Scalloped Landscape Edging

Wood

• Short wooden fence posts can be cut into a scalloped shapes and fastened together to form an edging. The posts need only be from 8 inches to 24 inches high. The fence can also be shaped over several fence posts to form the scallop, rather than each individual slat having a scalloped end. Wood is less expensive than other alternatives but not as durable. The wood will eventually rot from the moisture in the soil. Installation requires digging a trench, putting the posts in the trench and refilling the holes with soil. A more permanent installation requires the trench to be filled with cement and the posts put in the cement.

Metal

• Metal is durable and attractive. It's on the upper end of the price scale. The edging comes in 16- to 24-inch pieces in several different designs and shapes. Think of it as a miniature wrought iron fence in short sections. The scallops are formed when the edging piece is curved at the top, with the two ends lower than the middle. The stakes at the ends are pushed into the ground.

Concrete

• Concrete edging forms a solid barrier between beds and borders and the lawn. It gives a neat look to the landscape. The scalloped edging comes in several different natural-looking colors. The pieces are straight or can be curved to make a circular edging. Since the edging is formed of concrete, it is heavy. No special skills or preparation are required to install this type of edging.

Wire

• Heavy wire is bent into scalloped shapes and stabilized with cross-posts. This type of edging comes in several heights, from 12 inches to 36 inches, and in 8-foot lengths. It can be disassembled into shorter sections if necessary. The wire creates more of a mental barrier, or reminder, rather than a physical barrier. It's not sturdy enough to keep children or pets out of a flowerbed. However, it is inexpensive. Installation is simple --- just push the metal ends into the ground.