Garden Edging... different types you may want to consider |
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With nearly all Landscape Projects, there are points where two areas meet …… be it a lawn and garden bed, patio area and garden, driveway and lawn, the list goes on….. and at all these points some form of edging will help define the areas neatly and finish off the project well.
There are a wide range of products that can be used when creating a garden edge and different products have different capabilities and limitations. Ask yourself a few questions first that will guide you to the most suitable edge for your particular project:
- Will the edges be straight with right-angled corners or curved?
- Will the edge be a feature of the garden or should it be as discreet as possible?
- Should it be raised to hold back soil or mulch?
- Should it function as a mowing edge?
- What is the budget?
With these questions in mind, let’s look at the various options available.
Pre-cast Concrete edging:
These traditional strips of grey concrete have stood the test of time. They are available in straight pieces, curves, and right-angled corners so they come with a degree of flexibility and are an “L” shape in profile providing a mowing edge as well as a 100mm lip at the rear to keep the mulch or soil in place. Being concrete, they are strong and definitely will not rot!
Recycled Plastic Edging (Enviro Barrier):
Being a recycled product, the Enviro Barrier is a “green” alternative and comes in 10m rolls of plastic approx 3-4mm thick and in two heights: 100mm and 150mm. This is designed to be a very discreet edge, as it works best when most of it is buried in the ground. This also makes it an effective barrier to any roots trying to stray under the edge. Being plastic it is of course flexible and can be formed to make virtually any shape you like, in fact it is probably better suited to curves than straight sections. When first unrolled it can imitate a coiled spring so it is easier to use and handle if you open up the roll and leave to warm in the sun for a few hours, making it more pliable. The pegs that accompany the Envirobarrier should be placed at approx. one-metre intervals, depending on how many changes of direction the edge makes.
Aluminium Flexible Edging (Link Edge):
New on the scene is this very smart, flexible and ingenious design made of aluminium. It comes in three-metre lengths and three different heights: 50mm, 75mm and 100mm. Being aluminium, it doesn’t rust, won’t rot, and is extremely flexible but strong. It can be used between paths and lawns or as the edge to a paved area and provides a very neat and discreet edge. Watch the DIY video to see how easy it is to install.
Timber Edging:
With timber, there are a number of different options depending on your answers to the questions above. If a raised edge is needed, then treated pine or hardwood sleepers would fit the bill and even the treated pine logs could be used. These would all make a feature of the edging and work well when a straight edge is required. For a less dominant look and even a little flexibility, there are two forms of timber garden edging available: a 4.8 metre length 100x16mm and a 4.8 metre length 150x25mm. Both are treated to the H4 level which is suitable for in ground use and if buried in the soil, will provide a natural looking discreet garden edge.
Paver Garden Edge:
This is one of the most economical ways to edge a garden and one that can often match the existing patio or driveway. While in theory any paver could be used, the most versatile would be the rectangular ones that measure 230x115x40mm. There is a wide range of colours and styles available, all of which are on display here at the yard in Darra.
While pavers could simply be laid in a shallow trench as an edge, this would be difficult to make neat and tidy and the turf, soil, etc. would not be held in place effectively. The pavers need to be laid on a bed of mortar or even concrete mix and then sand and cement applied at every join. This then would give you a strong, neat edge that will stop the grass, weeds or soil from passing through. As a rough guide, a bag of premix mortar will be enough for approx 3 lineal metres of paver edging (depending on the size of the paver and the depth of the trench).
Concrete Block Edging:
Within the ranges of concrete retaining wall blocks, there are some which lend themselves to being used as a feature garden edge and because of their size and shape, can be very easy to install and can be used in straight or curved situations. They are available in different colours and styles so you can match your edging to the nearby retaining wall or paved area and tie the whole landscape together. The easiest retaining wall block to use would have to be the Borderstone from Adbri as it is only 200mm long and 100mm high making them easy to handle and not too large for a garden edge. There are others that can be used …. It just depends on how large a feature you want to make.
Rock Garden Edging:
If you are trying to achieve a less formal look to your garden or even a cottage style effect, then the use of some rocks may well suit your design. Have a look at the Rock and Boulder shop for the Mossy Bush rocks or even at the larger sizes in the Decorative Pebbles section (River Rock 130-300mm) for some ideas. To make the garden edge a more permanent feature, the rocks could be set into a bed or concrete or mortar.
