‘Good design is in all the things you notice. Great design is in all the things you don’t.’ – Wim Hovens
The idea that great design incorporates all the understated and functional elements certainly applies to your garden. And garden edging is one of the biggies.
When garden edging works well, it will go nearly unnoticed. It will blend beautifully into your yard and do its job without having to steal the attention from the garden itself. But what exactly is its job? And how can you choose the right garden edging to best suit your yard?
Why use garden edging?
- Improves the appearance of your yard: Garden edging helps your plot to look tidier and more sophisticated. Clean lines and defined zones will give your garden a professional edge, while also allowing for varied garden styles in the one area. Edging will also help to prevent soil or mulch from spilling over from the flowerbeds into your lawn or walkways.
- Prevents weeds: Regardless of the material used, edging acts as a barrier to help prevent weeds and grasses from getting into your flowerbeds or pathways.
- Helps to retain soil structure: Garden edging creates a hard boundary for your garden that should prevent erosion and stop your soil from compacting. It can even act as a retaining wall in areas of elevation. Depending on the material you use, it could also help improve drainage.
- Makes garden maintenance easier: Having a clearly defined border between your grass and any other features such as garden beds and pathways will help make mowing easier. You won’t be second-guessing where the grass ends, and the garden begins.
Factors to consider
When considering the best type of garden edging for your space, you’ll want to think about several factors.
- Style: Of course, any new addition to your home or garden should blend seamlessly into the existing style of your property. Choose materials and colours that suit the theme of your garden, the palette used in your landscaping, the exterior facade of your home and your garden/patio furniture.
- Cost: Consider your budget and decide how much you can realistically set aside for garden edging. Remember that you don’t need to have the exact same edging through your entire plot of land if cost is an issue.
- Durability: The whole point of edging is to help with functionality and keep your garden looking neat. Any materials that start falling apart or look shabby over time are going to have the opposite effect. (And they’ll be a waste of money!)
Garden edging will have to endure sunlight, rain, plant roots butting against it, lawnmowers banging into it and garden maintenance products seeping into it. So, durability is an important factor to consider. Aim for a balance between cost and quality.
Garden edging ideas
The internet is jam-packed with garden edging ideas, from the boring to the bizarre. We’ve listed several of the most popular garden edging ideas below.
Concrete
It’s simple, smooth, easy to install and offers a wide variety of options from straight to curved to cornered. For many years, concrete garden edging has been a no-brainer. These days, however, home gardeners are looking for options that offer a little more individuality and visual appeal.
Metal
Metal garden edging has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. It’s visually appealing, extremely durable and available in a variety of finishes. It’s also excellent for drainage and preventing weeds and roots from crossing over. Redcor in particular can withstand extreme weather conditions and develops a gorgeous patina, while also being malleable enough to be twisted into almost any shape you need. Keep in mind these can require a bit of effort to install.
Timber
Pine edging will complement any garden beautifully, particularly one full of Australian natives. However, it’s good to keep in mind that this natural option can be at risk of termites and/or rot and will likely need to be treated and maintained.
Bricks
This option allows gardeners to get their creativity flowing with the opportunity to create patterns in the brickwork. Choose from a wide range of types and colours, from low-maintenance sandstone edging to fade-resistant Edgepave charcoal pavers.
Retaining walls
If you have a yard that features changes in elevation, you can also choose from a wide range of retaining wall barriers to edge your gardens, grass and pathways. Gardeners are spoilt for choice with many different colours and textures to pick from.
If you want to do more research on your garden edging options, check out our deep dive into garden edging ideas here.
Need more garden edging ideas?
If you’re after more garden edging ideas or just a little DIY advice, you can contact the expert team at Rock’n’Soil any time. We love to share our expert knowledge with our valued customers. Once you’re ready to get started, check out our product page for everything you need. And of course once the DIY bug has bitten (we know it will!), make sure you check out our how to page for more fun ideas.