Decorative Landscape Curbing - Help For Creating the Perfect Look For Your Lawn and Garden

Are you looking for a new way to make your home stand out? Need a change and looking for some curb appeal that will stop the neighbors when they drive or walk by? Well, now there is an affordable way you can add that decorative touch to your curbs and really impress everyone.

So what exactly is decorative landscape curbing and what types of materials do they use to create the effects you are looking for? Decorative landscape curbing is a creative way of enhancing the way any yard or property looks to aid in the charm of your home. It can be placed as a border around beds of flowers or up and down the driveway. It is concrete that is continuously laid down in one piece with the use of an extruder and stamped and colored in various ways afterward. This unbroken border is custom fitted with any design you may have for your lawn and garden ideas.

There are a variety of packages to choose from when deciding on decorative landscape curbing options for your yard. Some of the reasons homeowners are opting for this choice is because it's affordable, it highlights and defines your yard, property lines and planters, helps with problems like keeping mulch in your flower bed, doesn't rot, rust or deteriorate, comes in a wide selection of shapes, colors and stamps to go with any decoration idea you have in mind, and it also saves time on mowing, weeding and edging.

These concrete landscape borders do not take much time to create the desired look you had in mind, and the results you will see will be completely outstanding. Some of the choices available for you with decorative landscape curbing are:

Slant Style edging geared for holding in gardening materials due to the higher back end. The front is lower so you will not have problems mowing around it.

Mower Style edging is very popular is built to both accommodate the lawn mower wheel at the same time as retain your gardening materials. It has great curb appeal by giving the landscaping a "picture framed" look.

6 x 4 Curb Style is the popular choice edging used in commercial lawn settings because it can handle the larger lawn mower wheels and has a more massive look. It can be installed as regular gray concrete or it can be textured and stamped. There is also a 6 x 6 curb style that is often used by commercial architects and placed deeper into the ground. These can also be used to help keep in your gravel, gardening materials and other driveway or walkway problem areas.

Once you have decided on the edging you would like to use, you will want to choose a finish. This is where the fun can come in. There is a wide variety to choose from such as Ashlar, BasketWeave, Bick Bond, Cobble Stone, Flag Stone, H-Brick with 2 variations, Herringbone, Nine Inch tile, Offset Bond, Random Stone, Six Inch Tile, Slate, Soldier Course, and Wood Grain.

You can either find a company by searching online and checking into their catalog of options or you can look in your local yellow pages for a location near you. With a short consultation, and a little time for planning, you can design a superb new look for your yard by choosing decorative landscape curbing designs.

Garden Edging Techniques - Creating Beautiful Landscape Designs With Edging

Garden edging is a great way to make your landscape designs pop. You can achieve many clean and decorative looks with various edging techniques. Garden edging will open up a world of landscape design opportunities in your yard because you can choose from a multitude of designs, edging materials, and edging techniques.

If you are not familiar with edging, it is a term used to describe a landscaping technique used to create "edges" around various landscape elements. You can place an edge around trees, shrubs, flowers, and hardscape elements like light posts and mailboxes. Creating an edge around elements in a landscape gives them a clean look and sets them apart from other elements in the yard.

Depending on the style you want to achieve with this technique you might want to choose certain materials over others. For example, cement can give a more modern look and brick can be used to create a more traditional look. Stone and brick are the easiest materials for homeowners to work with on their own. To begin you can try any one of these simple but beautiful techniques that use stone and brick.

Boulder Technique -- This is a very simple landscaping technique to start with. All you need are large sized rocks. Anywhere from 8 inches to a foot in height. Then you place them around your selected garden bed. You can use rocks that slightly vary in shape and color. This technique gives gardens an organic look.

Flagstone Technique -- Flagstone is a popular stone to use in landscapes. It has a distinctive look that most people recognize--a flat, wide surface with uneven edges. Because it is so flat it should be placed in small stacks to give it height. To create a simple edging with flagstone, take small stacks of the stone and place them side-by-side around a garden bed.

Diagonal Brick -- This landscaping idea gives a beautiful old-world look to landscapes. You can create the diagonal brick look by building a small trench around a select garden bed (minding plant roots, of course). Then, set your bricks in the trench so that they are laying on top of each other at a diagonal angle. Fill the trench back up so that most of each brick is covered. When you are done it should look like there are little pyramids of brick sticking out of the ground in a row.

You can create garden edging on your own or you can consult with a residential landscape designer who can create edging designs for you. However, creating your own beautiful edging only requires that you have an eye for detail, a steady hand, and a few materials. You can literally edge with anything that inspires you (sea shells, old bottles, etc.), but some traditional garden edging materials include wood, metal, brick, stone, cement, plastic, and aluminum. You can find pre-made edging materials at your local home improvement store that can easily be put together. You can also buy brick or any variety of stone to create you edging. This is most common. Professional landscape designers typically create cement edges but you can also buy pre-cast cement or faux cement edges that are easy to put together.

Landscape Improvements - Flower Bed Edging Ideas

If your landscape needs a little sprucing up, but you're not ready for a complete redo, some minor improvements to your beds' edging can make a dramatic difference. While looking attractive, edging around your flower bed is also very practical. Edging keeps your lawn and flower garden separate, reducing the problem of grass invading into your flower bed.

There are several types of flower bed edging you should consider. Some of the options are listed below.

Dug or Drop-Down Edge

This is a somewhat difficult method that is more work to maintain. However, a trench edge or lowered flower bed is a naturally appealing design. If you already have a flower bed set up, try digging a several inch wide trench with a hand trowel around the current area. Patience is the key to success with this edge. When your done, the trench can be left empty or filled with pebbles or crushed shells.

Plastic Edge

Plastic borders are sold by the roll, and are often installed by driving the strips into the ground with small stakes. This is a useful tool if you want to separate your plants from crossing between the bed and the lawn, but don't want a large or noticeable border.

Natural Stone Edge

With the growing popularity of natural landscaping features, you can easily purchase very elegant stone to create a border with, including granite and flagstone. This asymmetrical and uneven border will complement both highly organized garden spaces, as well as more "wild" type flower beds. For the do-it-yourselfers, try to incorporate rocks from your own yard instead of purchasing natural edging.

When working with natural stone borders, you have a lot of freedom with the shape of the outline. In this case, simple is usually best. Complicated or winding borders are distracting and displeasing to the eye, so aim for wide sweeping lines.

Wood Edge

Attractive wood edging is simple to do, and the appropriate lumber can usually be purchased at your local hardware store. Make sure that if you choose a wood that is pressure treated it has been rated to be safe for soil contact. For a touch of classic suburban fashion, try isolating one small flower bed with white picket fence. Overusing this stark white border takes attention away from the landscape, but just a touch for accent is eye-catching and appealing.

Brick and Cast Stone Edge

These styles have decreased in popularity over the years for residential homes. Most people prefer more natural looking alternatives, but there are some pre-cast and brick borders available that are very attractive, durable and inexpensive.

Plant edging

The last type of edging that I will mention is often overlooked, and that is plant edging. Plant edging is easy to do and always a cause for positive compliments. Work with low growing flowers in simple, uniform shades of colour for thinner borders, or small shrubberies for larger borders.

Use Decorative Garden Edging to Set Your Garden Apart From the Landscape

There are many different types of gardens that people choose to grow. Some people choose to grow an herb garden, others choose to grow a vegetable garden, while still others choose to raise a garden full of beautiful flowers. Any of these types of arrangements can be made quite attractive with the addition of some decorative garden edging. This type of edging can be found in all types of materials and styles to make your particular garden an aesthetically pleasing spot.

For those who are interested in a rustic or natural look, there are all types of wood edging that can be used. This type of edging can be bought ready made or can be handmade. It can look like a small wooden fence with finials or it can be fashioned out of different heights of wooden logs. Another natural look is stone garden edging. This type of decorative garden edging can be found easily. Or, if the owner of the garden would like to give this type of edging their own creative touch, he or she can collect all sorts of stones from nature and place them accordingly.

Some garden owners will prefer decorative garden edging that is made out of metal. There are all different types of metals that can be used for this type of application. There are simple and quite fancy options. It all depends on what the particular person would like to choose. Metal lawn edging can also be created by a person with an artistic touch.

Brick edging is also a popular choice among the owners of gardens. If the owner has a brick home, then this can be a nice touch to tie in the garden with the home. Yet, brick can be used regardless of what the home is constructed of. All in all, it really comes down to what the owner of the garden would like to do to set his or her garden apart from the rest of the landscape. With all of the different choices of materials and styles of decorative garden edging that are available, all it should take is a little thought and the edging project can be made one that will be admired.

Basic Landscape Edging Options

A gardener should consider why he wants to begin installing edgings of physical landscape, before he actually does it. As it relates to installing, using and maintaining edgings, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Installation becomes less difficult if you chose the most suitable kind of landscape border to meet the needs and wants of a gardener, allowing him more time to take pleasure in his flower beds or yard.

Inground and aboveground are the two types of basic landscape edging options. Inground edging is seated flush within the ground and has little or no ornamental appeal. Aboveground edging however is firmly planted in the ground and has a decorative rim that peeps above earth's surface. The same groundwork is needed for installing aboveground edging as is for inground edging, but more manoeuvring during installation to get the component of the aboveground to sit in a manner that is pleasing. If a decorative effect is not desired by the gardener for his edging or lawn, then installation and time will be saved by selecting inground edging and also for later on when kits time to trim the plants, weeds or grass around the edging.

The material for landscape borders should also be considered by gardeners. Though masonry is appealing and durable, it is difficult to move if the person installing it is working alone. When choosing to install masonry features such as paver edging, it is better to get the assistance of a friend. Wood in comparison is easily manoeuvred as it is a lightweight, but it wears out with time even when it is properly cared for. Plastic however not just a lightweight but it is also cost effective, though it may not be so appealing aesthetically.

When installing a landscape edging, timing is crucial. Avoid the installation of any kind of yard edging right after heavy rains. Edging placed on very wet ground may move and shift while the soil is drying. Being his heavy, metal or stone lawn edging is not as affected by this shifting unlike other types. Dry soil is hard to work with and needs to be more loosen prior to putting up a landscape edging. Decide on landscape restraints that are lightweight or slightly wet the soil before starting the installation.

A clear border between one fraction of the yard and another is provided by landscape edging and it also complements plants. If the edging is warped or mislaid, then its effect becomes lessened. Tools such as levels should be utilised by gardeners an added set of eyes should be used in order to get a border that is just right.

General rules of safety should be observed by the person installing the landscape edging. Large jobs may become difficult and cause physical injury. Heavy materials used in shorter jobs may also cause physical injury. Utilising proper lifting procedures and back brace support and gloves does a lot to make sure the installation s completed with no hazards.

Landscape Edging: Choose The Most Appropriate!

Many times, the best home improvements are very simple and easy. It is not important always to spend thousands of dollars for home improvements on high-end outdoor lawn enhancing edging. A simple touch or brush up can definitely bring in considerable changes to your lawn and increase the overall feel. landscape edging is a quite easy way to make your garden look beautiful and appealing. Simply changes may add up immeasurable value to the lawn and attract everyone instantly. It is a kind of implementing changes by relative standards to increase the overall appearance of your lawn.

A planned design and edge lying can bring in all the essential difference between an attractive edging and an ordinary looking garden. For making it really nice, you have to level it on a recommended limit and lay down a piece of edging under supervision.

Choose from a wide range of different types of edging:

Landscape edging Materials:
In order to get the desired lawn, you need to choose the right material for your landscape edging. Look into advantages and disadvantages of several choices.

Wood edging:
Wood edging is a kind of very exotic landscape edging material. It adds a timeless look to your garden. It generally doesn’t cost you much as well.

Brick, Stone, and Concrete edging:
Brick, stone, and concrete edging are the best choice for everyone who appreciates the look of brick or stone.

Metal edging:
These edging materials are strong and durable. These can be easily transformed into decorative features to get that interesting feel that you desire.

Colorful Landscaping Ideas - Using More Than Just Flowers in Your Landscape Design

When designing a garden or landscape, it's important to maintain a balanced color palette. Just as you wouldn't want an entire house decorated in blue and yellow, nor would you want an entire garden of only blue and yellow flowers. For this reason, we try to design our gardens and landscapes with a variety of colors that complement each other. The most obvious sources of color in a yard come from plants and flowers; however, color in your garden can come from many other sources. When planning your garden design, don't underestimate how other materials can impact the overall look of your landscape.

First and foremost, consider the type of garden edging or landscape border that you'll use in and around your planting beds. The possible material choices are endless. A few of the more common borders used are pavers, black plastic edging, landscape timbers, and brick or stone edgers. Because edging varies so much in color and texture, your choice will have a big impact on the overall look of your landscape. You might also want to consider mixing a couple different types of edging materials to achieve an eclectic look with even more color.

Mulch or groundcover is another easy way to add color and dimension to your garden. Materials range from bark and wood chips to gravel and stone, with many other alternatives in between. Colors of these materials vary widely; it's possible to find groundcover in almost any hue of the rainbow, as well as many colors that aren't in the rainbow!

When planning your landscape design, don't forget to include garden structures such as trellises, arbors, furniture, and more. Garden structures not only add color to your yard, but they also serve as an architectural element that can be used as a focal point in the garden, creating visual interest.

Trellises are probably one of the least expensive garden structures that can still provide a big visual punch. A garden trellis serves as a support structure for climbing plants and flowers, allowing them to grow upward instead of outward, and literally bringing your garden to new heights. Arbors and pergolas are the next step up in size and expense, but they also add a lot more height to your yard and can also provide shade, a place to sit and rest, or even a gated entrance into a back or side yard. Arbors, pergolas, and trellises are all available in a wide variety of materials and colors. If you want to color match the structure to your home, then you'll probably want to choose wood that can be painted. For something that doesn't require as much ongoing maintenance, consider a durable PVC vinyl that won't require painting or staining. Just make sure the plastic has been treated with a UV inhibitor so the color doesn't fade or change as exposed to sunlight.

Colorful outdoor furniture can compliment your design and improve the functionality of your outdoor space. Consider a well-placed bench in the middle of your garden, or even a pair of chairs and a table, nestled in a bed of daisies in the spring. Smaller pieces of outdoor furniture can be a good investment because they can easily be moved around and rearranged as desired. Like arbors, pergolas, and trellises, garden furniture also comes in a variety of materials and color choices. If you're really picky about the specific color you want, opt for wood that can be painted. Otherwise, a rust free metal like aluminum or a UV protected vinyl will offer lower maintenance options that are still available in many hues.

As you create your landscape design, remember that plants and flowers are not the only way to add color and visual interest to your yard. By thinking outside the box and incorporating other garden elements like some of those we've discussed, you can create a garden that's not only colorful, but also as individual and unique as you are.

Decorative Landscape Edging Ideas

Most landscape edging is designed to serve a useful and practical purpose, such as banishing that pesky lawn grass from your landscape beds. But another very important function served by landscape edging is primarily aesthetic. Decorative landscape edging plays a vital role in the enjoyment of your garden, and adds value to your property as well. Decorative edging can provide many of the same benefits as the more mundane variety, but it does its job with a lot more style and grace.

Cast-Iron Edging

Gardeners both great and humble from all over the world have known the secrets of using cast iron edging for many centuries. In the modern world, it lends your garden a touch of Old-World charm and authenticity, and revisits the days when blacksmiths produced cast iron fences in coal-fired foundries.

Once powder coated, cast iron is beautiful, strong and durable. It is capable of lasting a lifetime. In fact, it might even last longer than you will! There are so many beautiful and interesting cast-iron styles to choose from. Take a look at Canterbury-style overlapping peak designs from the Victorian era, or check out the modern elegance of an Art Deco design.

Cast-iron edging can usually be assembled as a series of individual sections. You simply press them into the ground, since they are constructed with spiked support posts that are easily pressed or pounded into place. It's hard to think of any other kind of landscape edging that can provide so much elegance and authority with so little effort.

Willow Branches

Natural willow branches for garden edging are used widely in European gardens. It's an ideal choice for those folks wishing to re-create a garden border that recalls the style and charm of the authentic willow fences found in English gardens. Willow is a beautiful and graceful material that provides excellent border definition - whether it's lining the walkway or accenting a bed of flowers. Being a natural wood, it also blends effortlessly into the design of your garden.

Garden Flowers

One of the simplest garden edging ideas, often overlooked, is to use beautiful dwarf flowers and plants to form living landscape edging. Is there anything more natural than seeing mounds of flowering Rocky Mountain Zinnia or Alyssum encircling your landscape beds? Other good varieties of flowers to use for edging include: Candy Tuft, Catspaw, Artemisia, or Veronica. Really, it's possible to use any dwarf species that grows in mounds.

The Benefits of Concrete Landscape Edging

Sometimes your garden just won't stay where it's supposed to stay. And sometimes the grass on one's lawn is being quite pesky no matter how you try to hold it back. Believe me, I know all about this. It was my life until I realized that there was already a solution to stubborn plant movement and I found that in my discovery of concrete landscape edging for yards. This is so simple and profound a technique that I can not believe I didn't learn of it sooner but I'm so happy that I did.

Landscape edging helps to keep your lawn looking nice and neat. Another thing about concrete landscape edging is that it serves a dual purpose: it also styles up your yard if done well and artistically. Most people think of concrete as a soulless, drab hardened mixture, but this is not necessarily so. In the hands of a deft landscaper, concrete can be transformed into very beautiful and subtle patterns - all the while keeping a stern hand of discipline on the flora.

Grass and shrubs will never stray from inside of the borders you choose for them anymore. The concrete will make sure of that! I also suggest you either learn how to do this well or hire someone who is good at it already. Not everyone can just pour this stuff into a beautiful edge; it could be disastrous and embarrassing. With a little knowledge you will surely come to have the nicest yard on your block.

Finish Off Your Landscape With Elegant Brick Edging

A few years ago, my dad got tired of the mis-matched rocks and broken bricks that my mom used to line the flower beds around our house. So he and I went to a local home improvement store and bought about a dozen scalloped brick edgers for her to use instead. We brought them home, and then went off again on another errand.

When we returned, my mom had already put the brick edgers in place the way she wanted them. Because there weren't enough of the edgers to stretch to all the flowerbeds, she'd interspersed the edgers with those same old broken bricks and rocks. So it rather spoiled the effect. My dad just threw up his hands and gave up. There's no doubt about it, when it comes to designing landscaping my mother does not have any taste. But if you ask her about it she'll say that she likes the way everything looks.

There's not much point to that story, except to say that either you have good taste or you don't, and if you don't have good taste hopefully you're self-aware enough to know it, and hire someone else to do your designing!

What makes good taste? Well, it's not necessarily a liking for wood over metal, or metal over plastic. All that is a matter of personal taste and is not necessarily bad or good. But if you're going to have a series of bookcases in your home, for example, they should be all the same design - all wood, all metal, all plastic - so that they match and don't detract from the eye. That's the key to good taste.

If you do have an eye for design, then you'll probably find that your landscaping can be set off quite elegantly with the addition of brick patio stones, paving stones and landscape edgers. As with any other landscaping accessory, these bricks come in a vast variety of colors and designs, so that you're sure to find something you like. Only please, buy enough so that you can use them on every project, and if you run out - go back to the store and get more! Don't ruin the effect by adding broken brick and rocks...it just doesn't work.

Use brick to line your flower beds, build up retaining walls, or make pathways.

Add a patio

If you'd like to add a brick patio to your backyard, it's quite easy to do, but you do have to give it some thought. Take some time to ensure that the ground where you want to place the patio is level - otherwise some of the bricks might settle and others will rise and give the patio an unfinished look. Also if live in an area with frequent frost or snow, where the ground has a tendency to heave up, you'll have to take that into consideration. Consult with your local home improvement store professional to learn the best ways of building your patio. As for the design of the bricks, you can get plain brick and place them in rows, or alternate them vertically and horizontally, or do a sort of basket weave. The design is pretty much up to you. However, check your local building or neighborhood codes to make sure they don't have any say over whether or not you can add a simple patio.

As with any landscaping feature, design what you want on paper first, before you go out and purchase the material. Then, go out and buy your material, pick up a couple of pairs of sturdy gloves to protect your hands, and get to work!

Landscape Edging - Choose the Most Appropriate!

Many times, the best home improvements are very simple and easy. It is not important always to spend thousands of dollars for home improvements on high-end outdoor lawn enhancing edging. A simple touch or brush up can definitely bring in considerable changes to your lawn and increase the overall feel. landscape edging is a quite easy way to make your garden look beautiful and appealing. Simply changes may add up immeasurable value to the lawn and attract everyone instantly. It is a kind of implementing changes by relative standards to increase the overall appearance of your lawn.

A planned design and edge lying can bring in all the essential difference between an attractive edging and an ordinary looking garden. For making it really nice, you have to level it on a recommended limit and lay down a piece of edging under supervision.

Choose from a wide range of different types of edging:

Landscape Edging Materials:

In order to get the desired lawn, you need to choose the right material for your landscape edging. Look into advantages and disadvantages of several choices.

Wood Edging:

Wood Edging is a kind of very exotic landscape edging material . It adds a timeless look to your garden. It generally doesn't cost you much as well.

Brick, Stone, and Concrete Edging:

Brick, stone, and concrete Edging are the best choice for everyone who appreciates the look of brick or stone.

Metal Edging:

These edging materials are strong and durable. These can be easily transformed into decorative features to get that interesting feel that you desire.

Landscape Edging Adds to Your Landscapes Ease of Maintenance and Beauty

Landscape edging is a part of the landscape design. Landscape edging increases the perception of the landscape that has been created. Landscape edging for car parking curbs, mower edges, and playground edging are the usual landscape designs. These are generally made to give a definite shape to the man-made landscape constructions.

Flashy colors draw attention to the landscape edging while the option of comforting colors are pleasant to the eye instead of being a focal point. Take care while choosing the right landscape edging colors. The texture of the edging is also given a special attention. Coarse, medium or fine could be used to describe texture but so could smooth, rough, glossy or dull.

Landscape edgings like Metal edging, Plastic edging, bricks, pavers, railroad ties, wood and wood timbers are the generally used materials for landscape edging. A custom-fit, seamless concrete border for landscaping, trees and flowerbeds gives an outline to the landscape and makes it eye-catching. But before installing material one should keep in mind few things like flexibility, longevity, faster and easier installation. Concrete outlasts metal, wood and plastic and also allows for curves and contours to fit the demands of modern landscaping designs.

Landscape edging gives a definite lining to the landscape design. As line is related to the eye, movement or flow, the concept and creation of line depends upon the purpose of the design and existing patterns. In the overall landscape, line is inferred by bed arrangement and the way these beds fit or flow together by landscape edging. These lines are smooth, graceful or gentle and create a relaxing, progressive, moving and natural feeling. The form of the landscape is also defined by landscape edging. As form is discussed in terms of individual plant growth habits or in planting arrangement in a landscape, landscape edging arranges the plants in the landscape. The scale or the size of the landscape edging in relation to the surroundings refers to definite measurements.

Landscape edging also involves visual observation toward a landscape at the vanishing point between radial or approaching lines. landscape edging could also be used to direct traffic in a garden area. Guidance of a view toward commercial, aesthetic or cultural value may attract the eye of the unaware without conscious effort.

The aesthetic value of landscape edging is also very high. The quality of the material can be anything but if the relation is maintained with the theme of the landscape, an artistic appeal is formed. The materials can be based on the pathways, plants or the other things that it edges. For example, clay edging can be perfect with the brick pathway and wood edging can go with the water bodies.

Landscape edging gives the finishing touch to the landscape design. It defines the main bodies that make a landscape. Before designing the landscape one must plan the edging as well. It is also one of the important elements of the art in landscape designing.

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

Oftentimes homeowners try to find ways to give their home that something special which will make it stand out from the rest. There is a desire to do something different and unique. One of the items that is versatile enough to allow for personal creativity while still giving that unique look is the use of brick landscape edging. There are many different types of edging. You can use it in many places. In fact, any place where there is a definitive border can then have brick as the edge. Flower beds, mailboxes, trees, sideways and driveways are just a few of the places where this trim can be used to finish the look of your home.

Brick can be found in more shapes than the rectangle you are probably familiar with. In addition, it now comes in different thicknesses as well as different colors other than traditional red. Because you now have so many more options you can use it in a variety of ways, each with their own special look. For instance, flower beds often look best when a tiered brick outline surrounds them. The brick is laid out and then an additional layer is placed on top at an offset line from the first tier. It looks very polished and professional.

Trees and sidewalks very often will look best with a single layer of brick trimming around them. Sometimes the brick will be mortared together, especially for the sidewalk. Since there is a good possibility that the trim will be hit, stepped on or kicked by mistake, mortaring the bricks together will keep them from falling out of line when touched. If they are left free standing, be prepared to always fixing them after they get hit or touched and fall off their line.

One of the places where brick landscape edging is very popular is up and down the driveway. Sometimes the brick is actually set down into the ground so it is even with the height of the driveway itself. This keeps people from tripping over it and gives it a nice look. To install this way though, is very taxing so you will need some time and patience if you plan on doing in yourself. Raised brick trim is used around driveways also but the chances of the brick being hit or moved is great so you will want to think about connecting the bricks either through mortar or other means available.

Show Off Your Style With Creative Landscape Edging

The landscaping in your yard may be very important to you. Why is it that people do landscaping in their yard anyway? The main reason of course is to enhance the appearance of their yard as well as their home. They want it to not only appear beautiful to them, but to anyone passing by or coming to visit as well. The sad thing about it is if there is not some sort of creative landscape edging around your hard work, it usually will not stand out enough to grab people's attention. There needs to be some kind of divider between the where the yard ends and the landscaping begins. This is the only way to achieve a completely finished and maintained appearance.

There are many different styles of landscaping borders available. They come in a wide variety of materials and colors. You can choose from just about any color of brick and stone that you can imagine. It should be very easy to find something that will go with the exterior color of your home. It is often times more appealing to use a color of landscaping border that varies slightly, yet still complements the color of your home. For example, if you have a red brick home, you may not want to match the color of the landscaping border exactly to that color. Your best bet will be to find a color that either has a bit of that color in it or is in of the same hue but not exact.

There are a great many different ways that creative landscaping border can be implemented. It can be placed in a way that will be easily moved later. This is a great option if you are a constant gardener whom is always changing things around because you like to try new things. These are typically the types of border that you can find at most home improvement and gardening centers. You can also opt for a more permanent setting. If you are pretty sure that you will not be changing the layout of your landscape design for several years, there are companies that use a machine to lay a permanent concrete border. This type of border can also be done in an array of different shades and shapes.

Why You Should Choose Steel Landscape Edging

Are you looking into doing some landscaping renovations in your yard? There are many materials and options out there for you to choose from to add the finishing touches to your project. In this article I am going to discuss one of those options; steel landscape edging.

There are many reasons why you should choose this material over others for edging your gardens, flowerbeds, or any other areas. The biggest advantage of using the steel edging is the durability. There are five different strengths that you choose from with this material. However, if you are planning on using this border at your home, residential strength will be more than enough. The residential strength steel is strong enough to endure the routine maintenance associated with lawn care such as mowing the grass. Also, this steel will not become brittle and break in cold weather as many other edging products do. Another advantage of this product is that because of its strength and uniform weight, it will not shift with the movement of the ground. Many products become easily un-aligned when you take on other products but this steel edging will stand up to the test. This alone will save you money and time in the long run. With other products you would have to go back and basically redo the edging each time you enhanced your yard. But with this steel edging, you won't have to go through the hassles of doing all of that additional work.

Another major reason that you choose steel landscape edging over other products is the ease of installation. You can easily install this type of edging without having to consult landscaping companies or any other type of service. The way that installation works with this product is simple. Your edging has two sides; one that will face outward towards your yard (the one that will be seen) and one that face the inside of your garden or any other area that you are edging. The side that faces the inside of your garden has slits along its length at various points. All you must do to install this edging is place a stake that is provided into these slits and drive them into the ground where you wish for the edging to go. The stake system is especially designed to make the installation as easy as possible while providing you maximum strength in your edging.

Of course looks have a major influence on deciding which edging you will pick for your yard. Steel landscape edging provides you with a very sophisticated look throughout your yard. The edges are very sleek and straight and provide clean lines for the edge of your project. Overall, this product is perfect for providing the finishing touch to any of your landscape projects in your yard.

Landscape Edging Options

A landscape project requires some type of landscape edging. This helps to define the areas of landscaping, such as flower beds and helps to keep grass and weeds from growing into the flower bed. It also helps to keep mulch or other mediums inside the landscaping area. Landscape edging comes in many types and a person can choose based upon their needs and budget.

The simplest and cheapest method of landscape edging is to simple cut in the edge. This is done with a spade or edging tool. A person simply cuts along the edge of the landscape area to make a defined edge that cuts off the bed from the grass or other area. The main issue with this type of edging is that it must be periodically done to ensure it stays well defined. That is why many people choose to use some type of landscape edging material.

There are a variety of edging materials that a person can choose from. The main differences between each edging material is the cost and time to install. There is also the special considerations of each material type. Wood edging comes in an array of types. There are ready made pieces that are already shaped and cut to fit any bed type. Other pieces, like 2x4's, can also be used to make edging. The Wood should be treated so it is weather resistant and does not rot. Wood edging can take time to shape and secure together. Plastic edging is another inexpensive method.

There are many styles of plastic edging and it is easy to form around rounded beds. Plastic edging is usually easily snapped together. Metal edging can be expensive, but is what most professionals use. It is long lasting and can be used for round and straight edges, easily. metal edging usually comes with clips that are easy to use to secure each piece together. Stone edging is another costly edging material. Stones can be easily used for round or straight beds. They last even longer than metal edgings, though. The biggest issue with stone edging is that it allows for grass and weeds to grow between each piece.

Landscape edging adds a nice look to a landscape project. It helps to define and protect beds. edging helps to keep a crisp, clean looking bed. In some situations, like landscaping done near a pond, edging can help to prevent the erosion of the soil. There are edging choices for any budget and any type of project. Besides the cost it is also wise for a person to consider that some methods may take longer to install. Whatever method a person chooses they are sure to find that it adds definition to their landscaping project.

Landscape Edging - Defining Your Choices

Landscape edging adds beauty and value to any landscape. Whether you are a professional landscaper or a beginner tackling your own home project, edging adds the polished look to make your landscape stand out from the rest. There are a various ways to utilize borders and edging in your landscape. You can use them to define walkways or paths. Separate the yard from the patio or section off a piece of your property to create a rock garden.

There are various types of edging with their own different designs and constructed out of many different materials. Make sure you choose the landscape edging that is right for your project to ensure a satisfactory outcome. Are you thinking about constructing a raised garden? Raised gardens can be constructed quickly by using landscape borders. What about a sandbox for all the children in your family to enjoy for years to come? Sandboxes are another backyard addition that can be constructed easily using landscape borders.

Most borders or edging are made from wood, metal, brick or plastic. Wood borders could be railroad ties, natural bamboo or a simple 2 by 4. Brick borders come in many different shapes, sizes and designs. A scalloped brick edger is a popular choice. Natural stone borders add natural beauty to any project. Plastic or synthetic borders may be a durable choice for such as separating unruly grass and a patio. Grass that needs to be trimmed will be up against the edging and an edging that can withstand the torture of a weed eater would be a great choice.

Before starting a project of any kind you must determine what type of edging you need to use. If raised gardens are something you want to construct, keep in mind that all gardens need water and some edging may not be able to withstand continuous moisture. Wood is an economical choice for raised gardens but may erode after years of watering. Bricks or stone edging are a nice choice but could cost a little more.

Sandboxes are a child's joy and should be constructed with careful consideration of the little ones. Choosing to make a sandbox that is edged with some kind of concrete or brick edging may be a little dangerous for small child to be playing around. Landscape edging made of a soft wood or a synthetic plastic material may be best. Sandboxes in general are dry so moisture may not be such a concern.

With some simple planning your landscape will be a prized possession that will be enjoyed for years to come. Choosing the right landscape edging for your project will make all the difference in the world.

Professional Quality Concrete Landscape Edging - 5 Telltale Signs

As with any contractors, not all concrete landscape edging companies are alike. Since you can't "try before you buy", here are 5 telltale signs to guide your search for the right contractor.

1. Determine if the company is a "concrete contractor."

In the concrete landscape edging business, being a "concrete contractor" is a key indicator of the company's professional standing. This tells you the company holds the highest industry licensing and that they are insured.

Concrete contractors provide professionals for your concrete landscape edging that are covered under the company's own insurance. Less professional services do not provide this assurance, leaving your home owner's policy to cover any injured workers who are either not or improperly insured.

On the contrary, a concrete contractor takes full responsibility for their staff, alleviating that burden from you.

2. Initial and follow-up responsiveness.

If it takes a company more than a day to respond to your first phone call, there's a good chance things will go downhill from there. This is a general customer service principle, not just in the concrete landscape edging business.

Most often, the longer it takes a company to get back to you the first time, the longer -and longer - it will take them to get back to you with subsequent calls and requests. Responsiveness isn't just an important indicator of customer service, it tells you how serious the concrete landscape edging provider is about their business.

3. They do what they say they're going to do.

If the lights went out in your house, you'd called an electrician, hoping he'd be right over. If he showed up three weeks later -in the middle of dinner - would you still want to work with him?

The same idea follows in concrete landscape edging contractors. If you set up an initial survey of what you'd like to do, and they show up late--beware. Look for a service that not only shows up when they say they will, but shows up a few minutes early.

Chances are good your concrete landscape edging project will run smoothly and on time from there.

4. They don't use subcontractors.

Concrete landscape edging is a skill acquired in both specific training and practice. It is difficult to be sure that a subcontractor has the requisite expertise. Therefore, a concrete landscape edging service that uses only their own on-staff, factory-trained technicians provides a higher and more consistent level of quality.

5. Appearance

Without sounding too starched, it should be said that appearance does make a big difference. Compare the concrete landscape edging workers who show up with shirts untucked and unbuttoned with those who wear a neat and clean company version.

A company shirt is an outward mark of a professional attitude and work ethic. The person working for the company is more clear about the principles and values through which the company operates. For that matter, a company that puts some thought into appearance also makes a statement about how seriously they view their business.

Appearance may not be everything, but it definitely counts for a lot.

A strong beginning most often leads to a beautiful end. Look for photo samples of prior work. If you like what you see, use these five telltale signs to find a concrete landscape edging service worth their weight. Find a company that excels on all five, and you've found a winner.

Better Design with Landscape Edging

Nothing sets apart a yard better than incorporating landscape edging. It can be used as a defining element and also as an excellent way to draw the eye's attention to a focal point. Not only is it the perfect finishing touch, landscape edging also serves a practical use. It's it's one of the best ways of keeping grass and weeds from growing into your flower beds and it'll help keep the soil and mulch in your garden from washing away.

A Multitude of Landscape edging choices.

Next time you're out working in your garden, consider ways to take advantage of this easy way to add instant curb appeal to your home. Once you start shopping for landscape edging you'll quickly realize that it's available in a wide range of styles and prices. There are a number of natural and man-made materials to choose from including plastic, wood, metal, stone, cement and brick.

A common option is using stones and with so many stone colors and sizes available today, it's easy to mix and match them to create a landscape edging look that's truly unique.

Another excellent choice is Wood for landscape edging material. You can use railroad ties, pieces of timber or sections that are already made so all you need to do is measure and install. Since exposure to the elements is inevitable, consider choosing cedar, cypress or redwood as these woods are the most resistant to rot and insects.

If You want to achieve a look that's totally natural and seamless, why not choose colorful flowering plants or green shrubs? Take a trip to your local garden center to see the many options including those that have been especially designed for use as landscape edging.

An other option is metal landscape edging. It is both durable and versatile, but because of its ability to be molded into different shapes, the finished look can vary considerably. Your choices can include a pattern that's very simple or you can hire a professional to custom-create an elaborate filigree design.

With its many colors and shapes plastic is a practical and popular choice in landscape edging. It's generally less expensive than other materials and it's weather-resistant.

There are so many choices!

With the abundance of landscape edging options available, your biggest challenge will likely be choosing the one that's right for your yard. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can do what others do. Take a drive and see how your neighbors are using landscape edging.Take along your camera so that later on you'll be able to remember the designs that captured your attention.

Gardening 101 - Why Install a Landscape Edging?

Gardens and landscaping provide aesthetic value to your home. Placing different kinds of plants and flowers in front, around or even in your backyard give a refreshing and cozy feel to your house. Gardens take out the harshness and coldness associated with modern urbanity and instead bringing a splash of color to the surroundings. But many shy away from keeping a garden because they fear that they don't have time or the patience for maintaining it. But these problems can easily be solved because there are ways to make maintenance of gardens easier. Installing a landscape edging is one such move. Installing this accessory make it easier for owners to cultivate and enjoy their gardens.

A garden could be first fixed by a landscape artist but when the owner's left on his own for the garden's maintenance, problems arise. One of the difficulties associated with gardens is the problems with delineating spaces and grass. There are certain areas where grasses and plants grow out of place, and so they tend to cross over walk ways and other spaces in the garden. This problem can be solved by installing a landscape edging around areas in the garden where plants and grasses are concentrated and arranged. Landscape edgings can either be simple trenches or pieces of tile, brick, plaster or plastic embedded into the soil around the landscape arrangements. They help define the spaces in your garden.

Because landscape edgings help define and differentiate spaces in your garden, you can now take care of it with ease. Landscape edgings help you determine the areas where grasses and other weeds are not supposed to grow and you can now make moves to take control. There are edgings designed to conform to the edges of conventional lawn mowers. They are designed so that the mower can use them as "tracks" making it easy to mow hard to reach grasses near the edgings. They also ensure the health of your plants because edgings prevent the spread of weeds if placed around plant beds. If they are deep enough (in the case of trench-type edgings) or deeply embedded (in the case of tile or plaster edgings), the long roots of weeds called stolons cannot reach the soil in your plant bed. These stolons, if uncontrolled, would grow into new grass blades. Therefore, placing landscape edgings would spare you from the hassles of spraying herbicide often or worse, getting down on your knees and pulling them out.

Besides these benefits, landscape edgings also provide aesthetic value to your garden. Trenches could be otherwise plain, but choosing bricks, tile or even plastic edgings with different designs and shapes will give your garden a good aesthetic boost. There are many kinds available in the market and so you can surely find the one that's right for your budget and needs.