DIY Network

Clever Garden Edging Clever Garden Edging From "Ask DIY Anything" episode DADA-211

Q: I don't really care for the look of some of the garden edging that's on the market; I'd like more of a natural look. What kinds of natural garden edgings would you suggest?

A: This is a great question. Aside from some of the obvious choices, it's actually quite easy to come up with a personalized look that gives any landscape a little something extra. Here, host Walter Reeves shares several options for creating garden bed edging that will naturally accentuate and enhance its surroudings ....

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• Option One: Using flexible branches from a willow or dogwood, make a small fence with the branches by tying them or wiring them together. Or, just bend them into arches and insert both ends into the ground to create the fence structure.

• Option Two: Create edging from "stobs," which are basically small chunks of wood; simply lay them in place side-by-side along the designated area to create a boundary. You can either lay them in place individually, or you can nail them to one another before they're positioned.

• Option Three: Consider using some of the more obvious natural materials, customizing their treatment to your individual liking:

  - Stone and/or Gravel: This is one choice that makes a nice natural edging almost any way you use it. For example, dig a trench, then fill it with pea gravel. Or, simply edge a garden bed with flagstone or river rocks for an attractive yet understated look.

  - Plants: There are a variety of choices that work quite well for edging -- practically any kind of low-growing, ornamental grass; monkey grass is especially good. Simply plant it in rows along the edge of the garden or landscape; the plants will fill out over time for a lush, thick look. Low-growing evergreens like juniper are also ideal for this type of planting.