When it comes to giving your garden a well-groomed appearance, edging is undoubtedly a great option to consider. Think of it as creating borders around different areas of your garden to add a touch of organization and structure.
Not only does it make your garden look more polished, but it also makes it more manageable. Keep gravel, mulch, and other materials in their rightful place, and make mowing your lawn super easy by installing a flat strip of edging.
In this post, we’re going to come up with 7 amazing edging ideas to give you some inspiration. Let’s start with highlighting some of the best garden edging materials!
Our 7 modern garden edging ideas
Brick or stone borders
At the top of our list are brick and stone borders. Both materials are ideal if you want to create a formal, defined edge around your garden bed or walkway.
Brick edging is a popular method for creating a defined boundary between lawn and garden beds, as well as providing a clean, finished look to a landscape. It helps to keep grass from encroaching on garden beds and can minimize labour in terms of maintenance.
Over time, the bricks will develop a natural patina, adding visual interest to the landscape. However, it’s important to note that the overall aesthetic of the landscape also relies on the quality of the lawn itself.
If your turf is looking lacklustre, various garden maintenance strategies such as fertilization, aeration, overseeding, and proper mowing techniques can help you improve its appearance.
Timber borders
When deciding what material to use for your garden edging, timber is a great option for you. It adds a natural finish to your garden and is more attractive than metal options. It also stands up to weather and other environmental elements better than plastic edging and is cheaper than stone edging materials.
When you use landscaping timber, you have a variety of options available. You can choose from several different kinds of wood, as well as different thicknesses and lengths of timber. You can easily stack the wood to create a wall from the timber you’ve chosen, or lay single logs end to end to create a simpler edging style. This will give you a lot of flexibility to create the perfect look for your garden.
Besides, wood is a popular choice for garden edging as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. Be sure to explore more garden landscaping ideas to add more versatility to your garden.
Paving slabs
The next modern garden edging idea is about slabs. Paving slabs are a durable and long-lasting option for garden edging and can be used to create a variety of different looks, from a clean-lined, modernt look to a more rustic, natural look.
Slabs are available in a wide range of colours, sizes, and textures, so you can easily find the perfect option to match your garden style. You can set paving slabs in a trench or dug into the ground, and then fill them with gravel or soil, or left exposed.
Metal edging
Metal edging such as aluminum or steel can help you create a sleek, modern aesthetic of metal edging in your landscaping. The good thing about metal edging is that it blebnds well with contemporary designs. At the same time, metal edging withstands the test of time.
However, it is more expensive than other alternatives such as plastic, but its durability and ease of installation justifies the investment. With no digging required and easy hammer-in stakes, all you need is a pair of gloves to protect your hands from the rough metal.
Plant borders
If you don’t want to use metal, plastic, wood or any other material for garden edging, consider building plant borders. This will help you add definition and visual interest to various areas of your garden.
Plant borders are particularly useful in creating defined spaces, such as lining pathways or finishing newly planted flower beds. These plants come in a variety of sizes and forms, including tall and short, sprawling and compact varieties.
They provide a range of benefits including the addition of color, movement, and texture to garden beds, pathways, and landscaped edging. Imagine a beautiful flower bed bordering your garden!
To create a natural, informal border, plant a row of low-growing shrubs or flowers along the edge of your garden. If you want to organize your garden before building a garden border, hire garden landscaping services.
Logs or branches
Fallen tree branches and logs can be incredible materials to build a stunningly beautiful garden edging. If you want to add some charm and creativity to your garden appearance, those logs and branches can be perfect choices.
Glass or plastic bottles
You can use plastic bottles and glass in so many creative ways to upgrade your garden without spending too much money. For example, you can build a colorful and unique garden border with plastic bottles.
However, plastic or glass is not as durable as metal, wood, or bricks. While glass can break easily, plastic bottles can be damaged by lawn mowers or other gardening tools. Therefore, if you decide to go with garden edging made of plastic bottles or glass, be sure to do it in a professional fashion.
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What is the best material to use for garden edging
The beauty of edging is that it can be made from a wide range of materials. You can get creative with it and use anything from contemporary stones to hedges, or even timber. People also use shells, tiles, or recycled materials for a unique touch. For a sleek and modern look, there are a variety of materials that work well. Consider the following options and choose the one that fits your gardening goals.
- Concrete
- Brick or stone
- Metal
- Plastic
- Timber
While concrete is popular for its durability and long-lasting nature, brick, stone, or pebbles offer stylish and natural-looking appeal. On the other hand, metal is known for its durability and ease of installation and low maintenance. Plastic is also a good option for its lightweight properties and easy-to-install nature. Some people like timber for its natural and warm look.
Each material has its own pros and cons and it’s important to take into account the overall style of your garden, the budget, and the amount of maintenance you’re willing to do before making a decision.
Related: How to lay sleepers for garden edging – Step by step
What is the cheapest garden edging
While we just mentioned five options, there are many materials you can choose from. However, not all of them have to break the bank. Some of the most affordable options include gravel, plastic, wood chips, and logs. These materials are readily available and often inexpensive to purchase.
While gravel is used to create a simple, clean-lined border around your garden beds, wood chips and logs give your garden a rustic, natural-looking border appearance. These materials are easy to install and maintain and you can use them to create a variety of different looks.
Final Thoughts
So, what modern edging idea do you like the most? You can easily uplift the appearance of your yard with minimal effort and investment. While plastic is a less expensive solution, metal or timber edging will give your garden a more elegant look.