How To Make Great Garden Edging

[Updated on 1 March 2025] Separating areas in your backyard is an arduous job, like designing your backyard. It can sometimes take hours of pulling out weeds and shoveling soil to make everything the way you want it, only to do it once again the following month. It’s a very therapeutic job, but it grows old over time. Garden edging is essential for dividing areas for plants, grass, and trees, making it easier and giving better features for the garden.

Edging the areas for plants, grass, and trees makes it easier and provides better features for the garden. Better separation of areas makes it easier to clear and remodel spaces with little maintenance required.

One of the best ways to improve any outdoor space is with a curated garden. Garden edging separates parts of your backyard. It gives structure, boosts curb appeal, and cuts down on maintenance time. Whether you’re looking to keep grass from edging into your flower beds or create a polished landscape design, edging is a key element.

In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about garden edging. You’ll learn what garden edging is, why it’s important, and how to install a strong, nice-looking edge for your garden.

Why Garden Edging is Essential

Garden edging is not just a functional element in your garden or outdoor space, but it also serves as a valuable addition.

1. Enhances Visual Appeal

Having a clear border between your flower beds, grass, and paths gives your garden a tidy, manicured appearance. It provides a clean and professional-looking end to your landscape.

2. Prevents Overgrowth

Weeds and grass can infiltrate flower beds with little resistance, complicating maintenance. Edging provides a physical barrier that separates different areas in your garden.

3. Reduces Maintenance

Clear landscapes with outdoor gardens need edging. This helps cut down on time for trimming, weeding, and reshaping garden beds. It also performs lawn mowing with greater efficiency.

4. Improves Drainage

Some edging materials, including bricks and stones, can help prevent water runoff & soil erosion in your garden.

5. Increases Property Value

A well-maintained landscape with clear boundaries boosts your property’s curb appeal. This can attract more buyers.

Choosing The Right Materials For Garden Edging

You can edge with a variety of materials based on your budget, aesthetic preferences, and expected level of maintenance.

1. Natural Stone Edging

• Gives a rustic and timeless look
• Durable and long-lasting
• Requires minimal maintenance
• Costlier but gives a high-end look

2. Brick Edging

• Classic and versatile design
• Low cost and simple to set up
• Good for both straight and curved edges
• At the end of the stairs to the main entrance, someone needs to clean the moss here sometimes.
• Requires periodic cleaning to prevent algae build-up

3. Concrete Edging

• It acts as a firm, permanent obstruction.
• You can cut and paint it to match your nursery style.
• Ideal for modern landscapes
• It takes a bit more work to install

4. Metal Edging (Aluminum or Steel)

• Thin and sleek, good for modern designs
• Flexible for curved edging
• Weather resistant
• Much more expensive upfront but long-lasting

5. Plastic or Rubber Edging

• Installation that is both affordable and easy to use.
• The best choice for non-permanent or temporary brokers
• It may break down over time when exposed to sunlight.

Tools and Materials Needed

Before you begin to install your garden edging, collect all the tools and materials that you would need to execute the job:

• Shovel
• Concrete Mix (if you are using brick or concrete edging)
• Bricks, Stones, or Edging Material of Your Choice
• Measuring Tape
• Level
• Garden Hose (used to make curved edges)
• Mallet or Rubber Hammer

Step-By-Step Guide To Making Great Garden Edging

1. Plan Your Edging Design

• Make a choice about where to put the edging along garden beds, walkways, and driveways.
• Run a garden hose or string where you want curved edges. Use stakes and string for straight edges.
• Measure the total length to estimate material requirements.

2. Prepare the Area

• Clear the area where you want to place the edging from grass, weeds, and debris.
• Excavate a shallow trench for your marked path — 4-6 inches in depth, depending on the material you choose.
• Part of your job was leveling the trench so you’d have a flat base.

3. Install the Edging Material

For Brick or Stone Edging:

• Because this was the only way to stabilize the bottom, I made a thin layer of sand (or a thin layer of concrete mix) vertical in the trench.
• Set each brick or stone in the trench, making sure they are level.
• Get a level to keep the edges straight and uniform.
• Using a mallet, tap the materials down to hold them.

For Metal or Plastic Edging:

• Install the metal or plastic strips in the trench.
• Re-stake them at intervals to ensure they don’t move.
• Adjust as necessary to keep the shape in check.

4. Secure the Edging

• If you are using bricks, seal any gaps with concrete or soil to hold them in place.
• For flexible materials such as rubber or plastic, make sure they’re secured with stakes.

5. Backfill and Finish

• After the edging is set in place, backfill the trench with soil or mulch to provide stability.
• Water the area with care to pack the soil down.
• If necessary, make alignment adjustments, then step back and stare at it.

Maintenance Tips For Long-Lasting Garden Edging

Here are some easy maintenance tips to keep your garden edging looking good and working well:

• Regular Cleaning: Clean debris, dirt, and pond moss to avoid build-up.
• Check for Shifting: With time, bricks or stones may shift; readjust them as needed.
• Trim Overgrowth: Ensure grass and other plants aren’t spilling over the edges.
• Repaint or Seal Edging Materials: If you are putting in wood or metal, give it a coat or protection to help increase its longevity.

Conclusion

Installing garden edging is an easy and seamless way to take your backyard to the next level. A clear edge made of bricks, stones, concrete, or metal creates order. It also reduces maintenance and enhances the look of your landscape.

Using the right materials and a bit of elbow grease, you can design an outdoor area that is contemporary and practical and looks great years later.

If you want to know more about how to make great garden edging, then see our infographics below: