I am often asked, “What is one way that I can improve or make my garden look better?” 

My first answer is always the same and it is one that can be done quite quickly and for very little money.

The answer is by edging your gardens. Sounds too simple? How can edging your garden make such a difference?  

Nothing sets off a garden more than a well-edged garden. We all want our gardens to stand out, to be the one that everyone who lives around you stops to admire. 

While colourful, healthy plants capture a person’s first impression, a well-kept edge silently adds to the overall appearance of your garden. I guess you could say that it is the unsung hero of landscaping (I know … I need to get out more).

Edging provides a clean and polished appearance to your garden. It creates visual separation between grass and planting areas, which enhances the overall design.

This neat division makes each section of your garden stand out, giving your landscape a more intentional and professional look.

Beyond aesthetics, edging also serves several practical purposes. It helps keep grass from invading flower beds, reducing the need for constant trimming and weeding.

It also prevents mulch, soil, and decorative stones from spilling into the lawn, maintaining the integrity of both areas. In short, edging helps you maintain a tidy, low-maintenance garden.

There are several ways to give your gardens that leading “edge.” Here are a few of them.

Plastic edging   

This is the most affordable edging that you can put in.

The edging is very flexible, making it easy to install especially for curved beds. 

Make sure that you purchase a more professional quality that is heavier in quality and at least four to six inches deep. 

The heavier quality edging will usually come with stakes that will help to anchor the edging into the ground. 

The cheaper brands of plastic edging, less than four inches deep and without stakes, is easily heaved out of the ground by frost.

Aluminum edging 

Aluminum provides a more modern look and is extremely durable.

It is more expensive than the plastic edging, but it is also very durable and less likely to be pushed out of the ground by frost. 

It is also very flexible and works well for both curved beds and geometric-shaped beds. 

It is very easy for the homeowner to install it themselves. Most aluminum edging comes with stakes to anchor it into the soil.  

Stone or brick edging 

For a classic look, stone and brick edging is a clean and attractive look.

These materials offer a timeless feel and are perfect for traditional and contemporary gardens.

When installed flush with the lawn, it still allows for the lawn mower to cleanly cut the grass.

Brick edging can be a great way to continue on with the lines of a walkway, driveway or patio out into the landscape.

The brick or stone edging can be a long-term edge with little maintenance. It can be installed by the homeowner, with a bit more work involved, but you may want to hire a professional to put it in.

Hand-cut edge

The quickest and easiest way to edge your gardens is to do so by hand. There is also no cost to do so. 

Simply use a flat spade or edger and cut straight down along the edge of the sod. Go down as deep as the edger (at least three to four inches), then slope the soil back into the bed area. 

Always cut straight down at edge of sod and not on an angle. This is the best way to stop the grassroots from spreading into the bed area. 

This is also true with any of the other types of edging — always put them in as vertically as possible.

Garden edging may seem like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on the beauty and organization of your landscape.

Whether you’re creating sharp lines for a contemporary feel or soft curves for a more natural look, a well-edged garden shows attention to detail and care.

With the right materials and a bit of effort, edging can be the finishing touch that makes your garden truly stand out.

Joanne Young is a Niagara-on-the-Lake garden expert and coach. See her website at joanneyoung.ca

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticultural Society is pleased to be hosting a series of Saturday morning gardening classes, available to the public. They will be facilitated by Joanne Young on Saturday mornings, and they will run until May 31 at the NOTL Community Centre.  

May 3 – Designing With Perennials

May 17 – Creative Containers

May 24 – Pruning Evergreens

May 31 – Tough Plants for Tough Places

Join us for the classes that interest you. For all the seminar details and to pre-register for the classes, visit notlhortsociety.com/classes.