What is the cheapest lawn edging?

The cheapest edging to install is plastic. The material is affordable, and the manufacturing is low-cost. This makes it an affordable edging material. It also comes in rolls, so you can buy exactly how much you need without overspending.

What is the easiest landscape edging to install?

The easiest lawn edging is one that doesn’t require any digging. To install it, you pound stakes into the ground to hold the edging in place. Metal rails or plastic edging use this method for installation.

Is landscape edging necessary?

In short, yes, edging is necessary because it keeps your lawn contained. Otherwise, it will spread out and send shoots into your garden beds, landscaping, and under your concrete. Edging also keeps your lawn looking nice, which improves the curb appeal of your property.

8 Lawn Edging Ideas for Beautiful Landscaping

Do you have grass growing around your single-family home? Then you aren’t alone. You also aren’t alone in your struggle to maintain it. Sure, most people focus on getting it to grow evenly while avoiding brown spots or dirt patches. However, there’s another unspoken struggle.

You need edging around your lawn to keep it contained. Most people resort to plastic garden edging, but this doesn’t always have the best curb appeal.

These lawn edging ideas will help you contain your lawn while also improving the look of your property.

1. Brick Edging

Brick edging is a classic look that will give your home a traditional feel. They have a deep red hue that will stand out among the neutral colors of nature.

Wooden steps leading to a raised patio with planters, surrounded by a garden and red brick edging

Garden path with red brick borders leads to a fenced area. Newly planted beds with greenery on both sides and tall silver posts

If your home already has a brick facade, they will complement the house and create an intentional design.

However, if your home doesn’t already have a traditional design, then it’s best to look for brick pavers. These are similar to bricks but have a more modern and contemporary feel. While traditional bricks come in one shape, rectangle, modern pavers come in various shapes and sizes.

2. Concrete Edging

There’s a reason concrete is one of the most widely used commercial construction materials. It’s strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, affordable, and low maintenance. This makes it a smart choice for your edging material.

House corner with large window, shrubs beneath, concrete edging, and a neatly trimmed lawn bordered by bushes and trees — Source: @rina_wills_86 via Instagram

Curving sidewalk edge next to a neatly mowed lawn with tire tracks, flanked by leafy green trees in a sunny park area — Source: @robleslawncareservices via Instagram

Concrete edging forming a zigzag pattern between a green lawn and a paved path

Curved garden path with green grass, bordered by colorful flowers and a small tree

Garden bed with lush green grass and dense shrubs bordered by a black curved edging

Small garden with yellow and purple flowers, green succulents, and lush grass bordered by stone pavement

While you could use cinder blocks, this isn’t the most attractive option. Instead, look for concrete edging that’s poured and formed into shapes. It could be a simple decorative scallop design or one that mimics natural stone. Either way, you can enjoy the benefits of concrete slabs without having to accept your home’s landscaping looking like a commercial site.

3. Decorative Fence

While your landscape edging is there to serve a purpose, there is so much more to it. A beautiful option is terra cotta. It has a bold orange-red color and pairs perfectly with terracotta pots. This edging idea is perfect for creating an eclectic or bohemian feel to your home’s exterior.

Vibrant garden with colorful flowers, including pansies and salvia, bordered by wooden logs, in front of a edged wooden fence

The natural color of the terracotta adds a natural touch of color and can boost curb appeal. If the earthy red doesn’t appeal to you, other decorative options include glass, wood shingles, stamped metal, or bamboo shoot sheeting. All of these add a stylistic appeal to your landscaping.

4. Landscaping

When adding a landscape border, look beyond your lawn. Continue the border along your flowerbeds, garden bed, or vegetable garden. This creates a cohesive look to all of your garden edging and improves the overall look of your property.

A landscaped garden with a rocky stream, surrounded by lush greenery and plants, leading to a wooden bridge, with a hose lying on the grass — Source: @gardenologyke via Instagram

Sunny backyard with a wooden deck, a chair, and planted shrubs along a fenced grassy lawn, with houses visible in the background — Source: @lbpromedia via Instagram

Well-manicured garden with a tree shaped like a lollipop, straight hedges, and lush green grass under a bright blue sky — Source: @southerncrosslawnsandgardens via Instagram

Lush backyard garden with a wooden fence, vibrant green grass, and various plants and shrubs along the border

A lush garden with vibrant flower beds, green grass, and colorful blooms in curved patterns, accented by potted plants

Flower bed with pink and white blossoms lines the edge of a lawn next to a house with large windows

If you add a border to your flower bed, you can then cover this area with mulch and not worry about it floating or blowing away.

Check out garden edging ideas for options that are slightly raised. This will help create a border that prevents the spread of grass while also containing your garden ground cover. For example, paver stones and concrete can both be built up to create a raised garden bed effect.

5. Rocks and Pebbles

River rocks are a natural stone edging solution that gives your landscaping a unique look. The smaller stones have a smooth texture and uniform color, making them perfect for creating a border. Their smaller size makes them ideal for filling your trench edging.

What’s nice about this border is that they allow water to filter through. This helps with proper drainage and to keep your lawn adequately watered. The stones are also durable, making them low maintenance.

Neatly trimmed hedge and grass area with a stone border, surrounded by decorative gravel and wooden fence — Source: @brandon_lawn_whisperer via Instagram

A small backyard with a grass lawn, edge made of small rocks, paved patio, garden chair, fire pit, and string lights; surrounded by a wooden fence and shed — Source: @athomewithaysha via Instagram

A well-maintained lawn with sprinklers, bordered by hedges and trees, with a car parked on a driveway under a clear blue sky — Source: @showtimelawns via Instagram

Curved pathway bordered by grass and pebbles in a park, with trees and buildings in the background under a clear sky

Depending on where you live, river rocks may not make sense. Crushed shells look good in a tropical climate or homes that are near the shore. Other options are lava rock, brick chips, marble chips, pea gravel, or crushed granite.

6. Railway Sleepers

Sleepers create a garden edge that’s both functional and attractive. The hallmark of a sleeper is that it gets sunk down into the ground. This is a simple DIY project that you can do yourself over the course of a weekend.

Backyard with circular lawn, stone steps, and wooden borders; fenced garden area with plants and a small patio — Source: @detailedlandscapes via Instagram

Backyard with artificial grass, hanging chair, gray fence, and string lights — Source: @grassrootslandscapeshq via Instagram

A freshly mown lawn with visible lines and stepping stones, bordered by wooden planters and a wooden fence — Source: @michaelpotter88 via Instagram

A garden with a green lawn, gravel path, and sprinkler featuring two chairs in front of a hedge surrounded by wooden fences — Source: @rose_wood_31 via Instagram

Lush green lawn on a sunny day, bordered by a wooden raised bed with a young plant in the foreground — Source: @landscapehub13 via Instagram

Grass lawn with wooden borders, swingset, and a brick house with large windows under a clear blue sky — Source: @suburbanlawngeek via Instagram

A backyard with artificial grass, a gravel patch, wooden borders, a black fence, and garden gnome decorations — Source: @malcolm_hulk_cochrane via Instagram

You can construct your sleepers out of almost any material. Wood railroad ties are popular. They are wide, making a broad board for your lawn. Another perfect option is river rocks, pavers, and bricks.

The trick is digging a deep and wide enough trench. Then line the trench with landscaping fabric to prevent weeds from growing up through.

7. Metal Edging

If you’re looking for a modern touch, then consider using metal. These are long metal strips that create a thin and crisp border. Steel edging is the most popular metal garden edging because it’s strong and durable. It’s also either painted or chemically treated to prevent corrosion.

Tree in a garden with metal fence, raised bed with metal edging, decorative post, trimmed grass, and colorful flowers — Source: @pennie90 via Instagram

A garden with wavy metal edging separating green grass from mulch and plants, next to a white picket fence — Source: @appleseedgardening via Instagram

A charming house with a white picket fence, curved metal edging, landscaped garden, and clear blue sky — Source: @gloucester_landscapes via Instagram

Two-story house with a spacious lawn and landscaped garden, featuring plants and shrubs, under a clear blue sky — Source: @naturalcraftlandscapes via Instagram

Metal edging is a smart option to use with other types of borders. For example, add a metal edge on the grass side, and then a border of sleepers or river rocks. This makes it easier to maintain the river rocks by creating a strong border for the grass.

8. Stone Edging

Give your landscaping a natural look by using stones. The type of natural stone you use will define how you want your home to look. For example, paving stones will give your lawn a finished and contemporary look. These uniform stones look more refined than plastic edging.

Curved rusty metal garden edging with brick border, separating grass lawn from soil bed with small plants and a young tree — Source: @inex_pro_outdoor_living_ via Instagram

Small backyard with artificial grass lawn with stone edged design, surrounded by brick walls and stone pathways, featuring a few plants and a silver orb — Source: @jph_groundworkers via Instagram

Modern backyard with artificial grass, wooden pergola, patio lighting, and paving stones in a neat, organized layout that showcases great stone edging — Source: @midlandshousetohome via Instagram

Close-up of neatly trimmed green grass beside a gravel path and stone edge that separates the grass from the gravel

Brick path beside a grassy lawn separated by stone borders with a decorative light post, surrounded by shrubs and trees

Stone pathway with irregular tan tiles, bordered by gravel and brick edges, surrounded by green grass

Stone border separates a trimmed green lawn from a line of shrubs and soil

Gravel path lined with grey stones, adjacent to neatly trimmed round green bushes and a lawn on one side

For a vintage, farmhouse, or country feel, use natural stones. They lack uniformity in size and shape, making for a more visually interesting border. It’s also smart to use stones naturally found in the local area. This prevents your home from looking out of place.