From plastic stakes that look just like stone to metal strips and concrete blocks, the best garden edging separates weeds and grass from your plants, all while adding an attractive design to your landscape. Whether you're hoping to hire professional landscapers or do it yourself, choosing the right material for your garden edging is crucial for getting the right look and ensuring your landscaping project falls within your budget.
To find out what to look for in garden edging, we spoke to gardening pro Michael Clarke, who holds a degree in landscape architecture and horticulture from the University of California at Davis and worked for 15 years as a master gardener before founding Yardwork, an online plant nursery serving California. Whether you're looking to contain a raised garden bed or create sleek borders among your landscaping, we rounded up high-end options made of masonry and budget-friendly picks made of sturdy plastic.
Plastic garden edging
While plastic is certainly not as durable as concrete, brick, or metal, it's nearly effortless to install when compared to other edging materials. It also provides a discreet edge for traditional garden landscapes, says Clarke.
Additionally, plastic is one of the most affordable edging options, making it a good choice for temporary gardens. If you're new to gardening and don't quite know if your current layout is "the one," using plastic edging may be the way to go.
Worth a look:
This flexible, hammer-in edging is a simple option for marking off garden territory. Each kit contains a 20-foot coil of serrated edging and a pair of heavy-duty anchoring stakes. The plastic is also easy to snip, so you can customize the length of each section as needed.
If you want the look of stone without the added cost and labor, consider this low-cost substitute. This plastic stone edging is easy to stake into the ground and suitable for both straight and curved areas.
This edging option is cheaper than a pricey white picket fence, but it looks just as quaint. Each pack comes with two fence panels for a total of 113 inches.
Metal garden edging
"Metal edging is best for providing a more discreet edge in modern landscapes," says Clarke. He adds that it's also highly durable but tends to be pricey compared to options like plastic.
An advantage of metal edging is that it typically requires no digging and is less time-consuming to install. Simply hammer the built-in stakes into the ground, and you're done. Just make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp, rough metal.
Worth a look:
This metal landscape edging is made of steel and available in multiple heights, making it a good option for creating DIY raised beds. The sturdy steel also features hemmed edges for safer installation.
This simple metal edging is a good choice for minimalist landscapes, including zen gardens and xeriscaped front yards. The powder-coated steel edging is rustproof and comes in small sections making it possible to install it straight or on a curve.
Sturdy spikes and a secure, interlocking design make this edging easy to install. The thick steel edging pieces come in packs of five — enough to cover a length of up to 16.7 feet.
Rubber garden edging
"Rubber edging can be used next to driveways, sidewalks, planting beds, or around trees and is a good option when you want to include recycled materials," says Clarke. "It is strong and durable and relatively inexpensive and easy to install."
While it's not the most aesthetic of options, its combination of durability, affordable price tag, and versatility make it a value pick.
Worth a look:
Made entirely from recycled tires, this weather-resistant edging option is simple to install and mower-friendly. The material is also non-toxic, so it’s safe to install where pets and children play.
These interlocking edging pieces feature a charming scalloped design, so there’s no need to cut the segments to fit tighter curves. Installation requires no digging. Instead, anchor nails are provided to ensure stability over time.
These recycled rubber edging pieces are inexpensive and designed to withstand cracking and other seasonal wear and tear. The edging is available in black or brown and is mower-friendly.
Wood garden edging
"Wood edging can be used to contain raised planter beds and is easy to install in a straight line, circle, or curve. It can be painted or stained and can be used to create a natural transition between grass or hardscape and planters," says Clarke.
However, because wood edging is vulnerable to things like pests, fungi, and rot, picking the right wood is key. Clarke recommends pressure-treated wood or cedar for a long-lasting border that holds up to the elements.
Worth a look:
This log wood fencing adds an attractive woodsy element and can be installed in straight lines, curves, or circles without fuss. Installation requires no digging since each fence section has stakes you can drive into the ground for stability.
Clean lines make this wood edging a more modern option. Connector pins allow you to adjust the length of each segment as you wish, and ground stakes make installation easy as pie. Each pack comes with eight sections measuring 30 inches long, for a total of 20 feet.
Made of rot-resistant cedar, this edging features wood posts bound together with flexible wire. You can place them right into the ground. No digging required.
Concrete and brick garden edging
Brick and concrete are two exceptionally durable options that will last forever and require little maintenance. "[Concrete and brick] edging is best used when you need to contain larger planters and you want a stronger structured edge that is more decorative and visible," says Clarke.
Creative gardeners can also create eye-catching patterns with masonry and stoneware. Both are also available in various colors and finishes. Clarke adds that installing even simple brick and concrete edging requires more planning than hammer-in options. Both are relatively pricey and labor-intensive to install, and many options are only available by the pallet.
Worth a look:
Scalloped edging adds a touch of whimsy to this red concrete edging. Because it has a curved shape, it’s a good option for creating tree rings or delineating curved garden beds.
The rustic, unfinished look of these concrete edgers is the perfect addition to a romantic garden setting. Each pallet contains 144 pieces of stone that feature a ball and socket design for easy installation.
These log-style concrete edging stones can be used for curved or straight landscaping areas and feature a simple-to-install interlocking design. They’re also relatively lightweight and easier to carry than larger stone edging.
