Edging is both an effective and attractive way to partition your garden into separate areas, such as your lawn from your garden beds. It need not be expensive and can give your garden more structure, adding formality to an otherwise quite casual or undefined yard.

However, by using lower level materials, such as flat pavers and sandstone pieces, to mark out your garden beds and allowing the plants contained within the beds to grow over your edging you can achieve an informal but elegant look.

The easiest way to edge your garden is to mark out areas where you would like to have garden beds. If you already have existing garden areas which you wish to separate more markedly from your lawn it will be easier. Once you have planned the overall design for your bedding areas lay out some general markers to help you when you get to the step of actually edging the territory.

Remember there are no rules as to what materials should or can be used for edging. Just keep in mind that by using larger edging and raising your garden beds you can help with drainage and this may lessen any restrictions you have in terms of what you grow due to root rot or retention of excess water.

Amongst the most common types of edging materials are the wooden cut-offs which come pre-joined in chain-like configuration ready for laying into position. Benefits with using wooden edging is that it not only blends beautifully with gardens achieving a very natural look but most of the pieces are recycled or cut-offs adding an environmental consideration to your choice.

Other popular types include bricking, decorative iron boarders, using other plants to form a mini hedge-like edge and cutting away a small clearing between the lawn and beds. All are just as effective but some like use of a hedge-like effect require additional up-keep so keep this in mind when you make sure selection.

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