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A bed edging separates the bed from paths and adjacent beds. At the same time, it acts like a picture frame that reinforces a decorative garden design. We present 22 materials with advantages and disadvantages.

In a nutshell

  • delimit individual areas
  • can underline the garden style
  • commonly used materials: wood, stone and concrete
  • Hedges or densely growing plants are natural alternatives
  • can compensate for slopes on property

Tasks of bed edging

Bed borders not only have practical tasks. Used correctly, they are an important design element.

  • Separation of beds and demarcation of paths
  • Protection against weeds and unwanted proliferation of plants
  • structuring of the garden
For the creative ones: flower bed edging made from bottles

Bed edgings are available in different materials. We present the most common ones with their properties.

Stone bed edgings

Natural stones are very popular for edging beds. The interaction with the plants in the garden creates a beautiful harmony.

benefits

  • available in many variants
  • durable
  • easy-care
  • border beds cleanly

disadvantage

  • insufficient root blockage
  • partly complex installation
  • partly expensive
  • high transport costs

sandstone

Sandstone convinces with warm, pleasant colors and is easy to work with.

collected natural stones

Anyone who cultivates a garden regularly finds small and large stones on the beds. When stacked together, these form a dense boundary. In this way you can create straight lines, but also curves or wavy borders.

granite

Granite edging stones have been used to border flower beds for decades. In terms of its hardness and durability, the material is unsurpassed among bed edgings. Curb stones of various sizes are available on the market. Granite is very decorative.

limestone

With its light color, limestone fits perfectly into Mediterranean-style gardens. The sedimentary rock is soft and easy to work with.

concrete

Concrete is a cult. This also applies to the garden. Various concrete elements for delimiting areas and paths in the garden are available in the hardware store. They can be used to create strong boundaries. The inexpensive and easy-care material is ideal for creating straight edges. At the same time, it is perfect for creating harmonious effects in the garden with curved lines.

cobblestones

Bed borders can be designed quickly and easily with paving stones. A layer of gravel forms the subsoil on which the stones are concreted.

made of plastic

Plastic borders for beds are available in many variants. They are usually green in color so they don't stand out too much. Plastic convinces with its practicality. In terms of attractiveness, the material is on the lower ranks.

benefits

  • inexpensive
  • durable
  • good root barrier

disadvantage

  • unnatural appearance
  • not naturally degradable
  • not very stable

rubber bands

Rubber band edging is easy to use. They can be cut with scissors, are stuck into the ground and do not have to be deeply buried.

plastic elements

You can get plastic elements in various sizes and shapes from specialist retailers. These are easy to use.

Note: If you shy away from the unnatural appearance of plastic edgings, but would like to take advantage of the inexpensive edgings, you should choose plastic edgings with a wood look. At first glance, the difference is not noticeable.

wooden

Wood is ideal for edging beds. Its advantage is the natural appearance that makes it easy to integrate the borders into the garden design.

Wood is a sustainable building material. With good care, the natural material scores with its longevity. But wood is not just wood. There are different variants and types of wood to choose from.

benefits

  • cheap price
  • natural looking
  • diverse design options
  • large selection
  • easy construction
  • sustainable building material

disadvantage

  • incomplete root blockage
  • low durability
  • unsuitable for damp gardens

tree trunks

Halved or whole tree trunks are placed around the beds and fixed with sticks.

The very creative build a whole sculpture from tree trunk and tree discs to border the bed.

Bed edgings made of semicircular wood

In specialist shops you can get ready-made bed edgings made of semi-circular timber lined up next to each other. These are usually impregnated and more robust against weather conditions than natural wood.

wooden fences

Borders of beds and lawns can also be designed with low wooden fences made of sticks. You can build them yourself or buy them ready-made at a hardware store. Provide the fence elements with weather protection.

braided fences

Hazelnut or willow branches have been used to border beds for generations. You can get hand-woven wicker fences in different sizes in the shops.

wooden boards

Wooden boards stuck into the ground result in clear, straight edges. Note that untreated boards will not last long.

bamboo

Bamboo is excellent for edging beds. You can get rolled bamboo, with several sticks connected together, at the hardware store.

Bamboo borders are decorative and can create curved shapes or straight lines as desired.

made of metal

Metal borders are particularly stable and suitable for protecting against unwanted plant growth. Anyone who fears an unnatural effect can breathe a sigh of relief. Metal bed edgings are usually completely sunk into the ground.

benefits

  • very durable
  • stable
  • easy-care
  • impenetrable root barrier
  • perfect as a lawn edge

disadvantage

  • unnatural material
  • expensive
  • cool look

aluminum

Aluminum bed edgings are lightweight, easy to bend and easy to install. They are less expensive than steel alternatives.

corten steel

More and more hobby gardeners are opting for the rust-red steel as a bed edging. The structural steel is weather-resistant and stable. It contains a proportion of copper, which causes the red color. A plus point of the material is its repellent effect on snails.

Source: Jula2812, Untitled, Corten steel, Michael Gitlin, 1975 (01), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

stainless steel

Stainless steel bed edgings are rustproof. They are more expensive than other metal bezels, but impress with their modern, elegant appearance.

from plants

It is not always necessary to border beds with solid materials. Some plants also perform this task excellently.

benefits

  • Naturally
  • weather resistant
  • Benefits for small animals and insects

disadvantage

  • high maintenance effort
  • high costs depending on the plant species
  • diseases and pests

boxwood

Bed borders made of boxwood are ideal for the cottage garden. But the malleable plant is very expensive and is often attacked by diseases and pests such as the box tree moth.

dwarf yew

A good alternative to boxwood is the dwarf yew. It tolerates pruning and is winter hardy.

Notice: If children play on your property, do not plant the dwarf yew. The needles and the fruit are poisonous.

honeysuckle

The evergreen honeysuckle lives up to its name. It makes an attractive hedge border.

lavender

A bed border made of fragrant lavender is perfect for anyone who wants to make a contribution to the preservation of insect diversity. In addition, the fragrant plant looks beautiful. Combine different styles.

Thrift

The thrift grows very densely and remains small. When it blooms, it becomes an eye-catcher. After flowering, it appears as a dense green border.

frequently asked Questions

How do you find out which bed edging suits the garden?

First, look around the area. Which stones come from the region? Choose sandstone or limestone in the north, and granite in the low mountain ranges. Is your garden near the forest? Then wooden borders can be the first choice. What materials and colors were used in the buildings on the property? Color the border of the bed to match the house. This is how you achieve a harmonious effect.

How can you safely separate flowers or vegetable beds from the lawn?

In this case, you need to make sure that the lawn is easy to mow and that the grass cannot spread onto the bed. Keep a distance of ten centimeters between the lawn and the border of the bed. If the border of the bed is higher, you will have to trim it with the lawn edging shears.

Which used materials are suitable for edging beds?

You can put various used materials in the garden to a new use. Old bricks are excellent for edging beds. Pallets or old railway sleepers also create an effective border and open up many creative design options.

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Category:

Garden design