Decorative Flower Garden Edging Ideas

Garden bed edging gives a manicured, clean line to gardens and separates them from lawn, groundcovers, and hardscaped areas. Flower bed edging also helps prevent erosion by containing the soil and mulch when it rains. It also adds an aesthetic appeal, creating a finished look to the landscape. 

Several garden edging ideas are offered here, with emphasis on cost, appearance, and ease of installation. Choose a flower garden border that is not only easy on the budget but blends in well with your landscape features. 

Flower Bed Edging for Home Gardens

There are several types of garden bed edging, from plastic to wood to stone. You can even leave out the edging material and just create a trench around the bed. Here are the most common ways to edge a border:

• Hand edged or trench style – The least expensive method is to hand edge with a sharp, straight spade. The blade is usually a half-moon shape with a straight handle and called a lawn edger or border spade. Use the spade to cut a V-shaped trench where you want the edging to be. First cut along the edge of the border line, then come out about 3 or 4 inches (and cut down at a slant, forming a V trench. Pull out the soil and grass. This is the best one if you think you will want to expand the bed later. 
• Pavers – Some people like the convenience of running the mower over the edging. Use landscape pavers laid side to side or edge to edge for this purpose. Dig the bed line out so the pavers are level with the ground. If desired, the pavers can be set in a mortar mix rather than the soil, unless they are the interlocking style. This also can be accomplished with bricks laid side by side. For raised beds, they can be stacked. 
• Stones and rocks – Collected rocks or stones like fieldstone or flagstone provide a less formal edge. The stones can be stacked or laid edge to edge. However, grass can easily find its way through an opening. The stones can be mortared together to prevent a grass invasion. 
• Landscape timbers and railroad ties – These are less expensive than pavers but are not as flexible in a curve. They are best for straight edges.
• Metal edging – Metal edging can provide an effective barrier against grass but can be hard to work with. Use the metal stakes to help protect it from heaving.
• Plastic polyvinyl – Hard plastic polyvinyl strips sold in rolls are partially below ground so they can be an effective grass deterrent, however they are the least durable edging and often least attractive. Hard plastic sections that are pounded below ground can be easier to install.
• Creative edging – The sky’s the limit if you want to use a more creative edging for a whimsical flower garden border. Wine bottles buried neck down, nostalgic plates, branches, upturned wood or stakes – whatever you can repurpose – is fair game.