Landscape edging is a great way to add to the overall appearance of your lawn or garden and increase the value of your property. Of course, edging can be overlooked and blend in with your landscape if that is your goal.
On the other hand, if you choose to make your landscape edging stand out, there are a variety of options for decorative landscape edging to catch the attention of your guests and passersby.
If you want to achieve a neat and more easily-maintained landscape zone, then landscape edging is really more a necessity than a desire. Without landscape edging, you are left with messy, borderless flower beds, leaving the mulch unguarded to spill out into surrounding areas. You never want your lawn to scream neglect, instead you should take some extra time to cure the appearance. Landscape edging also allows you to cut down the amount of time you must spend maintaining the landscape element zone.
When it comes to decorative landscape edging, there are no rules.
With decorative landscape edging, you are free to bring whatever creative ideas you have to life, using different materials and styles. The range for decorative landscape edging material is far and wide—ranging from stone, concrete, brick, wood, tiles, and metal, to plates, glass, logs, and anything recyclable.
Here are some decorative landscape edging ideas if you need help getting your creativity flowing:
1. Concrete, Stone, or Brick Landscape Edging
These decorate landscape materials are sturdy and are guaranteed to last you a lifetime, rather than having to replace them every few years or so. Concrete can be professionally poured or done on your own. Depending on what look you are aiming for, use your judgement to decide whether or not to hire a professional for the job. It may just be worth the money to hire someone, not to mention they will already have all the tools necessary to complete the job in a timely manner. Stone and brick are very similar in that they can be laid in many of the same patterns. Brick will give more a geometrical pattern, while on the other hand, stone will give more of a rugged, rustic appearance. Both materials become sturdier when they are laid in some sort of mortar, allowing your edging to last quite some time.
2. Metal Landscape Edging
Not all edging options are meant for every landscape; some compliment certain landscapes better than others. Metal edging will usually be one color with a slick texture when you first install it around your garden bed, but after some time it will oxidize and develop a patina.
Metal landscape edging such as our Edge Right metal landscape edging, can be a great decorative landscape edging option also serves as a great grass barrier because it is installed into the ground, while also adding an above-ground barrier to your garden bed with the excess material that is left on top after the install. This above ground material is also what serves as added decoration to your landscape. The great thing about metal is that it is fairly easy to install, taking up little of your time, so there is no need to hire a professional for the job. While metal landscape edging is not the very cheapest option available, it is affordable and is sure to last you a very long time.
3. Household Items for Edging
The sky is the limit when it comes to what materials can be used for decorative landscape edging if you’re thrifty and extra-creative. Some of these materials can include, but are not limited to, china plates, terra cotta pots, old hose pipe, bowling balls, hubcaps, and glass bottles. Since these are all very creative ideas, there isn’t exactly a manual on how to install each material, but for a rough idea here are a few ways install some creative landscape edgings.
- China plates: To get more coverage for each plate, it’s best to carefully cut the plates in half. Dig a small trench and place each half of plate in the trench for stability and side by side or even overlapping a little bit to keep grass clippings out and mulch in.
- Old hose pipes: You will need something like rebar or pipe to provide structure for the hose pipes. Once you’ve installed your choice of structure, weave the hose pipes between the poles to create a border wall of old hose pipes for your landscape edging.
- Glass bottles: After collecting bottles, dig a small trench around your landscape element and place the bottles neck down in the trench, filling in the gaps with the excess dirt. This provides a beautiful, sometimes colorful, light-reactive, recycled landscape edging for your lawn.