Garden bed edging stones are a great way to give your flower beds, gardens, and landscaping a finished, polished look. Installing edging stones around garden beds serves several important purposes. Read on to learn why edging stones are a worthwhile investment and get tips on choosing and installing the right edging stones for your needs.
What are Edging Stones and Why Use Them?
Edging stones are stones designed specifically to edge and border gardens, flower beds, planting areas, pathways, driveways and more Edging stones come in various shapes, sizes, colors and materials like granite, sandstone and concrete
There are several benefits to using edging stones around your garden and landscape beds
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Define Beds and Borders – Edging stones create a clear separation between planting beds, lawns, pathways and other features. This gives beds a neat, intentional look.
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Retain Soil and Mulch – Edging stones help keep soil, mulch and gravel contained within planting beds instead of spreading out onto the lawn, driveway or walkway. This reduces maintenance.
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Prevent Grass and Weed Encroachment – Edging stones provide a physical barrier to prevent grass and weeds from creeping into planting beds. This reduces the need for trimming.
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Create Straight Lines and Geometry – Edging stones allow you to impose geometric shapes and straight lines on curving planting beds for a formal look.
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Serve as Lawn Edging for Mowing – Some wider edging stones can act as a mowing strip to run lawn mower wheels along.
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Provide Decorative Interest – Decorative edging stones like scalloped or cobblestone-style add visual interest and complement pavers.
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Define Specific Use Areas – Using edging stones to border a gravel BBQ patio or mulched play area defines the space’s purpose.
Installing edging stones is one of the best ways to put a “finished” look on your garden beds and landscaping. The end result is neat, intentional planting beds that look professionally designed.
Popular Types of Edging Stones
Edging stones come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials to suit different design needs. Consider these popular options:
Linear Edging Stones
Linear edging stones have straight edges and are designed to be installed in straight or gently curving lines. Common sizes range from 4-10 inches high by 3-6 inches wide. These versatile edging stones create clean lines and geometry in garden beds of all styles. Linear edging stones are available in materials like granite, natural stone, concrete, plastic composites.
Linear grey granite edging stones
Linear grey granite edging stones – Image courtesy of The Home Depot
Scalloped/Curved Edging
Scalloped or curved edging has rounded, wavy edges designed toBorder planting beds and tree rings with flowing lines. Scalloped edging comes in sections that connect together. Natural stone and concrete are common materials, and some interlock for curves.
Curved, scalloped concrete edging stones
Curved, scalloped concrete edging stones – Image courtesy of Lowe’s
Cobblestones
Cobble-style edging stones have an irregular, rounded shape like natural river rock. They create free-flowing, informal edges and work well for cottage gardens. Cobblestone edging comes in granite, limestone, sandstone and other natural looks.
Granite cobblestone edging stones
Granite cobblestone edging stones – Image courtesy of Haddonstone
Straight and Curved Brick
Brick edging lays flat or on edge to edge beds and patios. Straight mortared brick creates a classic edged bed. Curved and scalloped brick that interlocks provides flowing lines. Salvaged brick can add cottage character.
Curved interlocking brick edging
Curved interlocking brick edging – Image courtesy of Pinterest
Plastic and Composite Edging
For a flexible, low-maintenance option, consider vinyl, PVC or recycled plastic composite edging. These mimic real stone looks while resisting weathering. Plastic edging stakes into the ground or connects for curves.
Black plastic edging stones – Image courtesy of Lowe’s
How to Install Edging Stones
Installing edging stones is a relatively easy DIY project, but does require some planning, digging and patience. Follow these basic steps:
1. Plan the Layout
- Mark the shape of your bed with spray paint or flour.
- Lay out edging stones end-to-end and adjust shape as needed.
- Account for curves using scalloped or cobblestones.
2. Dig a Trench
- Dig a 4-6 inch deep trench along marked line.
- Make trench width about 1 inch wider than edging stones.
3. Compact the Soil
- Compact and level the trench bottom so edging won’t settle.
4. Install Edging Stones
- Place edging stones into trench, level with top of sod or soil.
- For straight edging, place stones end-to-end.
- Backfill gaps between stones with soil.
5. Secure the Edging
- Drive landscape spikes through edging holes (if available).
- Use construction adhesive between stones.
- Place stakes against edging and into soil.
6. Backfill Both Sides
- Shovel soil, gravel or mulch back against edging on both sides.
- Pack firmly to support edging.
Follow manufacturer instructions for installing plastic, metal or special interlocking edgings. With the edging stones installed, you can start filling your new planting beds! The edging stones will keep everything looking neat while preventing soil, gravel and mulch from mixing where it doesn’t belong.
Design Tips for Edging Stones
Edging stones allow you to add decorative flair and impose order on your garden beds. Keep these design tips in mind:
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Repeat edging stone shapes, colors and materials throughout the yard for cohesion.
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Use contrasting colors between edging and adjacent materials like mulch or gravel.
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Combine edging stones with coordinating paver paths and patios.
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For cottage gardens, use rounded cobblestones and curved bricks.
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Emphasize geometry in formal gardens with straight granite lines.
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Extend edging stone lines into lawn to border tree rings or key beds.
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Illuminate edging stones and create drama by installing landscape lighting.
With so many edging stone sizes, shapes and styles available, it’s easy to find options that work for both your landscape design and budget. Properly installed edging stones can provide lasting border definition for years, so take time to plan, prep the soil, and install them correctly. Soon you’ll be enjoying planting beds with crisp edges that beautifully frame your gardens, flowers, plants and lawn.
Why Choose Landscape Edging Stones from StonesDirect?
When it comes to enhancing the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space, choosing the right landscape edging stones is crucial. Heres why you should choose landscape edging stones from us:
Quality and Durability: Our landscape edging stones are crafted from high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity. You can trust that our products will withstand the test of time and maintain their integrity even in harsh outdoor conditions.
Expertise and Guidance: Our team of landscaping experts is here to provide you with expert advice and guidance throughout the selection and installation process. Well help you choose the right edging stones for your specific requirements and ensure that they are installed correctly for optimal results.
Customer Satisfaction: Your satisfaction is our top priority. We are committed to providing exceptional products and services that exceed your expectations. From the moment you reach out to us to the completion of your project, well strive to ensure that your experience with us is nothing short of outstanding.
Elevate Your Outdoor Space with Premium Landscape Edging Stones
Enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space with our premium landscape edging stones. From defining garden borders to creating clean lines around flower beds and pathways, our versatile selection of landscape edging stones offers the perfect solution for enhancing your landscape design. Additionally, our collection includes patio stones and stepping stones , perfect for creating inviting outdoor living areas and charming pathways throughout your garden.
Level Up Your Garden Bed with an Easy Retaining Wall
FAQ
What do you put under stone edging?
Add leveling sand to your trench and compact it with a tamper. The sand will create a stable base for the stones and make it easy to adjust and level them.
What is the best rock for garden edging?
River Rock
Typically they are 1 to 2 inches in diameter, but can be as large as 6 inches in diameter and come in a variety of colors and shapes. Best Ways to Use: Like pea gravel, river rocks are versatile and popular rocks for garden bed edging, in xeriscaping beds, and atop potted succulents.
What is the cheapest way to edge your garden?
Bamboo Border – Plastic or rubber edging materials are the cheapest ways to edge your garden. What type of edging is best to keep mulch in place?Nov 8, 2024
How much does stone flower bed edging cost?
If you have a lot of natural stones on your property, you can use them for your stone landscape edging. But if you need to buy the materials, you can expect to spend anywhere from $2.50 to $10 per linear foot, depending on the type of stone.
What is stone landscape edging?
Stone landscape edging improves the look of your lawn and garden by creating neatly defined spaces. It can also pull double and triple duty: Edging stones hold soil and mulch in place, keep weeds and roots at bay, and make maintenance in and around your garden beds much easier.
What is the best edging for a garden bed?
Rubber is often considered the best lawn edging for underneath fences and around flower beds. Other styles feature a scalloped edge to create a decorative border around your landscaping. Wood edging can enhance your landscape and keep the soil and mulch inside your garden bed.
How do you use stone edging?
Learn how to lay edging stones to outline patios, walkways, gardens and other landscape elements. Use stone edging alone or as the perfect complement to pavers and walls. Stone borders are long-lasting, require little or no maintenance and look great with your flowers or plants.
What is a graduated stone bed?
The graduated stone bed is an excellent contrast. The small stones create a nice transition border, while the large stones make up the bed. It’s a very pleasing way to implement a natural border. Bowling ball size garden edging stones or rocks compose this landscape edging design. The rocks and plants make you feel walking to or from a beach!
How to make a garden edging?
Neatly assembled stone tiles placed flat in a shallow trench make a garden edging which forms a nice barrier between the garden bed and grass. A neat clean look which provides uniformity to the landscape. A way to edge a flower bed with bricks that makes mowing easier. What’s interesting about this garden edging idea is that it is very symmetrical.
What is edging with stones?
Edging with stones lets you give your landscape a defined, finished look and you can choose from stones in a variety of colors and styles. Follow the steps below to create borders for flower beds and more. Hardscaping products like edging stones add an architectural touch to your yard.