You've planted the flowers, put in the shrubs and even added a bird bath and a few garden decorations, but what's missing? Could it be the edging?
Almost as important as the flowers, the edging is like the frame to your garden. The picture can be interesting and beautiful, but it needs a frame to really enhance its appearance. Just like a picture, your garden needs it's frame to really bring out the beauty of your living "work of art".
There are many different types of edgings and you must plan which one will look best in your garden. One popular type of edging is to use a low brick or rock wall, cemented together with mortar. This will create a beautiful and permanent edge to your garden. Of course, not everyone has the means, money or desire to do this.
Another lovely way of edging is to simply place bricks around the borders of your garden. You can put them in a line, stacked in a double row, set on their edges or tip them diagonally and lean them against each other.
In a similar fashion, you can use large rocks to edge your garden. Use rocks that are big enough to make an impact, but ones that you can easily carry and move yourself. You can gather the rocks from fields, the woods or friends yards for free!
In your garden supply store, you will find many manufactured edgings to suite any style of garden. Miniature fences, fake rocks, plastic, metal ? you name it, they have it. I prefer a more natural type edging, but if you must buy one of these, choose a good quality product and not something that looks cheap and will only last for 1 season.
You can always create a living edging by using a border plant. Some great border plants include alpine phlox which is suitable for most climates and can be divided and planted again and again, gazanias, pansies, petunias and violas.
If you pick perennial plants, like the alpine phlox or gazania, then you can divide them and propagate them throughout the border. This will help reduce costs as you won't have to keep buying new plants, but will take longer to establish a full border.
For large gardens, comfrey can make a good border. It has thick growth and will prevent grasses from encroaching on the garden. Also, you can use the leaves for mulch around y our other plants. When blooming, the tiny flowers will add interest to your border. Keep in mind, however, that comfrey is not suitable for small gardens as it can easily overwhelm the other plants.
One of my favourite ways to edge a garden is to use an herb border. Even strawberries can be used as a border and their bright flowers and lush fruits will add quite a bit of interest to any garden. When preparing meals, simply step out in to the garden and cut some fresh herbs each evening!
Perhaps the simplest form of edging is to take a shovel and bevel and edge all around the garden. The can be a nice subtle way to break up the line between garden and grass. You can rent a gas powered edging tool if shovelling by hand seems like too much work. This type of edging will need to be redone each year.
No matter what option you choose, your gardens will take on another dimension with it's framed edging.
Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden and Patio where you can learn more about gardens and read more articles on gardening.
The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no... Read More
Who doesn't love to hear the water rushing and flowing... Read More
Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of... Read More
Set in a broad expanse of lush green lawn a... Read More
Along with lip-smacking sweetness, flower and foliage are also worthy... Read More
Pesticides are toxic and, while often effective against pests, can... Read More
Many gardeners like to enjoy their roses twice - first... Read More
Orchid Care Leaves Tell Us About Orchid HealthOver the past... Read More
The Porch Swing is enjoying a surge in popularity thanks... Read More
Outdoor furniture constructed with teak wood is a favorite among... Read More
Unless you have access to a greenhouse, or something like... Read More
Many times when the weather becomes sultry, the only place... Read More
Now that Spring is upon us and things are coming... Read More
Landscape paintings are a beautiful way to spruce up the... Read More
If you look closely at the natural landscape, you'll never... Read More
When most people hear the words, "park bench", they envision... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is the perfect solution for anybody who wants... Read More
One of my favorite plants is the large white-flowered Mystery... Read More
The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by... Read More
Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now,... Read More
A rose is a rose is a rose - and... Read More
First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names... Read More
Summer is the most enjoyable water gardening season and the... Read More
Anyone with a lawn, no matter how small will at... Read More
Decorative Birdhouses are active garden ornamentation --the presence and movement... Read More
Roses may be beautiful but Tulips are magnificent. The huge... Read More
Like many Americans, you may find bird watching to be... Read More
If you were to travel to Blue Mountain Lake, New... Read More
An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse... Read More
Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and relaxing... Read More
If you think that a large pond is simply a... Read More
The number one, most asked question that I receive about... Read More
Landscaping is a wonderful pastime enjoyed by many. It provides... Read More
What is more beautiful than seeing a home or building... Read More
Imagine starting your morning with a saunter out the back... Read More
There is a magical quality to porch swings. In his... Read More
In today's gardens often populated by geraniums, roses, and zinnias,... Read More
What is xeriscaping? You may have heard of xeriscaping as... Read More
It is unavoidable, Fall is coming and we like to... Read More
Did you know that those lush, colorful blooms called chrysanthemums... Read More
The art of managing outdoor space Designing a patio -... Read More
Many people have asked us over the years "Should I... Read More
Tropical flowers make an exciting change from the more traditional... Read More
Camellias Named by Linnaeus in 1735 in honour of... Read More
The Basics of Hydroponics Gardening.What is hydroponics gardening?Derived from the... Read More
If you are like many people, backyard birding is a... Read More
Like many Americans, you may find bird watching to be... Read More
Keeping Your Soil HealthyYour soil is the most important part... Read More
Bonsai trees have been grown in China and Japan for... Read More
Perhaps you were browsing the pages of a catalog and... Read More
In years past, serious rosarians would never consider having a... Read More
Once water temperatures increase in the summer months, fish become... Read More
The biggest flower benefit of all is the fact that... Read More
Are you like me? Sad to see the summer end... Read More
A Garden Pond in your Landscape - Want Water in... Read More
If you've been gardening for any length of time you... Read More
THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.The Success or Failure of Your Plants... Read More
Having an ultra violet pond filter will give you a... Read More
Botanists are individuals who conduct extensive study on plant biology... Read More
Copy-write 2005 Jan Money.Hydroponics gardening offers many advantages to the... Read More
Notice any fish disappearing lately? While herons are present year-round,... Read More
Doing a full pond cleaning during the colder winter months... Read More
How do you make those flowers bloom where they are... Read More
Fruit gardening and vegetable gardening is a very exciting venture.... Read More
It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature... Read More
So, you have decided to plant rose bushes in your... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |