Plastic Edging Not Stable Enough
- I have also found, here in the Midwest, plastic tends to heave itself out of position, and it usually needs to be replaced every 4 or 5 years. The concrete looks better and is more stable, and simply stands up to winter cold, and summer heat better. I also use wood timbers. These are fairly inexpensive, easily paintable, or stainable, and are fairly stable, but not nearly as pleasing to the eye as concrete shaped edgers.
- —ohio_boy
Whatever Edging Does the Job
- I use plastic to separate gravelled areas - walkways, courtyards - from grass. It is very inconspicuous. At least 2 inches of pea gravel or Alabama river gravel should be poured over bare soil covered with two layers of professional-thickness landscaping cloth laid in two directions. Around trees and shrubs, I use the metal edging - green - because it is strong enough to survive repeated hits by the trimmer and mower. (Not the blade, the wheels.) Along the driveway, I like either concrete adjacent to paving or stone along a gravel drive. Stone has to be underlaid with landscaping cloth. I use river rock at least 6 inches minimum laid in a slight trench so that about an inch of rock sticks up above the soil. Commercially formed concrete edging serves along paved driveways. I also have a method for running flagstone paths through gravelled courtyards. It uses a combination of stone edging, pea gravel, and flagstones, all underlaid with landscaping cloth - two layers, of course.
- —tallcharlie
Limestone Edging
- We only use our native limestone as a border or shovel-edge.
- —Guest Adriana
Concrete Barrier for Edging
- I have the plastic edging but am preparing to remove it. It does not stop the grass from growing into the flower bed and if you hit it with the lawnmower it pops right out. It's always a mess. I will be pouring a concrete barrier that the wheel of the lawnmower will ride over. It will be 6 inches deep and should stop the grass.
- —Guest kamarie
Leaning Towards Cement for Edging
- I put in plastic for edging but I'll never use it again. I'll spend the extra money to buy something better like cement. Grass grows under the plastic and over it; and it bends and looks messy. It's also harder to mold this edging into different positions than something solid, like cement. Besides all that, plastic just doesn't look good.
- —Guest ginny
Avoid Plastic Like the Plague for Edging
- Plastic edging is tacky. In my opinion it should be in the yards in which there are plastic ducklings and pink storks.
- —Guest mmartens
Go Natural With Mondo Grass Edging
- We use mondo grass between lawn and shrubs or flower beds with pinestraw mulch on ground. The mondo gets tall and thick enough it prevents grass from going into the beds, looks very pretty and natural flowing around the backyard. Have also used dwarf mondo grass to line between beds and walkway. Walkway is stained concrete pavers with pea gravel between. Works well for us! We are in lower/coastal south so I don't know how cold hardy mondo grass is, though.
- —Guest Lilly_C
Edging With Border Grass
- I do not use plastic for edging. I personally use a border grass. My mondo grass, which is about 10 inches tall, works quite well and once you get it started you have an endless supply.
- —Guest kaggycrist
Plastic? No Thanks! Use Concrete Edging
- Having performed a lot of maintenance on clients' landscapes, I have encountered a lot of plastic edging. It's unattractive, and a poor performer that doesn't like to stay in place. I have used no edging with some degree of success, but it is definitely higher maintenance. I recommend that method for a fescue-only lawn, but just about any other type of grass will find its way into the landscape bed. My material of choice: 12" x 2" x 2" 'Mirador' edging. These are concrete blocks with a non-uniform design. They look a lot like stone and can be found for around $1 a piece. I dig a small trench where the edging is going to be, approx. 3" D x 3" W, and fill it with crack-resistant concrete. Quickly, work each block a little ways into the concrete. Once it's set up, it won't stick permanently, but it doesn't go anywhere. The gap where blocks join allow for water to drain through instead of pooling up, washing away your mulch. You can also mow right over the edging, no trimming needed!
- —Guest yayfortrees
I Went With Affordable Edging
- I have to agree with affordable edging (plastic). I, too would have loved stone or brick, but just could'nt afford it.
- —Guest casey
Edging: Looking for a Solution
- I don't use plastic edging because of the looks. Right now I am using the "spade" method while looking for a more permanent solution. One good thing about the "spade" method: it gives you freedom to change the shape without much effort, which I have done quite often to add a new plant, tree, shrub, etc.
- —Guest Becca
Right Edging for the Right Place
- I use all kinds of edging according to the practical, functional needs of it. Depending on the spot I use field stone for easy drainage and soil retention at the same time. I use plastic edging to create a clean line between grass and bed, I bury the edging material to the point of leaving the pipe leveled with the ground and then I cover it with mulch, you will never know it is there. I use cobblestone if I am going to build a nice wall that serves as a bench at the same time, so I finished it with nice capstones. You get the idea. As for weeding I just keep an eye on it and pull it out as needed - that's part of the joy of spending time outside in the yard.
- —Lumij
Edging Choice Depends on Location
- Depends on where the edging is going. If the bed is visible from the road, i will use the most decorative edging possible, usually stone. Other beds can get whatever edging is available, as long as it is consistent. I prefer the brown polyboard over plastic; however, as long as it is buried down as low as possible to minimize visibility, black plastic or brown metal isn't so bad.
- —Guest gardengirl
Type of Edging
- I'm afraid I have gone with plastic for edging right now because it is inexpensive, a lawn mower can mow over it, and you can't see it. I have always wondered what I could do that would look better and still be easy to mow around. Plastic does work, though.
- —Guest Pam
Plastic Ghastly Material for Edging
- Plastic edging looks cheap and ghastly. If you're going to put that much time, effort and money into your yard and garden, don't top it off with plastic edging. That's like a plastic cherry on top of your double-deluxe sundae.
- —Guest Carol
