Landscape & Garden Edging: What It Is & What to Choose
What Landscape Edging Actually Does
Whether you call it landscaping edging, lawn edging, or grass edging, landscape edging and garden edging create a physical and visual separation between two surfaces such as a lawn and planting bed, driveway and garden border, or path and grass.
Done well, edging performs three jobs: keeping grass from creeping into beds, mulch from spilling onto paths, and giving mowing a clean lawn edging border to follow.
Beyond function, a landscape border defines the visual geometry of outdoor spaces. Straight lines read as formal. Curves read as relaxed. The material you choose signals the overall character of the garden - formal, rustic, modern, creating order where there was sprawl.
The functional benefits go further than most people expect:
- Build up and contain your beds. Edging lets you add soil, compost, and mulch to planting beds and keep it there. Those added materials feed plant roots and retain moisture between waterings.
- Keep things where you put them. Edging can keep mulch, gravel, decorative stone, river rock contained and maximizes the visual impact of whatever you've added to your beds.
- Direct foot traffic. Edging signals to visitors where to walk and where not to. It organizes how people move through and experience the space.
- Guide the eye. Clean borders draw attention to featured plants and focal points. The edging itself disappears; what you've planted becomes more intentional.
Note: One factor affects all edging types regardless of material: freeze-thaw cycles cause soil to expand and contract seasonally, which moves edging over time, shifting some materials more than others. Learn about the role freeze-thaw plays in garden edging movement.
Read on to learn the main material categories and how to decide what's right for your project.
Common Edging Materials
There is no "one size fits all" landscape edging material. Context is key; each type can excel in one context and underperform in another.
Below is an overview and comparison of the main garden edging border options. These are commonly installed DIY-friendly garden edging border options. Professional hardscaping options such as poured concrete curbing, aren't covered here. The materials below are DIY-accessible with an emphasis on functional performance.
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Wood garden edging
A popular DIY edging material, wood edging is available in a variety of formats: dimensional lumber (2x, 4x, 6x profiles), landscape timbers, railroad ties, decorative wood edging, and
natural options made with fallen branches and logs.Composite lumber which is made from wood fibers and resin is also an option.
✓ Widely available at lumber yards and home improvement stores
✓ Easy to cut and customize to any length
✓ Natural appearance suits most garden styles
✓ Works for straight borders, raised beds, lawn edging, and tree surrounds
✓ Sustainable and renewable material
× Straight lines and angled corners only, not suited for tight curves
× Requires maintenance and eventual replacement as wood ages
× Performance varies significantly by species, treatment, locations, and installation method -
Metal edging
Two distinct metal edging formats serve different purposes. Thin-profile metal strips install flush with the ground for a clean, nearly invisible lawn edge. Rolls of corrugated metal install above ground as a visible container border - a popular choice for raised bed-style edging with a modern or industrial aesthetic.
Both are available in steel and aluminum. Corrugated options come
in coated and uncoated finishes, with uncoated steel developing a natural rust patina over time.
✓ Long-lasting; metal resists rot and won't crack or break
✓ Excellent for long sweeping curves and complex shapes
✓ Thin-profile strips virtually disappear into the landscape
✓ Corrugated rolls provide substantial above-grade containment
✓ Suits modern, contemporary, and professional landscape designs
✓ Uncoated steel develops an attractive weathered patina over time
× Thin-profile strips offer no mulch, soil, or gravel containment
× Metal edges can be sharp creating a handling and safety consideration
× Corrugated rolls are a more visible, style-specific aesthetic choice
× Metal strips are higher cost than many other options -
Plastic edging
Plastic strips and molded sections come in a wide range of styles from plain black rolls to decorative brick-face, scalloped, and stone-look profiles.
One of the most commonly used edging types, available at virtually every home improvement store and garden center as well as through online vendors.
✓ Wide range of styles, heights, and profiles to choose from
✓ Lightweight and easy to install; no specialized tools required
✓ Low cost per linear foot, one of the most affordable options
✓ Flexible enough to follow gentle curves
✓ Widely available off the shelf
× Becomes brittle with UV exposure; prone to cracking and breaking over time
× Shorter lifespan than wood, metal, or rubber alternatives
× Decorative profiles may fade or look worn quickly
× Not a sustainable material; petroleum-based and not easily recycled -
Rubber edging
Made from recycled materials, rubber edging is flexible and durable. Often molded into shapes to create a scalloped edge or to mimic brick or stone. Available at big box stores and online vendors in a range of styles and heights.
✓ Flexible; handles curves and irregular ground well
✓ Won't crack or corrode
✓ Decorative profiles available
✓ A sustainable choice made from recycled materials
✓ Low cost per linear foot
✓ Lightweight and easy to transport and install
× Can stiffen and become brittle over time due to UV exposure
× Decorative profiles may look artificial up close
× Recycled content and quality varies widely between products -
Paver & brick edging
A classic edging option using individual bricks or pavers set along bed edges, driveways, and paths. Can be installed flush with the ground, slightly raised, or
set at an angle. Widely available at home improvement stores and landscape suppliers.
✓ Durable and long-lasting — bricks and pavers resist rot and decay
✓ Wide range of styles, colors, and profiles available
✓ Works well with gentle curves and irregular shapes
✓ Can be DIY-installed without specialized tools
✓ Individual units are easy to replace if damaged
× Labor intensive to install correctly; requires leveling and compacted base
× Higher upfront cost than many other options
× Not well suited for tight curves or complex shapes
× Heavy materials make transport and handling more demanding -
Natural edge edging
The no-material option. A natural edge is created by cutting a clean vertical line between lawn and bed using a half-moon edger or spade. No physical edging product is required to create a visual line between outdoor areas; the
cut itself defines the boundaries, with beds built up with soil and mulch.
✓ Zero material cost
✓ Clean, organic appearance
✓ No product to rot, shift, or replace
✓ Works with any bed shape including tight curves
✓ Completely sustainable; no manufactured materials involved
× Requires re-cutting several times per season to maintain definition
× Lawn grass will eventually creep back across the line
× No physical barrier to contain mulch, soil, or gravel
× Not practical in areas with aggressive spreading grasses
× Results depend on soil type — works best in well-defined, stable soil
Thinking wood might be the right choice? Wood is a popular DIY edging material for good reason. It's also one of the most misunderstood. Here's everything about how it works, which format to choose, and what actually makes it last. → Wood Garden Edging: Options, Materials & How to Choose.
More on video: For a broader overview of landscape edging including what it does, when it makes sense, and how common materials compare, this video from Yard Coach covers the category well.
Video: "Landscape Edging Explained: Purpose, Materials, and Best Uses" by Yard Coach. All rights reserved by the original creator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is landscape edging?
Landscape edging refers to any material - metal, wood, stone, plastic, concrete - used to create a physical or visual separation between outdoor areas. Once installed, landscape edging can help to manage grass/lawn growth, distinguish spaces, and contain materials like mulch or gravel. It also gives mowers and trimmers a clear border to follow.
What is the difference between landscape edging and garden edging?
Landscape edging is a broader term that refers to edging materials used across an entire landscape. This includes both garden and non-garden areas such as edging for driveways, gravel paths, and patios. Garden edging is centered on the garden area and uses in the garden such as containing mulch, compost, or soil on garden beds (flower beds, specimen beds, vegetable beds, etc.).
What is the best material for garden edging?
There is no single best material; context determines the right choice. Wood edging works well for raised borders, flower bed edges, garden beds, and natural aesthetics. Metal edging suits modern designs and sweeping curves. Rubber and plastic offer flexibility and a wide range of styles. The right material depends on your design, budget, and project requirements.
Why would I install landscape edging?
People install landscape edging to:
- prevent grass from invading garden beds;
- keep mulch, soil, or gravel contained;
- reduce weeding and simplify lawn mowing;
- give planting beds clean, crisp lines; and
- add curb appeal by creating a clean, tidy structure.