Tips on Hardscape Edging in Cottage Gardens

Wood

• Consider the shape of your gardens and walkway when selecting wood edging. Old railroad ties and pressure-treated timbers are inexpensive and can cover a long, straight or angled walkway edge with only a few pieces. The disadvantage to using this style is that the chemicals used to prevent the wood from rotting seep into the ground so avoid using it near edible plants. Instead, use bendable 1/4-inch boards made from naturally rot-resistant woods like cypress and cedar. Bendable boards can raise a garden from the ground a few inches and hug the tightest curves.

Stones

• The varied height and shapes of stones complement the informal mix of textures and colors in a cottage garden. Fieldstones and flagstones are widely available and come in a range of sizes. Choose stones in proportion to the size of your garden. Too many large boulders will overwhelm a small area, but one large stone set in a garden combined with medium and small edging stones can add depth and accentuate contours.

Bricks and Pavers

• Brick and paver edgings bring out the traditional, timeless style of cottage gardens. Laid end-to-end or side-by-side, they add subtle, earthy color that blends well with foliage and blossoms. Their standard rectangular shape fits well with straight edges and angles or broad curves. If you have old or broken bricks, install them alongside new ones to create an imperfect, weathered look.

Concrete

• Concrete edging is completely versatile, affordable and long-lasting, but once it hardens, it is not easy to remove. Before you install concrete, consider if you want to expand or alter the shape of your walkway or garden. One of the biggest advantages of concrete is that you can customize the color and surface to complement your garden instead of settling for plain, flat gray. Color stains allow you to change the color to green, red, yellow or almost any color you wish. Another way to alter the surface is to stamp it with a patterned stamp. Concrete stamps add texture and can make the surface resemble bricks, stones and other designs.