Best type of Borders?

Discussion in 'Garden Design' started by Pandookie, Jan 19, 2016.

  1. Pandookie

    Pandookie New Seed

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    I have many flower & herb gardens.. along fence, buildings and trees: what type of border works best for you? I've always found these metal one's quite durable, loving that they keep the grass from climbing in for the most part. But after a couple years due to rain & natural erosion I find I have to add dirt & "lift" them back up. I know pretty much everything naturally sinks but i'm wondering if stones or other material would be better suiting. Any idea's would be greatly appreciated 20140512_105421-1(1).jpg :)
     
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  3. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I used bricks for bordering beds in the backyard, mainly because every time I dug a hole I would hit bricks. I think the previous owner must have been a brick hoarder but they gave me enough bricks to border several beds.
    Out in the front garden I don't have any borders....there is also no grass in the front yard to keep out of the beds since the front is just one very large flower garden.
     
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  4. Pandookie

    Pandookie New Seed

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    Great way to utilize your 'buried treasure', I'd probably do to same if I found bricks in my yard. The only thing we find in the dirt here is a random bottle cap or pipes/wires (which we try to avoid). Sounds like a lovely front yard, having one big garden :flower:
     
  5. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    We've used big concrete driveway liners for most of our borders. If we lay them on their side we can drive the lawnmower around without worrying about it hitting something. They also sink and we have to raise them now and then. The front is one big border so no bed border there.
     



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  6. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Pandookie, I have been using a borderless border: making a cut around the bed, then sloping the soil away from the grass. It does take doing it twice during the growing season, however, so it is far from maintenance free. Lately I have begun using bricks to create a mowing strip. I will see how maintenance free they will be.
     
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  7. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

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    I am a brick hoarder! All of my flowerbeds are edged with them. First I bury a 6 inch rubber (plastic?) grass edger in, and on the bed side of it, I lay bricks where the top is ground level. That makes a nice mowing edge and is also nice looking. I have a small front yard and, if I had the energy to keep it maintained , it would all be a flower bed.
     
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  8. Pandookie

    Pandookie New Seed

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    I'm gonna have to check out those driveway liners, sounds do-able thanks!

    Ya' know, I see alot of my neighbors doing it that way & I wondered how the upkeep would pan out. I'm guessing it's like a "mini trench" & I do trench composting so it just might be up my alley. I think I might have to try it & see how it goes, thanks :)

    Sounds like a good technique! The only thing I worry about using bricks is having to readjust, like one always seems to stick out like a thorn & I catch it on the lawnmower wheel. But the way you describe the layout just might help.
    Also I find a short border does not prevent clippings from the beds. I always find myself going behind the weed eater to clean up the debris flown into my beds... sigh*
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 25, 2016
  9. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    I do what Cayuga does. Cut a sloping trench away from the flower bed. But I have not been to good a keeping it up in the past few years. So I have resorted to using vinegar to spray an edge around my flower beds. Looks crummy at first with the grass looking brown and dead. But then after time it is just bare ground showing. That is also a need to do every few weeks project also. But it is easier than digging or laying bricks.
     
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  10. Pandookie

    Pandookie New Seed

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    Hmm, vinegar is so useful but I never thought of using it this way, interesting thanks. I just worry if it would affect my cats on butterfly milkweed.. which are near some borders. But I will definitely try this in other areas of the yard :)
     
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  11. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Pandookie: It is a wonderful weed killer as well. But you need to spray it on only the weeds as it will kill the grass as well. If I find a bull thistle growing where I do not want it. I cut it off at ground level, and then give it a good soaking of vinegar several days in a row. They do not grow back. :D
    Just checked out wether vinegar is safe for kitties. It is. Actually you can put a small amount of Apple cider vinegar in a dog or cats water to help fight fleas. You can also mix reg. vinegar with water and use it as a flea spray on your cat or dogs coat. Just do not get it in their eyes. So you are good to go with the vinegar.
    I know that some organic gardeners use a stronger vinegar that you can order online. But reg. vinegar works good for me. I also have been spraying the grass that grows around my tree trunks so I do not have to get out the weed whacker. :like:
     
  12. Pandookie

    Pandookie New Seed

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    Lol, maybe I didn't make myself clear when I spoke of cats on my butterfly milkweed.. I meant caterpillars. Although I do have neighborhood cats that like to explore my gardens so the info still helps. Will have to try the vinegar solution on certain areas of the yard, thanks :)
     
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  13. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Ya you do not want to spray the caterpillars, as it is a good bug killer also. I spray it on the wasps that try and over take my upper deck. It sure is a versatile and cheap product.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2016

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