Garden Bed Edging Ideas

Mix Colors

• Enjoy creating garden bed edging by mixing flower colors. Make sure when you choose color that they harmonize with one another. For example, vivid orange and purple blooms mixed together may create too much contrast, whereas mixing creams, whites and pale pinks offers a tranquil, cohesive aesthetic. Additionally, ensure that colors are evenly planted throughout your border. Avoid creating large areas of one color and clumps of another that may appear unplanned and off-balance. Consider the addition of pansies (Viola species) as a garden bed edging idea. A vast array of solid and bi-color options makes mixing colors a cinch. Pansies come in bronze, pink, black, mahogany, orange, red, blue, yellow, purple and white, according to the Clemson University Extension. From low-growing compact heights to a maximum of 12 inches, pansies make a versatile addition as edging plants. Grow in full sunlight and well-drained soil high in organic matter.

Go Formal

• Keeping your garden bed edges formal isn't as challenging as you may think, requiring the same amount of planning as any other garden bed edge. Simply look for plants that are easily shaped into straight, clean lines. For less maintenance, choose plants that are naturally symmetrical. Additionally, repetition creates a more formal appearance, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Add mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) as edging to your garden bed. This plant has a "neat appearance," according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Mondo grass has a clumping, creeping nature that makes it ideal for repetition without creating an overplanned look. Mondo grass displays dark-green variegated evergreen leaves and reaches a height of approximately 4 to 9 inches. Grow in full sun to full shade in any soil conditions.

Keep it Casual

• Your home or gardening space may call out for a more informal edging look. Don't think this means less planning; it just means you want to achieve an effortless aesthetic. In contrast to a formal garden edge, avoid hard lines, symmetry and repetition. You can still keep a clean appearance, but aim for organic shapes and a freer plant habit. For example, use lavender cotton plants (Santolina species). Lavender cotton is versatile in color, offering gray to dark-green evergreen foliage. This free-form shrub is easily shaped into a tidier appearance if you should decide to bring your garden in a different direction. Growing to a height of up to 2 feet, lavender cotton displays small yellow flowers and aromatic leaves. Grow in full sun and dry conditions, according to the Maryland Cooperative Extension.