Lawn edging ideas can help keep an outdoor area looking neat and tidy, while also influencing the look of the overall garden or driveway.
An often overlooked aspect of our gardens, lawn edging is often the necessary step for a refined finish. Without edging, lawn maintenance can also be harder work.
Materials and styles for lawn edging are hugely varied so depending on the shape and size of your space, some options may work better than others, and that's without even considering the budget you will allocate to the project.
Here, we pick some of our favourite lawn edging ideas for both modern and more traditional garden design.
Considerations for lawn edging ideas
(Image credit: Jason Smalley Photography / Alamy Stock Photo)
“There are so many other DIY lawn edging ideas that you can use as inspiration for your own project," says Johanna Elvidge head of domestic design at Marshalls.
"This could include a grey gravel border or wood-edge raised beds. The latter is relatively easy to achieve and would require thin strips of wood and looks quite simplistic and neat. If you want a more creative and colourful look, you could then brighten your wood-edged design with a splash of bright paint," says Johanna.
“The possibilities are never-ending for edging your lawn ideas. We particularly like natural or recyclable options that include concrete, wood, stone and rocks, other options such as metal, rubber, and plastic are great for low-cost solutions, but can be temporary and harder to recycle when you need to replace them.”
1. Create neat pathways with brick lawn edging
Bricks are a long-lasting choice(Image credit: Nikhilesh Haval)
Preventing grass from creeping into gravel or between slabs can be difficult. Establish a clear distinction between a path and the lawn using delicate, low-laying edging styles.
"Bricks create a strong and durable edge for your lawn, making them a good choice. They’re resistant to harsh conditions and weather nicely, so they’ll remain attractive over time while cutting down on the need for strimming," says garden design expert Fiona Jenkins.
Be wary of causing a trip hazard or issues when mowing the lawn when brick edging is installed too high. A rounded brick edge has been installed here level with the turf with curved corners to complement the cottage garden style. The planted borders are also lined for symmetry.
Fiona Jenkins
A landscaper and gardening expert with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Currently she works for MyJobQuote as their resident expert on all things gardening. She is highly knowledgeable and her expertise have featured in many reputable publications.
Shop lawn edging tools
Wickes Carbon Steel Lawn Edger - 940mm
The half moon edging tool is the traditional choice for precision edging. It requires some manual work however.
Draper Rotary Lawn Edger 09982
A rotary tool is supposedly a quicker way to edge. Though if your lawn is tough you may need to apply extra weight with your foot.
Einhell Power X-Change Cordless Lawn Edger
This electric edging tool will define edges as well as trim the grass for a completely clean look with minimal effort. Unsurprisingly this is a more expensive option.
2. Create a curved lawn edge with concrete
Mix materials for a multi dimensional look(Image credit: Alistair Nicholls)
Sweeping front garden driveway ideas are a popular way to create an approach with impact — make sure to line with turf with appropriate edging to keep the kerb appeal maximised.
“Concrete corners or concrete lawn edging ideas have become quite the rage over the last decade. Its simplistic design and use of concrete gives this option a modern look, and concrete is often a more sustainable material choice too," says Johanna Elvidge.
A mix of materials make this front garden interesting — a black steel gate, gravel driveway lined with red brick and, finally, a poured concrete lawn surround.
All of the elements are relatively budget options, but come together to produce a charming entryway.
Johanna Elvidge
Johanna is a talented landscape designer with more than 20 years’ experience working in the construction industry. She holds a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Leeds Beckett University and is Head of Domestic Design at Marshalls.
3. Use lawn edging to smooth a sloping space
Edging a lawn on a sloping site can be used as a retaining wall(Image credit: Simon Maxwell)
The trick to sloping garden ideas – without breaking the bank – is to embrace the natural rise and fall of the garden, including a turfed area.
Create a terraced garden effect by following the line of the landscape with edging to achieve a level lawn using favourite retaining wall ideas.
This combined small garden and driveway uses timber sleepers to line the artificial turf, which continues to create a raised bed at the end. Obviously, unlike real grass, the priority was not the contain spreading, but non-the-less the result is neat, contemporary and stylish.
4. Choose a contemporary timber finish
Using exterior wood paint can make a budget edging look more expensive(Image credit: FotoLounge / Getty Images)
One of the most sustainable, stylish and cost-effective options for lawn edging has to be timber. And it can be particularly effective as a finishing between decking ideas and lawns.
Available at pretty much every DIY shop and garden centre, timber boundaries can come in all sorts of styles and designs. For straight, clean edges, opt for a horizontal product such as this Forest Timber Nova edging from B&Q. Sitting at 30cm high, this product is ideal for around decking or as a patio edging idea (and is only £5 for 0.8m).
5. Use metal edging for a barely-there finish
Metal will be longer lasting than wood or plastic(Image credit: richard johnson / Getty Images)
Metal edging is long-lasting and many products offer a contemporary styling that suits many self build houses perfectly. (Take a look at our top landscaping tips for new homes if you fall into this category.)
Although this one is fairly low-level, taller options are available and simply arrive with stakes along one side that are inserted into the ground.
"I find metal edging really useful because it is flexible it can be installed in different shapes and sizes," adds Laura Felstead.
6. Use decorative stones as edging
Stones and gravel are perfectly matched(Image credit: Simon Burt)
If you don't mind blurring the lines between grass and gravel, forgo a full-length edge and decorate the boundary with a simple shovel cut and large stones. This is also a great driveway idea, helping to prevent guests and delivery drivers from inadvertently parking on areas laid to lawn.
The rustic look definitely has appeal and can be encouraged to blend with creeping low plants such as thyme or creeping Jenny.
Furthermore, this is simplest and most cost-effective option for a lawn edging, but can be difficult to maintain and requires a good mower or strimmer to navigate large stones.
7. Opt for streamline stone to edge a lawn
Something like this will likely need professional installation(Image credit: Haddonstone)
Neat, tidy and precise — this quintessential lawn edging look fantastic and alludes to a time gone by while still using modern sharp edges and shapes.
This cast stone design (from Haddonstone) has been made to protect flower beds when the lawn is being mowed.
"Stone edged borders are great for mowing as you're able to get your lawnmower wheels on to them to get a sharp cut," says Laura Felstead.
8. Use planted beds to border a lawn
If you're going for a natural look, billowing but structured plants like lavender can work well(Image credit: Mark Bolton)
Edge a lawn naturally with well-placed bedding plants and shrubs. A mix of both will allow the border to change with the seasons while still dividing the lawn and adding some colour during the winter months.
This design bring a softer finish to a garden and brings together hardscaping and landscaping in a united plan.
Here, a classic cottage garden aesthetic has been enhanced by with continuous planted borders. Also note the simple brick 'bridge' from path to lawn.
9. Try a DIY miniature fence
Weaving twigs between stakes will create a lawn edging(Image credit: Alec Scaresbrook / Alamy Stock Photo)
“This garden edging design is cost-effective and an easy DIY project. It's quick and easy and will change the face of your flowerbeds in a matter of minutes. Remember to buy miniature garden fences that have been treated, so it doesn't perish during bad weather conditions,” says Johanna Elvidge, Head of Domestic Design at Marshalls .
We like this natural fence look which is made of woven sticks.
10. Go for a natural looking boulder border
Boulders are among the simplest of lawn edging ideas(Image credit: Hi-Point / Getty Images)
“The ‘boulder border’ lawn edging idea is straightforward to achieve, and just about anybody can construct it. All you need to do is source the rocks or stones and place them on top of and next to each other along the perimeter of the garden edge," says Johanna Elvidge.
"You can supplement larger boulders with any rocks you have around your property to give it a truly unique finish. Not to mention, this solution provides a great shelter for invertebrates!”
11. Try a naturalistic plant edging
Sculpted Box bushes lining a lawn(Image credit: Adrian Sherratt / Alamy Stock Photo)
"Living edging is the perfect choice for a sustainable garden as it requires planting low-growing plants around the border of your garden, rather than materials like brick or plastic," says garden landscaping expert Tom Clifford.
Plants will create a soft and natural border. Garden expert Jane Dobbs likes creeping thyme, creeping sedum, or creeping Jenny, because they spread and have pretty foliage.
"You can make a living edging using drought-tolerant succulents like sedums, and echeverias. These plants add visual interest to garden borders with their fleshy leaves," says Jane.
If you favour a tidy, structured look then Jane suggests boxwood shrubs as a classic choice.
Jane Dobbs
Responsible for leading the gardening team at Allan's Gardeners, a landscaping and garden maintenance business based in London. She has 10 years experience as a gardener.
FAQs
What is the best material to edge a lawn?
"The best material for lawn edging really depends on the overall scheme," advises Laura Felstead of Soto Gardens. "I like to bring in materials I’ve used elsewhere, such as brick, stone or metal, to create a cohesive look. Doing this pulls a garden together and these details help the outside space look considered.”
What is the most effective lawn edging?
"It doesn’t matter what you edge a lawn with, so long as it’s relatively strong and durable, otherwise it will get pushed out of place and will need replacing frequently. Natural materials including stone and brick are some of the most effective but in aesthetic terms, planting perennials and hedging is just as effective," says garden expert Fiona Jenkins.
What is the cheapest way to do an edging
"You could use shop-bought picket or plastic style edging to keep costs down. Alternatively, you could repurpose materials from around your home such as old floorboards, broken bricks, roof tiles and floor tiles," says Fiona Jenkins garden design expert.
"If you want to create a living edge on a budget, go with plants that are clump-forming and that you can take cuttings from. So, you can grow your edging from just a few plants."
What is the Easiest Landscape Edging?
“The easiest way to start a border is to create lawn edging (if your border is on a lawn!)," says garden expert Laura Felstead. "All you have to do is dig into the lawn with a spade or specialist lawn edging tool. This method is great as you can create any shape you desire."
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Assistant Editor Amy began working for Homebuilding & Renovating in 2018. She has an interest in sustainable building methods and always has her eye on the latest design ideas. Amy has interviewed countless self builders, renovators and extenders about their experiences for Homebuilding & Renovating magazine. She is currently renovating a mid-century home, together with her partner, on a DIY basis, and has recently fitted her own kitchen.
