Creating a defined border between your lawn and landscape beds will increase the visual appeal of your entire outdoor living space. Landscape design pro Doug Scott will showcases popular DIY garden edging materials. He also reviews the available edging methods and outlines the pros and cons of each material so you will know how to choose the right landscape edging for your yard.
Perhaps the easiest, most natural-looking, and cheapest DIY garden border option is a spade-cut edge around your lawn and garden beds. Just cut a trench with a spade-edge shovel and periodically maintain the edge with a string trimmer. You may also have to occasionally re-dig your trench when adding or replacing garden mulch.
Popular Edging Materials
- Bendable Strips
Available in metal, bender board or recycled plastic. These are a versatile landscape edging choice that offers more definition than spade-cut edging. Be careful, though: these strips can tend to pop up out of place at times. Not only is this unsightly, it’s also potentially hazardous while walking through, or mowing, your yard. - Wood Edging
Wood edging products are also popular choices that will allow you to realize a natural, yet finished, look. Cedar edging is easy to install and can often accommodate bends and curves in a bed edge. Landscape timbers are a durable, long- lasting, and relatively inexpensive choice for edging square or rectangular beds. - Natural Stone
Although a more expensive option that’s more challenging to install, natural stone is a durable, visually appealing material that can be used for a wide range of landscape bed types, and can take the overall look of your yard from simply good to great. - Concrete bricks and pavers
Choosing concrete edging, creates a durable, low-maintenance option that works well in areas that receive high traffic, such as an entryway. Bricks and pavers are popular options, as the variety of available finishes can help you achieve a wide range of finished looks—from modern to rustic—and the construction of some make installation easier.
