At the edge of the garden

February 21, 6:01 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

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AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Brent Johnston 

 At the edge of the garden, there is a border. It can be short or tall. In England, a walled garden is a treasure. In the United States, an open look is more common. Our gardens have short borders. The undated photo shown above is from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Their 91st annual orchid show in St. Louis titled "Henry's Garden," is open through March 15, 2009. What a beautiful border on the display garden.

I'm planning projects for the warmer weather to come. One item on my to-do list is adding a border to the vegetable garden.

I like borders. They look purposeful and planned. They help keep the lawn out of the garden. I usually use salvaged bricks for borders. Bricks have the added advantage of providing a hard surface for the wheels on the lawn mower. Other materials make a good-looking edging.

You might save some money if you re-use existing material rather than buy new. You might save some aggravation if you install heavy material that will last for many years. You might want material that will stand up to wear and abuse if you have foot traffic through your yard, two- or four-footed.

Picking the right material helps the garden complement the structural material of your house and its setting. A border of light colored pavers carefully stacked is rather formal and looks at ease with traditional houses made of brick, stone, and clapboards. A border of bright, new, red bricks might clash with weathered shakes.

The style of your house (formal, country, mid-century modern, prairie) can help you decide on the edging material. The same way that a symmetrical garden layout goes well with a formal home, cobblestone, cast iron, or brick borders look right with a Tudor structure. Wide cast-cement pavers match the mood of many mid-century ranch style homes.

The edging can be different in the front and back gardens. If the entire yard is visible from the street, you may want the same material.

Cover photo from DK Publishers
Dorling Kindersley Books
ISBN-10: 0789493195
ISBN-13: 978-0789493194

 In The Complete Gardener, noted plantsman Monty Don writes, "Using reclaimed and local materials has the obvious advantage or reusing existing resources and reducing travel but it also maintains the connection to local identity and place, connecting the garden to its surroundings."

Perhaps, this is a tradition and viewpoint more at home in Don's England, but I believe it should have a place in our thinking about starting, maintaining, and expanding our gardens.

What edging material can be sourced from recycled material? I saw an unusual low fencing/border made from old grates. The effect was whimsical but very substantial. It would be expensive to implement this idea unless you had a supply or ready access to metal grates. And that may be the best solution in deciding what to use. What do you have or what can you get for a reasonable cost? Keep your eyes and mind open. 

What do you see that someone else is throwing out? In some towns, people put things at the curb that they want to get rid of. Turn on your creative mind when you are out walking or driving and see castoffs. Mention to your friends and family that you are thinking about adding or changing the edging material and you are looking for ideas that match the style of your house. Watch for news about buildings coming down, and call the owner or contractor to see if they are willing to sell (or give) you any of the material. Visit your local re-use or re-sale shops to see what they are offering.

Some edging material ideas 

• Untreated lumber boards
• Appropriately sized rocks
• Salvaged bricks, pavers, or cobblestones
• Pieces of architectural salvage
• Circles/disks of cut timber set on edge
• Short dry-stack of broken concrete or stone
• Slate or terra cotta roofing tiles
• Old edging material that is still functional

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