A Low Cost Border Edging

steve howe

 I have a number of paths where some kind of semi-formal edge is required to both define the 'gardened' areas and make maintenance as easy as possible. Looking at the commercially available products, the cost of edging a couple of hundred metres of path and borders quickly made me realise a more pragmatic solution was needed. With  the straight paths I use 4" x 1" timber from our local sawmill , secured by 2" stakes, however there are many areas where  sweeping curves are needed and timber is not easy to bend, even when sawcuts across the boards are made. 

Looking for something else at our local builder's merchants, I spotted a rack of UPVC facia sections, these ranged from thin strips to wide boards and I took a few strips away to experiment with. The experiment illustrated below is looking promising and I am hoping it may prove a cost-effective solution.

UPVC strip 100mm x 9mm obtained in 5m lengths is painted matt black with Zinsser Allcoat exterior paint. This is specially formulated for plastic and is extremely tough.

The sections are easily joined by cutting a short length of strip and attaching to the rear with self-tapping screws

The patch is left white here for clarity. The edging strip is let into a slot cut with a spade. Ramming the soil back from the rear under the strip seems to hold it firmly without additional pegs.

The edging strip in place. Whilst this material won't stand up to being clobbered by a lawnmower, if the edge is set just below turf level to escape contact, it is very durable. The strip is very flexible. down to about 3' radius, but resilient to kinks and is very useful for setting out shapes and free-flowing curves.

Cost: from our local independent building merchant, around £12.50 for a 5 metre length  of 100mm x 9mm,

Zinsser Allcoat paint (from Trade decorator outlets) about £15.00 per litre, applied by roller it goes a long way.

A bit cheaper than Everedge!

Steve

Cornwall

plant pauper

Brilliant idea. Let us know how it stands up to everyday life.

Many moons ago we did the treated boards with pegs thing and in order to get the curves we hung them over the guinea pig hutch with block paviors on both ends. 

Necessity is the mother of invention and all that!

steve howe

Continuing the experiment with plastic fascia board, this is a more ambitious project to edge a path bordering a pond that was in danger of becoming waterlogged. 


One strip of 150mm plastic was fixed in place with 50 x 50 tantalised stakes and the second strip (for added strength) was screwed to the outer face. 



Mypex was pinned over the soft ground and about 150mm of coarse aggregate spread on top for drainage.  The aggregate has been left low so that a more decorative gravel can be spread on top. The original plan was to lay another sheet of Mypex followed by a thin layer of soil and grass, but the path floods regularly in Winter so we decided to stay with gravel.



This of course means there is a void between the two fascias which is asking to be planted with something - but what? it has to be a low growing spreading thing, I don't mind if it creeps onto the gravel,  that likes moisture and can survive occasional drownings, I have thought about Lysmachia nummularia (creeping Jenny) or possibly Bugle. Or maybe Helxine soleirolii (Mind your own Business) but if that escapes it can be a right PITA to control.  Any thoughts anyone?

plant pauper

Mazus reptans. Comes in blue and white. 

JoeX

I’m looking for my first border edging and I’m out off by the high prices, but this solution seems to be a bit more expensive than some available “out of the box”, such as galvanised metal:
https://www.primrose.co.uk/10m-galvanised-lawn-edging-roll-wavy-h165cm-p-100909.html?cPath=66_11941

Nollie

Very inventive and impressive Steve, can I fly you over to Spain th sort out my border edging? 

steve howe

Tin pot said:

I’m looking for my first border edging and I’m out off by the high prices, but this solution seems to be a bit more expensive than some available “out of the box”, such as galvanised metal:
https://www.primrose.co.uk/10m-galvanised-lawn-edging-roll-wavy-h165cm-p-100909.html?cPath=66_11941

My Dad used this stuff years ago, I didn't know it was still made! its OK and does the job but you have to be quite precise in cutting your shapes because it is VERY flexible and does not have the 'spring' of the plastic to give nice flowing shapes. Also it needs pegs to hold it in place, 9" aluminium tent pegs from camping shops do the job quite well  
Steve

Blue Onion

Brilliant.  I am looking for something as a mow-over along between my grass and the rocks along the patio.  Do you think it would work if it was layer down flat on the dirt?  The wheels of the push mower would go along side it, not actually in it.  It would be held down by the edges of large fieldstone.