Landscape Edging Benefits & Best Practices for Homeowners
As summer hits full tilt in Minnesota, your landscape may need a little attention. Here are some excellent tips about landscape edging from our guest blogger Dean Bjorkstrand.
Edging is the touch that gives your lawn a finished, professional look. Because so many edging techniques are applicable, it can be difficult to decide which approach will best support your home’s yard and your financial situation. To help you make the best choice for your lawn, below I have broken down some of the most popular edging options.
Extending a brick entry pad keeps the lawn neat as shown in this example from our Artisan Home Tour #16 by Stonewood.
Edging is a great way to add a clean, tidy appearance to your residential property. Of course, it is about more than simple aesthetics. Installing permanent edging around your yard has other practical benefits that can save you money and labor.
Part of your regular lawn maintenance might include using an electric edger that you pull out each time you finish your basic mowing. Edgers like these get the job done, but they can often be tedious to use and will add hours to your project. Permanent edging is a great way to avoid this extra labor, saving you time and energy.
Lawn edging can keep mulch from migrating off your flowerbeds and into your yard. Edging can even provide a barrier that keeps weeds, grasses, and other nuisance plants out of your garden.
A brick walkway neatly placed makes a great edging, as seen in Artisan Home #21 by Pillar Homes Partner.
By visiting any local home improvement or garden center, you will most see that edging is available in a wide range of material that can accommodate any landscape design or budget.
Common edging material includes:
Aluminum
Brick
Concrete
Landscape Timbers
Metal
Pavers
Plastic
Railroad Ties
Wire Fencing
Deciding which material best fits your needs is a matter of determining your budget, your ideal landscape design, and what you hope to achieve with your edging. For example, do you want to improve the look of your yard? Do you want protection from neighborhood pets?
Types of Landscape Edging Compared
Wire
If you want to avoid dogs or other animals digging through your beds, a simple wire fence around each plant area may be your best option. It may not offer much protection against your roots, but it can enhance the look of your garden. It is affordable and easy to install, making it a great choice if you are renting and cannot invest in a more permanent option.
Plastic
Plastic edging is similar to wire. It is relatively cheap and easy to install. It comes in many different colors and styles. Most plastic edging has a sharp edge on one side. It is pushed into the ground and then gently hammered to make sure it is firmly in place. Plastic edging usually comes in sections that can easily fit together, allowing you to adjust the size and shape.
Black plastic edging — such as Master Mark, found at stores like Home Depot – will actually provide a root barrier when pushed into the ground. However, it will require a bit more preparation. You must first dig a trench around your edging site. It is more durable, may reduce weeds, and is almost invisible.
Decorative Options
Material like old railroad ties, brick, or landscape timbers can create a distinctive look that enhances the design of your landscaping. When choosing a decorative material, it is important to consider the color of your home and other fixtures. If chosen well though, these materials can really enhance your yard, as well as the look of your entire home.
Concrete
If you want permanent edging, but you want to keep your cost and labor investment low, concrete may be the best choice for you. Concrete is surprisingly versatile and can be made to fit any shape. It is also extremely durable, surviving many direct hits from your mower.
Not only can concrete be customized for any landscape; it can be stamped with any number of designs. Whether you want something modern, traditional, somber, or whimsical, you can have the design you want stamped into concrete edging. It can be shaped to mimic the appearance of stone or brick, providing a classic look at a fraction of the price and hassle. However, concrete edging is permanent. Make sure you are confident of your design before you begin the installation process. This option provides many years of aesthetic enhancement with very little maintenance.
Dean Bjorkstrand is the owner of Dean Bjorkstrand, Inc., a full-service residential / commercial landscaping and exterior services company based in Minneapolis. Dean specializes in custom landscape design. Visit him at DeanBjorkstrand.com or LandscapeDesignMinneapolis.com.