Garden Bed Edging Ideas

Don't overlook plants as an edging tool. When planted in one long mass of draping color, low-growing plantings of alyssum (shown here), veronica, bouncing bet, artemisia, or candytuft soften hard edges.

Define the space between bed and lawn by stacking rocks. Flagstone and bluestone feature wide, flat faces and lend a romantic English country feeling to a garden. Irregular in shape and thickness, flagstones are durable and stack securely in this garden.

Lay old, mismatched bricks on the diagonal for a 19th-century domino effect. Dig a trench and add one inch of sand for drainage. Set the bricks in the trench, half exposed, leaning one against the next, then fill in with dirt. If you are edging several beds, lean all the bricks in the same direction.

Infuse your garden with a funky, down-home look with an edging made from colored glass bottles. Bury the bottles neck down, side-by-side in the soil. (Note: this is not recommended where kids play.)

Use flat edgings that are flush with the ground to make mowing easier. If you choose brick, as shown here, use paver edging strips, available at home stores, to hold it in place.

Concrete edging eases mowing and its serpentine shape creates a winding path through the garden shown here. Varying heights add interest and allow for a smooth transition on a slope or uneven landscape.

Square cobbles of granite combine with a hedge of Korean boxwood to give this garden shape. Annabelle hydrangea and oakleaf hydrangea add billowing blooms of white, their large leaves contrasting with the textures and shapes of the paving, edging, and hedge.

Mix and match rock shapes and colors for a natural edge. Gathered by family and friends near and far, these large multicolor rocks complement the garden's informal style. Positioned in a winding pattern, the round boulders allow alyssum to creep over and between the rocks, creating a lacy, scalloped look.