Pressure-treated wood is a good choice for durability, especially if it will be in contact with soil. Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant options if you prefer a more natural look.
Cedar is one of the best woods for garden edging. It is red in colour which makes it a fine landscape choice. Although it's more expensive than the synthetic material, it's reasonably cheap timber.
You can use many different types of edging around grass, including plastic or metal strips, bricks, stones, and even plants or shrubs. The best type of edging will depend on your personal preferences, the style of your landscaping, and the type of grass you have.
Pressure-treated wood contains copper, chromium, and arsenic (called CCA treated wood). Therefore, this is not good to use in a garden.
I used both 2x4 and 4x4 pressure treated with no problems, but I wish I had used 4x4 everywhere, just more stable and looks better too. Also 4x4 works better with lawn mower riding on the edging so keep mowing in mind. I did not paint.
2x4 11'-6" 2x6 17'-0" 2x8 21'-8" 2x10 25'-7" 24" O.C.
Mulch not only makes a great and inexpensive garden edging idea because of how it suppresses weeds, but also for its benefit to your plants. Mulch is a great preserver of water and moisture, so your flowers or greenery will stay hydrated for days to come.
Even though the new pressure-treated woods are considered safe, Wolmanized Outdoor, according to its Web site, does not recommend using pressure-treated wood where the preservatives may become a component of food. Its recommendation is to use an impervious liner between the wood and the soil.
Safe practices for working with treated wood recommend treated wood not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water or a component of food, animal feed or beehives. The USDA prohibits treated lumber for soil contact use in their certified National Organic Program published in 2011.
Although cost-effective, wooden borders don't last as long as metal and stone edging. If you choose to go with wooden borders, you can expect to replace them every ten to 15 years. Pressure-treated timber will last longer but be cautious of using treated wood near your edible garden.
Aluminum or steel edging is great for straight-line areas; it won't rust, rot or become brittle. It's installed with stakes and can be molded into shapes and curves.
Pavers and Walkways
Pavers are popular in landscape design because they are a lower maintenance edging and allow for creativity in materials and colors. Pavers are usually created with clay, stone and concrete materials. They are a great option for patios, pool areas and walkways.
Dig a trench and add several inches of sand for drainage so the bricks don't heave. Set the bricks in the trench, half exposed, leaning tightly one against the next, then fill in with soil. If you're edging several garden beds, lean all the bricks in the same direction.
Using treated pine for garden edging can be a great choice as it is durable, cost-effective, and resistant to decay. Treated pine is less expensive than hardwood and can be easily cut into boards and planks of various shapes and sizes.
Redwood and cedar are more expensive but resist decay, so they last longer. Pine and fir will break down more quickly but are available at a fraction of the cost. Pressure-treated wood is also an economical option for improving the life of raised garden beds.
Logs Create Nice Borders – Setting logs end-to-end can make for a great border around your garden.
Build your raised bed with a decay-resistant type of wood, such as cedar, black cherry, oak (bur, chestnut, post, white), black locust, Osage orange, or redwood. (Source: USDA Forest Products Lab) Use a non-wood material such as stones, concrete blocks, bricks, or synthetic lumber.
Untreated wood doesn't share the durability as pressure-treated lumber, because it lacks the same protective chemical preservatives. When left unprotected against elements like rain or snow, this type of wood deteriorates quickly – often within just a few years.
Since the metal salts are on the surface of PT lumber in significant amounts, they can get on our hands and skin. Splinters from PT can also cause skin ulceration and festering. And obviously they are in the saw dust created while cutting or sanding the wood, which tradespeople then breathe in.
The boundary of a vegetable garden can be constructed using ACQ-treated pine (this is important from a health perspective). These timbers provide a strong border that will keep the vegetable garden in place. It is safe for use in vegetable gardens.
As an alternative, treated wood has become a widely used option in place of natural decay resistant woods. Treated wood is widely available and often the most economical. All wood begins to break down in the landscape over time, regardless whether treated or untreated.
The Best Materials for Creating a Border in Your Garden
Possibilities include: simple blocks or bricks. stone. small boxwoods or other hedge-like plants.
A self-propelled walk-behind lawn edger is a great investment for landscapers who are edging on a large scale, while a hand-held stick edger provides the same trim lines, takes up less space, and offers greater portability.
Dig the trench to a uniform depth of three to four inches—deep enough to let the edging stand about one-half inch above ground level. Dig straight down to create a vertical "wall" that will support the edging.