I'm Fussy About Edging But Finally Found a Natural Solution – It Gives My Garden Border a Professional Finish
These edging plants keep things looking neat without having to compromise on planting
When I put in a brand new garden border last year, I couldn't decide how to edge it. I wasn't sold on the idea of having metal or wooden edging, but leaving it open for the lawn to creep wasn't ideal either. That's when I stumbled across a more organic way to keep things neat: edging plants.
It's one of the best edging ideas if you don't want to put in hardscaping or want a natural look that still keeps grass and weeds out of flower beds and borders. The best edging plants are those that are compact, suppress weeds, and help maintain a neat line, as well as adding visual interest to your existing planting scheme.
Article continues below1. Lady's Mantle
- USDA: zones 3-8
Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a top choice. It's a shade-loving edging plant that offers plenty of groundcover for the front of your garden border.
'Lady’s mantle is a low-maintenance option for those looking for something green. It also has light green-yellow flower sprays in the summer,' describes gardening expert and landscape designer Curtis Atkinson.
It works well for edging because it has a clump-forming habit, softening borders while still keeping them retained. It's also quite pest-resistant (thanks to its hairy foliage which deters snails and slugs) and its dense coverage creates an effective weed barrier.
Something to note: lady's mantle can self-seed quite vigorously and may crop up in unexpected places.
To stop this happening, it's advised to deadhead blooms as soon as they start to fade in midsummer, before they get the chance to set seed. You can use these sharp pruning shears from Burpee to do this.
You can find lady's mantle starter plants at Nature Hills.
Curtis is the founder of Sunline Landscapes, Utah's premier luxury landscape design, installation, and maintenance firm with over two decades of experience serving the state's most discerning homeowners.
2. Hardy Geraniums
- USDA: zones 3-9
If you love purple plants, then hardy geraniums are some of the best edging plants to consider.
They form dense mounds of foliage, adorned with charming flowers in purple, pink, and white hues. They're pollinator-friendly, too, so will attract plenty of beneficial insects from spring to fall.
Hardy geraniums are mat-forming and fast-spreading, so will quickly establish a strong weed barrier for the front of your border.
To encourage a second flush of blooms, you can prune hardy geraniums back to 3" above the ground after their first flowers fade. As prolific self-seeders, this will also help control them and stop them cropping up in unexpected locations.
Use sharp pruning tools, like these Fiskars bypass pruning shears on Amazon, to make clean cuts and keep geraniums blooming.
This 'Johnson's Blue' geranium from Walmart offers a unique blue hue.
3. Euonymus
- USDA: zones 5-9
For an edging plant that provides a more formal garden look, opt for a shrub like euonymus. More specifically, a variety that doesn't climb is ideal for a compact, neat edge – 'Gold Edge' (like this from Amazon) is a popular choice as a disease-resistant alternative to box.
'One of the best parts is euonymus will retain it’s variegated colors year-round as an evergreen,' says Curtis.
This low-maintenance hedge plant is versatile in sun and shade, it tolerates a wide range of soil types, and they become quite drought-resistant as they establish.
4. Rosemary
- USDA: zones 8-11
One of my favorite edging plants is actually an aromatic herb: rosemary. Not only does this clump-forming herb help keep borders retained and keep weeds out, it also releases a delicious fragrance as you brush past.
However, be aware that rosemary can grow vigorously. While this makes it excellent for filling spaces in a border, regular trimming and harvesting rosemary will help keep it in shape and compact.
Rosemary loves a direct sun position, so it's best for a sunnier border. Plus, lots of sun will bring out purple-blue blooms from early spring.
'Arp' rosemary (available at Burpee) is a particularly cold-hardy variety.
5. Dianthus
- USDA: zones 4-8
Another flowering edging plant is dianthus, which Curtis recommends for a pink summer border.
'They are relatively compact, with silvery leaves year-round and pink flowers in the summer,' says Curtis.
'If you choose these for your edging, make sure your soil is well-drained and plant 6-12” apart in full sun to create a dense border for your walkways,' he advises.
It's the perfect option for a low level bloom at the front of your border, and it will bring a cottage garden feel to your planting.
Find dianthus starter plants at Walmart.
What to Shop
These bypass pruning shears are ideal for essential pruning tasks. They cut up to 1" in diameter.
This beautiful canvas garden apron has multiple pockets to carry your tools. It has a neck and waist tie for a comfortable fit.
These long-sleeved gardening gloves have a gorgeous floral pattern. They protect hands and arms when tending to the garden.
FAQs
How Do I Stop Grass Growing in My Garden Border?
There are a few ways to stop grass growing in your garden border. You can use a weed barrier (like this from Amazon), use mulch to smother grass and weeds, or use the three-inch rule edging rule to cut a trench that severs grass roots.
When it comes to curating the perfect garden border, the possibilities are endless. You can create a low-maintenance garden border with evergreens that provide interest year-round, or you can plant a herb border for a regular supply of homegrown harvests.
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