Gardening Gardening Basics

25 Budget-Saving Garden Edging Ideas for a Sharp Yard

A garden edging made out of boulders

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Garden edging can add such a bold statement to a yard. These inexpensive garden edging ideas not only show you how to get that look, but you'll be able to get a great-looking yard and garden no matter what your budget is. Do this edging project yourself and you'll save even more money. It's a great project for a beginner.

Garden edging divides a yard and a garden with a variety of materials. Commonly these are hardscapes like bricks or pavers but they also can be more organic by using materials like mulch or the actual plants in the garden. Whatever edging material you use, it creates a border that can really define the look of the whole space.

  • 01 of 25

    Mulch Garden Edging

    Mulch used as edging for a garden

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    One inexpensive gardening edge idea is to use mulch to separate the lawn from the garden. Mulch can be made out of all sorts of materials but traditional wood chips are used here. Besides looking great, the wood chips stop weeds from growing and retains moisture for your plants.

  • 02 of 25

    Bricks With a Curve

    A backyard with a brick edging

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    This garden edge idea has you use an inexpensive material, bricks, to make an edge that doesn't look like it didn't break the bank. A curved brick edge looks great, but also allows you to not worry about getting the lines straight when you're putting everything together.

  • 03 of 25

    Rocks Meet Pavers

    Pavers and stones used as edging

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    Make even more of a statement by using two materials to edge your garden. Here pavers are used up against the lawn to create a nice edge. Interesting rocks are then used to create the other part of the yard, where the trees and bushes grow.

  • 04 of 25

    Natural Plant Edging

    An organic garden edge

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    Edging divides the yard and garden and here it does it beautifully. Plants, flowers, and bushes are all used to create an edge. This is a budget-friendly idea since you're probably buying the plants anyway to put on the other side of the edging.

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  • 05 of 25

    Stone Path

    A path and yard edge

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    Another way to divide a garden from a yard is to put a path in between the two. Here stones and pavers and used to create a path for a more formal garden. The green of the lawn really pops when set by this beautiful stone path.

  • 06 of 25

    Wood Edge

    Wood edging by a flower bed

    Helin Loik-Tomson

    Wood is also an excellent way to create a border between a yard and a garden. Here a small garden bed with flowers has been edged with some wooden logs. You don't need to have a big garden to edge it away from your yard and create the crisp look that you want. It's a very unique look that's easy to replace if need be.

  • 07 of 25

    Edging Wall

    A brick wall being used as edging

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    Here, bricks have been used to build a wall that acts like the edging between the garden and the lawn. You could also use pavers and rocks to build a similar wall. Since you're using more materials, this project is going to be pricier than your average edging. However, it creates quite the statement and might be just what you're looking for.

  • 08 of 25

    Two Rows of Edging

    Two rows of pavers ad garden edging

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    Pick out an inexpensive material and then create another row with the same material. Pavers are a great pick but almost anything would work. Stagger the pavers to create a straight-line edging against the rest of the yard. This is a great technique to use on smaller gardens and flower beds.

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  • 09 of 25

    Boulder Border

    A garden bed with a rock edging

    cgbalauf / Getty Images

    For a natural look around a garden, consider adding small boulders as your edging. Boulders as well as some mulch are used here to divide the flower garden from the rest of the yard. It's a budget-friendly way to add unique edging to your garden.

  • 10 of 25

    Small Garden Raised Bed

    Wooden edging between a garden and yard

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    Here's a really inexpensive gardening edging idea that uses just a few materials and takes no time to put up. Inexpensive lumber is used for the garden's edging. It's nailed together to form a frame that creates a border between the small garden and the gravel yard.

  • 11 of 25

    Poured Concrete and Gravel

    Poured concrete edging

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    Poured concrete is a popular choice for garden edging. Here it's used to give some organic curves to an area that's filled in with gravel. It adds a clear definition of the garden and the yard, creating two separate spaces.

  • 12 of 25

    Railroad Tie Crossing

    Edging using railroad ties

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    Another inexpensive garden edging idea is to use railroad ties. These are inexpensive and if you're lucky enough, you might be able to score some for free. It creates a rustic division of the yard and garden. Here it's also been raised to give it even more definition.

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  • 13 of 25

    Mini Wooden Fence

    A mini fence being used as edging

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    Fences don't just have to be for privacy, they can really give some character to a backyard. This one is a mini fence that's built to separate one space of the yard from another. Flowers are planted here, which look lovely against the fence.

  • 14 of 25

    Stacked Rock

    A flower bed with a stacked stone edge

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    Rocks have simply been stacked upon each other to create an edging that separates the garden and the lawn. This is a project that you could easily do yourself, saving the time and money of hiring someone to install it for you.

  • 15 of 25

    Formal Meets Rustic

    A formal garden with a log edge

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    A great way to save on edging is to use what you already have. Here an old log has been used to create a distinction between a garden and the yard. It's a rustic type of edging and here is emphasized even more by the formal garden.

  • 16 of 25

    Garden Plastic Edging

    Wavy garden edging

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    Plastic edging is one type of landscape edging that has a lot of advantages over other types of edging. It's relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and will last for years. Create straight lines or curves to go around the garden.

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  • 17 of 25

    Decorative Fence

    A white decorative fence used as edging

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    If you want to really get something unique as a garden edging, try a small decorative fence. It goes around the garden, putting a barrier up against the rest of the wall. You could pair this with mulch or rocks, or just use the fence as a division.

  • 18 of 25

    Clean Lines

    A shovel edging a flower bed

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    The most inexpensive type of garden edging is the one you do yourself. Here, a shovel has been used to create a small trench in the ground that acts as a sharp edge between the garden and yard. It's easy to install but does require regular maintenance

  • 19 of 25

    A Simple Fence

    A wooden and rope fence used as edging

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    Lots of these inexpensive garden edging ideas have you stay low to the ground with the edging. That's not the case here, a tall fence is built at the garden edge. This is a great way to keep large plants in the area where they're supposed to be.

  • 20 of 25

    Flagstone Edging Path

    A flagstone path around a garden's edge

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    Flagstone is a popular and affordable way to edge a garden. Here a pathway out of them has been made and it looks absolutely enchanting. The stones act as an edging for the pots and plants that surround them.

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  • 21 of 25

    Scalloped Stones

    Scalloped garden edging

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    You may not think budget-friendly and specialty stones go together but here's a way that you can have just what you want. The scalloped concrete border goes around a tree to contain some plants. It makes quite the statement and not much is used since it's such a small area.

  • 22 of 25

    Rocky Mulch

    Rocks and mulch acting as garden edging

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    Edging is taken to the extreme here, separating a formal garden from a well-kept yard. Rock is used on the outermost edge and then different colors of mulch are added for some variety. Using different colors of materials can be a great way to save some money while elevating your garden.

  • 23 of 25

    Faux Stone

    A faux brick garden edge

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    Faux stone is a ready-to-go edging material that keeps everything in its place. If you don't have access to real stone, which can sometimes get expensive, you'll want to check out the faux stone. It's the same look for less.

  • 24 of 25

    Concrete and Stone

    A rock and concrete garden edge

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    The stones that make up this garden edge have been put together with some concrete. You still get the natural look of stones but a more polished edge. This is an edging that's going to stay in place and you'll be able to use it year after year.

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  • 25 of 25

    Rustic Rocks

    A natural garden edge

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    It doesn't get much rustic than this. This inexpensive garden edging idea has you use rocks to create the edge. These rocks aren't anything special and they're incredibly easy to find. Use them to create a natural-looking edge that's going to last for generations.