Garden edging refers to demarcating different areas of your garden to lend symmetry and definition to your garden. In this article, we are going to discuss some ideas in garden edging.

Do you have a garden with different types of flowers and shrubs, but you think it still does not look great? Do flower beds seem to spill all over the place, and you just can't put your finger on why your garden does not have that neat and appealing look? The answer to that might lie in the fact that you do not have any garden edging, a crucial factor if you want to give your garden a cohesive and neat look. Garden edging helps the eye to look at each element of your garden, and also adds symmetry and beauty to the garden.

Flower Garden Edging Ideas

Stone Edging
One of the best ways to add edging to a flower bed is with the use of stones or pebbles. There is something about the harmony of the rough texture of stones with the delicate blooms, that makes such an edging look modern and elegant. You can either stack river stones one over the other to create an enclosure for your flower beds, or you can use more flat-faced stones, like bluestones and flagstones, to create beautiful edging. Special stones are also available in nurseries; you can use these too. Stones are one of the most used garden edging material in formal landscapes, since it imparts a beautiful natural ambiance to a flower garden.

Brick Edging
If you are looking for cheap edging ideas, then go for brick edging. Bricks are relatively inexpensive and you can even use old mismatched bricks to make an edging. Traditionally, brick edging involves using paved stones set around the perimeter of the flower bed horizontally. You can modernize brick edging by laying the bricks at an angle so that only the top angle of the brick appears over the ground. To make this kind of edging, you do not require the services of a professional. Just dig up a trench and fill about 2 inches of it with sand. Now place the bricks diagonally so that only the top corner of the bricks are exposed. Lean the bricks against each other and then fill the trench with soil.

Plastic Edging
Another inexpensive idea is to use plastic. Plastic edgings are available at any good hardware and garden store, and they are quite easy to install. They come with grooves on the sides that fit into each other. All you need to do to install them is dig a trench about 2-3 inches deep, place the edging, and tap them in place with a wooden mallet. Although one of the least expensive options, plastic edging is not preferred by many home owners and gardeners because it looks unnatural in a garden, and does not have much aesthetic appeal. Nevertheless, it is a good option to consider if you want inexpensive but durable garden edging.

If you want to be more creative, you can use other materials, like old soda bottles, cobblestones, cedar shingles, wine bottles, and even pieces of wood fencing as edging, which will add a whimsical and personalized look to your garden.