On the Edge: 16 Garden Borders You Can Make

No newly cut garden bed is complete without some edging to distinguish it from the rest of your yard. Installing landscape edging is an easy DIY project that makes a major impact on the aesthetics of your outdoor space. There are a great variety of edging materials to choose from: metal, stone, brick, plastic, concrete, or wood. You can purchase something at a big box store, or special order your materials if you want to buy your edging. Or, you can save some money and make your own landscape edging with any number of recycled and found materials— glass bottles, steel pipes, clam shells, and even dinner plates. A creative DIY edging can help infuse your garden with a unique sense of style that reflects your personality. Here are some terrific and inventive garden edging ideas to get you started.

By Jennifer Noonan | Updated May 17, 2018 01:07 PM

Bottles "Pop"

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Wine Bottle Edging

Edging formed with upside-down wine bottles is a refreshing change. Cleverly and artistically involving recycled materials, this border would look great with bottles of any color!

oregonlive.com

Lovely Limbs

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Branch Border

A truly organic approach is to line your landscaping beds with fallen tree branches. Regular maintenance may be needed to keep things tidy, but the beautiful result is both earth- and wallet-friendly.

indulgy.com

River Rock Mosaic

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River Rock Mosaic

This gracious polished stone mosaic creates a sleek transition from walkway to grass. While it’s a custom treatment with a custom look, it’s one that any industrious DIYer could accomplish as well.

cottages-gardens.com

Clam It Up

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Clam Shell Edging

Large, whole clam shells make a unique edge between grass and flower beds. Sun-bleached and natural, this beachy border almost conjures up the ocean wind.

blogcdn.com

Pipe Dreams

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Steel Pipe Planter

Repurposed steel pipes form an industrially inspired border of narrow, cylindrical planters that show off succulents in style. No need to worry about the age of your pipes: A rusted patina has earthy appeal and evokes a sense of history.

flickr.com

Dinner Al Fresco

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Dinner Plate Garden

An eclectic collection of dinner plates makes a whimsical and unexpected border for this mature garden bed. Anyone up for a picnic?

acultivatednest.com

Terra-Cotta Cool

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Flower Pot Border

Turn your unused flower pots upside down for a bright, no-frills terra cotta border. Later in the season, when it's time to repot, the planters can be returned to service. 

tomatoheadquarters.com

Cinder-Block Style

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Cinder Block Edging

Cinder blocks define a simple, geometric edge between driveway and plantings. For good drainage, keep the holes facing out, or you can turn them up to make a series of mini planters.

landscapeedging.blog spot.com

Bamboo Beauty

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Bamboo Landscaping

Staggered-height bamboo lends a Zen-like effect, plus the plant's fast rate of growth makes it a sustainable resource, not to mention an economical one. Oh, and it looks great, too!

sunsetbamboo.com

Brick Works

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Brick Edging

Bricks aren't just for walkways and patios. Here, red clay bricks are set side by side on an angle to create a beautiful garden bed border. Buy new bricks—or pick up salvaged ones for added character!

eHow.com

At the Forest's Edge

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Log Edging

Now that winter has passed, try turning your leftover wood logs into a dramatic raised border. Birch logs, shown here, offer a stunning contrast to surrounding greenery.

decoist.com

Scrap Wood

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Wood Edging

Reclaimed wood, cut to various lengths, can artfully punctuate your garden beds. Even small scraps are enough to incorporate. Weathered, stained or painted, it brings a playful feeling to your plantings.

thegardenglove.com

Woven Wattle

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Woven Wattle Fencing

Woven wattle fencing has had popularity for centuries in Europe. It lends a rustic charm to a landscape or garden border. Made by weaving thin branches (most commonly willow or hazel wood) through stakes, it forms a latticework that is all natural and earth-friendly.

livingforestfarm.com

Plants

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Plant Edging

A purposefully planted border of herbs or flowers can make an outstanding landscape border. You’ll want to make sure it is something that grows neatly, or can be kept that way. This herb border makes a stunning separation between a mulched bed and sand garden path.

freshome.com

Stacked Stone

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Stone Garden Edging

A stacked stone landscape edging offers agrarian charm for minimal effort. With no mortar required for borders less than 18 inches high, it’s a look that can be easily achieved by a DIY beginner who doesn’t mind the lifting and carrying of the stones.

stonetreematerials.com

River Rock

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River Rock Garden Edging

Big river rock has a natural and informal look, and is easy to install. Its cottage feel is enhanced by growing stone-loving plants, like sedum and thyme, in and around it.

acultivatednest.com

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