Better Edging
Lines are fundamental to any kind of artistic expression. They go back to basics in the form of stick figures, colouring book pictures and defining shapes in almost any kind of drawing or art. I have often expressed that gardening is art. Gardening, in essence, is a series of shapes and lines, mostly consisting of garden beds. In many cases, these can be enhanced, defined and made to stand out by creating some kind of formal edging.
Aside from the artistic or design principles that this satisfies, there are many practical and functional elements to putting solid edging around your garden beds. Those fellow gardeners amongst us will surely have experienced the ever-changing shape of beds adjoining lawn areas that get wider and wider over time by the use of the dreaded spade chopping at the lawn edge. A solid edging eliminates the need for any such tool to be deployed.
Many types of edging also allow for easier mowing of lawn areas, as a wheel of the lawn mower can run on it eliminating risks of falling into the bed and scalping the grass. This also limits the growth of grass runners into the flower beds.
Bricks
A traditional material for a traditional look. Bricks are a timeless product and are usually suited to more traditional garden design styles. By nature of their depth, bricks are a strong edging material and can be used lengthways or sideways. My personal preference is to use them sideways (in bricklaying terms this is a header course). However, using bricks lengthways can be very cost-effective as they go a long way.
Building bricks, such as clay commons can be used, but they must be set on their side so that the smooth side is visible. Paving brick can also be used the ‘correct way up’.
Cement
Cast concrete edging allows for the ultimate flexibility of shape and form. Usually raised, it also gives flower beds a bit of height. This is beneficial in areas where soil is poor. Good soils and compost can be brought into the flower beds without necessarily having to excavate the beds before planting. This type of edging, however, requires specialist tools/moulds and generally requires you to hire a company that’s specialised in this work.
Cobble and Paving
Cobbles and flagstone pavers are the most versatile materials to use for edging your beds. They can be used in pretty much any style of garden, from contemporary to classic and even natural/informal gardens. Choosing their width can be an important
factor in how they look in scale to the rest of the garden space. For example, in a large space, a narrow cobble edging could look out of scale compared to a larger flagstone paver. Cobbles and pavers must be cemented in. If they are not, they can look very untidy and uneven very quickly and serve little purpose in effectively separating your bed from its surroundings. Another important consideration is they should ideally be set
level with adjacent lawns for ease of mowing and trimming.
Metal
The number one choice for a modern garden design, where the other materials here could be seen as a bit traditional or old fashioned. Using a steel edging product such as Perma Edge is one of the easiest and quickest ways to create a permanent edging. This particular product comes in 1m lengths and has interlocking tabs to easily join together, with spikes to drive into the ground and hold it in place.
The beauty of this type of edging is that it becomes virtually invisible, yet will continue to provide sharp, defined edges to your beds. Notwithstanding off-the-shelf products, steel sheets or steel flat bar is a very versatile material that can be customized to any shape or form. With a bit of creativity and a little welding skills, the options are endless, and the sky is the limit as to how steel can work for you in your garden – to edge your garden bed or much more.
Poles
Log rounds take me back to my early landscaping days when these products were very popular, cost-effective to buy, simple to install and easy on the eye. They are suited more to natural garden styles and can act as simple retainer walls too. When I use poles as garden edging, my preference is to use gum poles laid lengthways. This is a very simple and cost-effective method of creating bed edging. I suggest that these poles are held in place by steel rods, either hammered into the lower side of the pole or bent over the top of the pole and hammered into the ground on both sides like a giant staple.
Rocks
My personal favourite. I love using natural stone for many things – cladding, building and of course bed edging. Good rocks are one of the most sought-after commodities to us landscapers, as there is nothing more beautiful than a properly constructed rock structure. However, do it with the ‘wrong’ type of stone and it can look terrible, so choosing the right rocks for your edging is very important. Depending on the size of the rocks used will determine whether it’s a good idea to cement them in place or pack them loose.
Great edging doesn’t just neaten a space, it elevates the entire garden, creating form, flow and visual clarity. Whether you choose sleek steel, rustic rock, classic brick or something creative and custom, the right boundary can help define your planting, simplify maintenance and ensure your garden looks intentional, not accidental. So next time you’re out in the garden, take a moment to look at those lines and imagine what a little structure could do.
If you’d like help bringing your edging project (or any part of your garden) to life, Greg and his team would love to assist.
📞 Greg Dowsett Landscaping | Call: 072 418 2738
Email: greg@gregdowsett.co.za