Seeing your plants in full bloom is one of the joys of gardening, but by the end of summer plants can sprawl over their borders and appear a little out of control. To give your landscape more definition and a more groomed look, you can add "hardscape" elements like paths and edgers.
As a general rule of thumb, gardens that are wider than six feet should have a path for maintenance purposes. This lets you plant, prune and harvest on both sides of the path without disturbing other growth. A path can be as simple as a functional gravel walkway, or you can use more aesthetic materials.
- Pea gravel looks good, packs down well and stays put year round.
- Flagstone makes a durable, low-maintenance path.
- Ornamental steppingstones provide a pathway between plants and can serve as focal points in a garden, even in winter.
- Brick has been used in gardens for centuries and is one of the most commonly used materials for paths. Crushed brick has a tendency to sink into the ground; to prevent the brick particles from disappearing into the soil, line the bottom of the path with landscape fabric.
- Mulch or grass are less costly alternatives but may not work for higher traffic areas.
Because master gardener Chris Dawson works a lot in his garden, he prefers paths that are wide enough for wheelbarrows and are made of durable materials. He uses a path of crushed brick with landscape fabric underneath it to prevent sinking into the ground.
Adding edgers is a quick and easy way to create order and organization in a landscape. Typical areas where it's a good idea to use edgers include:
- Along beds that have no edge, especially if they're surrounded by turfgrass that creeps into the beds.
- High-traffic areas in a lawn, where grass wears down easily.
- Anywhere you want to visually connect areas of the yard.
Edging comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials.
- Limestone is a good choice to define the border of a path and keep gravel from spreading into the garden area. The cost of natural rock can add up pretty quickly, though.
- Stone is another common and practical option but can be costly.
- Brick can be stacked or laid flat so that you can mow over the edge for a cleaner look.
- Decorative cast iron edgers are popular and practical. The metal weathers well in just about any climate. They can also be moved easily.
- Wrought-iron edging with a rust finish adds a touch of antiquity to the garden. It accentuates ground covers and works well along gravel walkways.
- A simple, flexible wire border allows gardeners to easily edge around a garden's curves. Its height helps taller flowers that would otherwise lean out of the garden bed.
Guests Scott Deege
Landscape Manager
Midwest L & I
8929 Ashworth Rd.
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 515-987-5757
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