20 Garden Edging Ideas for Lawn + Flower Bed Borders

Keeping lawn edges neat along planting beds, paths and driveways doesn't have to be a time-consuming nightmare. With proper lawn edging, you can elevate the look of your yard by defining its border lines. Edging also makes flower beds look professional and polished. Lawn edging comes in a variety of materials and at a range of price points. Flexible steel edging (shown here) scores as a top-of-the-line treatment that boasts durability and good looks. It's maintenance-free, and you can mow over it without damage.

Read on for more garden edging ideas.

Durable and easy to use, pound-in edging provides a quick solution for edging a lawn. Simply use a rubber mallet to pound individual pieces into place. With this edging, you don't have to cut sod, except in the hardest clay soil. Pound-in edging features a polyethylene (plastic) construction, which means it holds up for years. Lawn edging usually comes in different depths. Shallower edging works well when you have hard clay soils or want an edge that’s flush with the surrounding lawn. For deep weed protection, an 8" depth works well. Choose deeper edging (up to 12") for loose, sandy soil.

For a more organic edging, look to stones. Light colored river rocks create a striking edge between a lawn and planting beds. When using river rock for edging, you'll need to monitor for weeds or grass creeping into beds. To reduce weeds or grass, hand pull or spray. Placing weed fabric under stones can help suppress grass, but it may break through eventually.

Another option for stones as lawn edging is to use large field stones. With this type of rock, you can source material locally and, depending on where you live, from natural areas. If you're building a home or excavating a site on your property, save rocks you unearth to use as possible edging. When using rocks as edging, fit stones as close together as you can to limit weed and grass growth. Use a product like Preen between and behind rocks to help prevent weed from sprouting.