There are many professionals around the world who have mastered the art of landscape edging, but does edging your lawn always require hiring a professional?
The answer is, “No.” Sure, professionals are a great way to get the landscape edging job done in a timely manner, without having to lift a finger. However, for those who aren’t afraid to put in a little time and effort, and get your hands a little dirty, you do have another choice.
DIY lawn edging options – landscape edging you install yourself – might be just the thing for you if you enjoy lawn work and are even just a little crafty.
Take on the project of edging your landscape on your own and you may just surprise yourself!
The first two DIY landscape edging options we’re going to cover are two we feel should always top the list. And while we might be biased, we’ll also explain why these are the best do-it-yourself landscape options that you can choose.
Edge Right Metal Landscape Edging
Edge Right metal landscape edging is long-lasting and easy-to-install. It’s made of a beefy, hardy, COR-TEN steel that oxidizes to a beautiful patina. Unlike other brands Edge Right has teeth that slice through
Grass Barrier
Grass Barrier is a multi-function landscape edging made of recycled HDPE plastic that lasts over 100 years underground. The material is flexible, and this makes it easy to curve around your desired design. The top portion serves as a defining line to hold back your mulch, gravel or soil. The lower portion is the real workhorse that stops grass roots from growing into your beds. Like Edge Right, Grass Barrier is extremely simple for nearly anyone to install—all on your own. Free up your precious time and install Grass Barrier!
Now, if neither of those two products is your cup of tea (although, we wouldn’t be sure why), you do have other choices.
Below are a few additional DIY landscape edging choices that let you eliminate the professional and do your landscape edging yourself.
1. No Dig Landscape Edging
Edging that requires no digging (like Edge Right) can be purchased from your local home improvement store, such as Home Depot or Lowes. The products purchased at these big box retailers typically come in a kit with the edging itself, along with stakes to provide stability. Such kits are good for those garden beds that aren’t traditional shapes. No dig edging kits take minimal time and labor to install. The kit will most likely come with directions, but if not, you must simply put the edging in the desired position and hammer the stakes into the ground. The down side with these specific options is that they usually require frequent replacement and don’t fully prevent weed or grass invasion into bed areas.
2. Pebble or Rock Border
Pebbles and rocks can be purchased at your local home improvement store as well but can also be collected from a nearby river or your back yard if you are looking to save a bit of money. Pebbles and rocks allow you to add a splash of color to your landscape. And although those colors will more than likely be browns and neutral colors, it still adds dimension and character to your landscape. For installation, you’ll want to pull up any grass that is residing in the region you wish to put your landscape edging. Once the grass is gone, dig a small trench, about 2 inches deep however wide you’d like. A layer of mortar underneath the rocks and pebbles will secure them into place so they do not become a hazard while mowing the surrounding areas of the lawn. Do keep in mind, this will also need frequent replacement and will not be a true barrier to weeds and grass.
3. Cut Wood Edging
This is one of the cheaper options for DIY landscape edging. You will need to measure the area you plan to edge, decide how tall you want your wood pieces, and do some simple math to determine how many boards you will need from your local hardware store. Once you’ve cut your boards into useable sizes, dig a shallow trench to rest the wood pieces in. Use the dirt that was dug out to fill in the gaps around the wood planks for security and stability. Not only is this a cheap option, the boards can also be used to edge any shape or size garden bed.
4. Railroad Ties Edging
Believe it or not, railroad ties can be purchased from your local Home Depot or Lowes. You may even be able to find older ties along the railroad that are no longer in use, which is a great way to save money. Railroad ties serve as a great garden bed barrier with their weight and size. They are also easily installed, basically leveling out the ground you wish to lay them on as best as you can and placing the ties around the garden bed. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to accommodate to curves of a garden bed, so they are probably best to be used with a geometrical shaped garden bed.
5. Gabion Garden Wall Edging
If you’re not familiar with gabion, it is a wirework “container” filled with rock, broken concrete, or other material, serving as a retaining wall. The possibilities are endless when using gabion as a landscape edging. It can be used to accommodate to curves, corners, and straight lines, meaning it can be used to edge any shape or size garden bed. It has such a natural look, complimenting to a natural environment, all while being sturdy as well. Gabion kits can be purchased online or at a local hardware store. The installation may seem complicated, but it is as simple as assembling the gabion basket and filling it with whatever your heart desires.
6. Metal Edging
Metal provides a rustic look to complement the natural setting of a garden bed or other landscape element. It can be a bit more expensive than some of the other options, but is sure to last a long time, preventing you from having to replace it every few years. Most metal edging can also bend and curve to hug the edges of whatever garden bed shape you may be working with. It will oxidize and rust over time but will withstand the test of time regardless. The installation is very simple as well. All you’ll need to do is purchase the metal and use a rubber mallet to hammer it 4-6 inches into the ground. Do keep in mind, however, not all metal landscape edging is created equal. Be sure to check out our Edge Right metal landscape edging if metal is something you think you might like.