Explore creative garden edging ideas that don’t take a lot of money in this post.
When you select a garden edge or border, you give shape to your garden. Edging can frame your garden much like a wooden frame marks the edges of a painting. You can spend money and choose from a myriad of garden center products made of metal, plastic or stone. In my garden tours this year, I’ve found a few rustic choices that stand out.
Check them out and read to the end to see my new garden border.
1. Logs, v.1
In the Lowlands portion of the Memphis Botanic Garden, logs border the rustic vegetable and flower garden. You may have leftover firewood, or the remains of a tree that came down in a storm that a helpful soul segmented with their chainsaw. Just roll them to your vegetable garden and there’s your border.
2. Logs, v.2
Another use of logs. This time, a decaying tree branch gives the appearance of driftwood holding the edges of the garden. This falls under “use what you have.” If you or your neighbors have trees that have come down, on their own or with the aid of a chainsaw-wielding tree guy or gal, move the limbs to your garden bed.
3. Terra Cotta Pots
Small terra cotta pots, the kind that are too small to really plant things in and end up stacked in corners of your potting bench or garage, make an easy border for a vegetable garden. I have tons of these little pots leftover from craft projects. Broken or whole, they make a distinctive edging for your garden.
4. Bricks
Bricks are a classic garden edging material. For a rustic garden, I like the random inlaid method here, but fancy brick laying techniques hold appeal, too.
5. Insulators
On the American Hydrangea Society’s June garden tour, I spied (how can you miss it?) this row of turquoise insulators marking the seam between greenery and stone step. Now this idea is probably more artsy than most, and I’m not sure that I would use an antique collection outdoors, but I must say, I love the look.
I can imagine you could use colorful knock off glass pieces in much the same way. Note to self: check Etsy for options.
5. Stone Pavers and Carex in My Garden
In front of my massive hedge of George L. Tabor azaleas, I planted a sinewy ribbon of Carex ‘Everillo.’ This chartreuse border stays vibrant through nearly 10 months of the year and now that it’s established, it’s fairly low-maintenance.
At the same time I planted the carex, I relocated these stone pavers from a garden bed where they were no longer needed. The double ribbons of plant and stone frame the azalea border and allow me to create new garden beds.
Join the Conversation
What are your favorite creative garden borders? Let me know in the comments below or join me on Facebook or Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
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