth.
Bed use – Choose durable edging for high-traffic zones like driveways and mulch rings around trees. Delicate materials suit display flower beds receiving minimal foot traffic.
Edge exposure – Borders framing just the top of the soil maintains a naturalistic look compared to edging visible on both sides.
Yard style – Formal gardens beg for crisp definition in stone or concrete while cottages and meadows adopt a softer, casual wood or plant-based edge.
Effort involved – Assess your DIY confidence and capability before committing to labor-intensive materials.
Budget – Prices run the gamut from affordable plastic to high-end brick and natural stone based on material costs and installation requirements.
Techniques for Installing Garden Edging
While concepts stay consistent across materials, specific digging, anchoring, and joining procedures vary. Always follow manufacturer instructions for assembling edging units like interlocking rubber or plastic borders.
Here is an overview of the main installation steps:
- Outline the shape using a hose or spray paint removable marks.
- Dig a trench with the width and depth recommended based on material choice and soil conditions.
- Level the trench bed as perfectly as possible before adding gravel for drainage.
- Position edging material with overlaps facing the proper direction for rain runoff.
- Backfill half the trench with soil anchoring one side. Check edging remains level and make alignment adjustments.
- Backfill the remainder of the trench while confirming the final position before fully covering.
- Fill any joints with the recommended sealant or adhesive to prevent future shifting. Let materials set according to guidelines before exposure to foot traffic or strain from soil pressure against it. Masterton
Expanding Your Options with Garden Edging Specialists
The options overviewed here represent just a sampling of today’s vast garden edging possibilities. Sometimes you crave a more unique border that makes an exceptionally artistic garden statement.
Specialty companies like Formboss design and fabricate customized edging solutions that envision and meet a landscape’s distinct needs. With in-house engineering and manufacturing, they invent edging answering to your specific requirements for shape, scale, texture, and finish. And they do so while remaining conscious of sustainability, efficiency, and artistry.
Whether your dream edge involves fluid steel ribbons or stamped concrete patterns, landscape artists make it achievable. Starting with a blank slate unlocks imagination to devise an edge in total harmony with plants and hardscaping. Customization also removes the limits of off-the-shelf products only available in certain lengths, shapes, and finishes. Any garden, any edge is possible.
Let a specialist stretch possibilities and realize an edging vision that distinguishes your landscape as a unique extension of personal style. Bespoke orders guarantee properly measured, site-responsive pieces showing impeccable workmanship. Though more costly than DIY methods, the long lifespan of customized creations makes them a worthy investment. One-of-a-kind artistry forges lasting beauty as your private garden sanctuary.
Conclusion
Beautiful, functional garden edging takes landscape design to the next level for homeowners and professionals alike. Assess your landscape’s specific demands and overall style to select optimal borders. Factor in installation effort, longevity, and cost to arrive at the best solution for each unique space.
For one-of-a-kind edging answering your exact garden vision, innovative companies like Formboss specialize in bespoke fabrication using sustainable practices. Custom pieces designed by in-house engineers ensure properly measured, site-responsive reveals and dimensions. Though pricier than off-the-shelf edging, their specialized creations promise enduring quality and distinction.
Give your outdoor living areas the perfect polished finish by researching and investing in garden edging well-suited to the needs at hand. Take time to prepare soil and beds for flawless installation success. The artistry of attention-grabbing borders combats garden bed chaos and elevates designs exponentially.
