Creating a Garden Edge

by Jeremy and Amanda Batsche

@sanantoniogardening

Mulch spilling over the gravel walkway, Bermuda grass creeping into the vegetable bed threatening to choke the tomatoes, and gravel walkways swept away by running water create a feeling of chaos in the garden that is not sustainable. The overwhelm can quickly set in, leaving one to abandon their project altogether.

Creating order by defining garden spaces and boundaries helps to establish a structure that allows both garden and gardener to thrive. Such structure is often formed by creating garden edges. Edges define space and organize gardens. They create tidy yet cohesive garden spaces that minimize maintenance and make gardening an achievable endeavor. Most importantly, a thoughtfully integrated and neatly organized space contributes to how a person feels while in their garden. Rather than being a place of stress and work, the garden becomes an inviting and engaging place of peace with positive energy.

A garden edge does not have to be the edging you find in your local garden and home improvement store. A garden edge can be unique to garden and gardener. There are many different styles, materials, and situations to consider when installing garden edges. The options in creating a garden edge are almost endless and can be a great way to exercise your creativity.

To plan a garden edge, it is helpful to begin with purpose and vision. This will help to narrow the materials you need to create your garden edge. Factors like budget, safety, and function will also influence your decisions. These factors can inspire rather than limit your creative potential. There are a few different types of edging that I have used in my garden. Structure and purpose, followed by safety and budget, influenced my decision to use these edges. Traditional Metal Edge Metal edging is what people traditionally think of when it comes to garden edging, and the first edging I installed in my garden was a metal edge that defined the small chunk of space between the sidewalk and street in front of my house. I used something similar to a prefabricated steel edging you can find at a home improvement and gardening store. My purpose was to create a low maintenance garden the did not require a lot of gardening, so I designed a crushed granite xeriscape with native plants like feather grasses, mountain laurel, lantana, and a few varieties of cactus. When it came to deciding on a garden edge, I needed something thin that would keep the gravel from washing down the street during heavy rainfall. I also liked the aesthetic of the sharp and square corners and edges. It may not be the best edging with young

kids running around (as evidenced by my wife’s near heart attacks when the boys are playing near this space), but in spite of its sharp edges, it works well to contain the gravel, and I sure do love the way it looks. Trenching Edge Another edging method is the trenching method. When you have a space that has some kind of root structure (in my case, my grass lawn) to hold the soil in place, you can create a trench to build an edge. To create a trench, use a spade shovel or step edger to cut into the ground. Then, scoop out the soil on one side to create the separated garden space. I used a step edger to create my trench. A step edger is preferable because it is a perfectly thin flat shovel you step on to get the desired depth in order to place your edging material.

The trenching edge has worked well between my lawn and garden beds. Although this trench has helped with maintenance by preventing the grass from spreading into my garden beds too quickly, it does not eliminate all maintenance. Keeping the lawn trimmed back is still necessary to keep my lawn from creeping in and taking over the beds, but the edge, along with plenty of mulch, sure does help. It creates a separation that keeps the Bermuda grass from crawling into

my garden beds while also eliminating the hazard of someone (like my kids) stepping on a sharp material, like thin metal or stone. I also love the way it looks; the contrast from the green grass to the mulched bed is striking. Creative Edge While I am not currently using other types of edging materials outside of wood, stone, and prefabricated metal, there are many more to choose from. You can get creative by using wine bottles, repurposed plastic made into edging strips, logs, and a limitless amount of other repurposed materials. The options are endless and depend on purpose, budget, personal style, and aesthetic

Getting Started After deciding on your type of edge, it is time to get started. Some edging shapes can be inspired by simply using the lines and boundaries already provided by sidewalks and curbs. Other edges are not so straightforward. For example, I did not use established or natural boundaries to edge my garden beds and instead created my own edges. To decide on the edge shape, I first traced it out, which helped me to visualize and play with the shape before committing to installing the edge.

You could do this with an extension cord or garden hose or even pen and paper. The idea is to visualize the edge before installing it. Keep in mind that edging style depends on personal taste. For some, long, drawn-out curves are more visually appealing than short, wavy curves. However, others may find appeal in more textured edges.

Once you have your lines traced, you can begin installing your edge. As you install, keep in mind your purpose. More often than not, an edge separates materials, such as a gravel walkway and a lawn. In this case, your edging material needs to be three to six inches into the ground to prevent roots from reaching under the gravel, as well as to ensure the edge is high enough above the top of the grade (or top of the soil) to keep gravel out of the grass. What you have above grade depends on the material that needs to be retained, or the visual effect the gardener is trying to achieve. For example, with my gravel walkway, I need the edge to be about an inch above grade to keep the gravel within the edge. Some gardeners may like the aesthetic of a material and place it higher than functionally necessary. That is when design goes beyond function, and is a fun way to get creative.

If I had my preferred unlimited time in my garden, a garden edge would not be as necessary because I could be there to keep mulch out of the lawn, the lawn out of the beds, and the rocks on the path. But that is not the case for me, nor is it realistic for most people. I am a busy dad and fortunate to have a job and many responsibilities outside my garden that make it hard to keep things tidy on a daily basis. That said, my garden is a living part of my family. With so many materials to choose from, it is nice to know I can be creative and achieve a garden edge unique to my family, space, and budget. Putting a bit more thought and effort into installing a garden edge reduces the overwhelm of an overgrown garden and helps to tame aggressive plants. Thoughtful edges can be fulfilling acts of self expression that not only meet your needs but also enhance your gardening longevity and experience.