Ideas For Flower Gardens Using Mums

Vegetable and flower gardens plays quite a vital role in the home as they help in freshening the air resulting into better circulation of a cleaner air. They also act as beautification features and when proper demarcation and garden borders are applied, the entire flower beds and vegetable gardens ends up looking quite attracting and eye-catching. Given the relationship between human beings and nature, the best way to create vitality and vibrant atmosphere in your home is through use of vegetable and flower gardens. Here are some of the edging ideas for vegetable and flower gardens that you can make use of for a more inspiring home.

Although it is best to implement borders and edging when designing your garden, it can still be fairly easy to add an edge or change the border of an existing garden.

Through this article, we want to make you aware of the various types of garden edges and borders that take minimal effort to be implemented.

Horizontal Brick Landscape Edging

Brick landscape edging is the most popular option in which bricks are cemented in place or simply dug into the soil. In order to make the movement of a mower easy while cutting the grass, bricks are laid flat. The other alternative is to cement the bricks in place to form a raised line one brick high along the garden edge. The spaces between the bricks should be eliminated by positioning the bricks together firmly so that the dirt does not slip through the gaps. Bricks set in the bed of sand help to reduce unevenness in settling and movement.

Pros

• Easily available.
• Traditional but eye-catching look.
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Discoloration because of dirt, moss and algae.
• Possibility of unevenness when placed directly in soil.
• Possibility of weed and grass growth between and over the bricks.

Diagonal Brick Edging

For creating an attractive border, bricks can be laid diagonally. For this, a trench is dug and several inches of coarse sand is added for drainage. Bricks are positioned at an angle of about 45 degrees in the trench such that they are half-exposed. The trench is then filled with soil and packed down firmly. Similarly, all the bricks are laid in the adjoining beds.

Pros

• Attractive look.
• Easy to lay when without concreting
• Assists with drainage during heavy rainfall

Cons

• Possibility of displacement of bricks.
• Uncontrollable growth of weeds is possible
• Inconsistent height of border restricts movement.
• Can cause injury if fallen against.

Cast Concrete Edging

These harsh looking but professional edges allow easy mowing and the curved shape can be used to create lovely winding paths through the garden.

Pros

• Very strong
• Unaffected by weeds
• Makes mowing easy by providing edge

Cons

• Expensive
• Tricky to do by yourself

Flagstone and Cobblestone Edging

If you possess a cottage garden or country properties, then you can consider flagstone and cobblestone edging that can give a classic look to your garden. These attractive stones of various sizes, colours and shapes can be installed in sand or embed in concrete.

Pros

• Eye-catching
• Easy to install
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Possibility of getting uneven after settling
• Possible growth of weeds in the uneven gaps between flagstones
• Growth of algae is possible

Edging with Plants

This fantastic style of natural edging involves a low line of tough plants whose borders give a soft and natural look to the garden.
Pros

• Possess a soft and attractive look
• Maintenance is easy

Cons

• Uncontrollable weeds and grass
• Obstructs mowing

Logs and Sleepers

If you possess vegetable gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens or any other informal garden, then you should opt for logs and sleeper for edging.

Pros

• Soft and attractive look that goes well with a rustic garden design
• Stable due to large thick logs
• Easy maintenance

Cons

• Gradual rotting and break down of wood
• Uncontrollable weeds
• Slippery when wet

Metal Pipe Edging

For a unique border in your garden, you might want to opt for vertical metal pipes. After being buried, they can be filled with rocks or soil, and can even act as a container to grow smaller plants.

Pros

• Very sturdy, permanent construction
• Can be used to grow plants
• Easy maintenance

Cons

• Gradual rusting of the metal (though that look might be desired)
• Possibly expensive

Large Stone Retaining Wall

This is another natural-looking option for your garden. The large stones may be difficult to place, but will last a long time and are strong enough to retain a raised garden bed.

Pros

• Very strong
• Natural appearance
• Allows for raised beds

Cons

• Heavy and difficult to construct
• Potential weed or moss growth
• Larger stones can be more expensive

Simple Wood Edging

These wood borders are cheap and easy to make, but still add a more finished look to your garden.

Pros

• Easy to make yourself
• Cheap materials
• Easy to install

Cons

• Gradual rotting of the wood
• Easier to accidentally break than brick or stone
• Less effective at containing grass or weed growth

Fences and Railings

This option is generally reserved for large, fancy gardens – but maybe you can find a way to implement it into your own! It gives a very professional look, especially when combined with finished walking paths.

Pros

• Very sturdy, permanent construction
• Professional look
• Great for large gardens with paths

Cons

• Can be very expensive
• Extra maintenance (painting, etc.)
• May not work well with smaller gardens

Flat Stone Walls

Similar to the Large stone borders earlier, this type of retaining wall is constructed with stone. However, using flat stones makes it easier to construct, though the stones are still heavy. Strategic gaps can be left between some stones to allow flowers to grow, adding to the beauty of your garden.

Pros

• Very sturdy, permanent construction
• Allows for raised beds or multi-level yards
• Natural looking

Cons

• Potential moss growth
• Somewhat expensive
• Heavy stones make it more difficult to construct

River Rock Drainage

Here is a garden feature that serves two purposes – it allows for efficient drainage of rain water, and can be used to separate different garden beds. With a plastic liner underneath the river rock, water is directed away from your house and foundation. It also adds another natural-looking aspect to your garden.

Pros

• Drains water away from your house
• Natural look
• Multi-purpose

Cons

• Careful planning is required
• Potential moss and weed growth

Low Flagstone Border

Another border utilizing flat stones, this flagstone edge looks very nice. It is easier to construct because it is not very high, and the stones are thinner. It doesn't make for a very clean edge along the grass for mowing, so I would suggest leaving a dirt border between the grass and the stone.

Pros

• Natural look
• Easier to construct

Cons

• More maintenance
• Potential weed and moss growth

Glass Bottle Border

A very interesting and beautiful option, these half-buried glass bottles will add even more color to your garden. Blue glass is seen here, but one can find many different styles and colors of bottles to use. Placing them at random heights and positions adds a whimsical aspect to this border idea.

Pros

• Colorful
• Inexpensive
• Easy to do yourself

Cons

• Possibility of broken glass
• Potential weed growth between the bottles

Basket-Weave Raised Beds

This design might be difficult to master, but the end result is a fantastic, natural-looking container for your garden. Flexible branches are woven between the sturdier sticks. The weave must be tight enough to contain the soil, but it allows for proper drainage when watering your plants.

Pros

• Natural look
• Good drainage
• Easy maintenance

Cons

• Potential gradual rot
• Requires some skill to construct

Simple Stone Block Edge

One of the easier options for adding an edge to your garden, these small stone blocks can be set directly into the ground or bedded in sand to prevent settling and to help control weed growth. The low profile also makes it easy to mow your grass.

Pros

• Easy
• Less weed growth when set in sand
• Easy maintenance

Cons

• Weed growth if set into soil
• Settling may occur

Block and Mortar Walls

While more difficult to construct, this type of wall will last forever in your garden. Because the blocks are cemented together, there is no chance for weed growth or shifting of the blocks. This is a project you could do yourself, though most people would hire someone to do it for them to ensure it's done properly.

Pros

• Finished look
• Sturdy, permanent construction
• Easy maintenance

Cons

• More expensive
• Time consuming if done yourself

Caged-Stone Border

This is an unconventional style of border, but is very easy to implement. You simply buy the cages, position them as you would like, then fill them with stones. They may not be aesthetically pleasing to everyone, but this style provides excellent drainage.

Pros

• Easy construction
• Great drainage
• Modular

Cons

• Not very pretty
• Potential rusting of the cages
• Weed and moss growth

Plastic Borders

This type of edging isn't for everyone either, but it also has its benefits. Due to the plastic construction, it will never rot. Also, the pieces are modular, and can be put together to make many different shapes.

Pros

• No rot
• Easy to install
• Modular design

Cons

• Not very natural looking
• More fragile than stone or brick

"Border-less" Border

Along with talking about the different physical borders you can make, we can't forget to mention how nice a cut border can look. This does take some skill and proper tools to maintain, but it makes for a very nice, natural looking edge for your lawn.

Pros

• Clean, natural look
• Nothing to build

Cons

• More maintenance
• Potential weed and moss growth

Cinder Block Border

Steering away from the natural stone and wood edging, here is an example of a more industrial option – cinder blocks. While this may not be the first thing to come to mind, cinder blocks are very well-suited for this purpose. They are easy to install and can be placed with a slight curve, as seen above. You can also use the voids to grow more flowers around your garden. They could even be painted to compliment your house or other parts of your garden.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Easier to construct
• Low Maintenance
• Can be used to grow more plants

Cons

• Less natural looking
• Potential weed and moss growth

Joined Wood Edging

This type of wood border takes a little more skill than the one mentioned previously, but it's still very possible to do yourself! This construction method is a bit more interesting, and will provide a tighter seal to prevent weed growth.

Pros

• Interesting construction
• Less weed growth

Cons

• Gradual rotting of wood
• Takes some skill and tools

Fine Masonry Wall

Going outside the realm of do-it-yourself, this type of wall will give your garden a very finished and expensive look. Unless you have extensive masonry training, I wouldn't suggest trying to construct this yourself. The skills to make a rock wall look this nice take years to master. Luckily, you can hire someone to make it for you!

Pros

• Sturdy, permanent construction
• Very refined looks

Cons

• Expensive materials
• Expensive hired help

Rough Stone Block Border

A nice alternative to wood or brick, these large stone blocks are placed vertically to contain your garden. The blocks themselves are very heavy though, so you would probably want to ask for some help if you plan to take on this project. The blocks may also be somewhat expensive, depending on where you get them. Once placed in a sand bed, they won't shift much.

Pros

• Natural look
• Sturdy construction
• Many possible configurations

Cons

• Heavy and expensive materials
• Potential weed and moss growth

As you can see, there are many options to consider when adding a border to your garden. Some are cheap, while others expensive; and some are easy and some more difficult. Regardless though, a border of any kind will add a new dimension to your garden. We hope that you enjoyed visiting our website and this blog too. Keep visiting our website for more updates. Feel free to post your comments.

Ideas For Flower Gardens Using Mums

Source: https://www.guidinghome.com/garden-bed-borders-edging-ideas-for-vegetable-and-flower-gardens/

Posted by: knutsonclevestimen.blogspot.com

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