Edging – your gardens ultimate finishing touch
Peter at EverEdge looks at the different types of edging available to self-builders to give their new properties the finishing touch
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Good edging should either blend in or compli- ment a garden and steel edging now allows for a whole range of options to suit virtually any taste. Metal edging has been used for centuries in
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gardens right around the world. In some historic gardens, thick strips of cast iron can still be seen today fulfilling their function of maintain edges on lawns, flowerbeds, driveways and paths. Metal edging has moved on since those early days and can now be offered in a whole range of finishes. Steel remains the most popular metal option because of its durability and flexibility. In its raw, untreated form, steel will rust over a period of around five years. However, once gal- vanised the life expectancy of steel edging will rise past 15 years and it is not uncommon to see galvanised steel edging still functioning per- fectly well over 20 years after installation. Because of the inherent strength of steel,
edging can be made from a gauge thin enough to allow it to be formed to most shapes and
t is often the finishing touches to a property that make or break a design and landscape edging really is the ultimate finishing touch.
designs. Although still popular in more formal gardens, most private gardeners prefer more intricate and interesting shapes than the tradi- tional straight lines. The flexibility of steel means that clever designs can be employed to make a garden really stand out. By using steel edging, one can be safe in the knowledge that that the shapes will stand up to the rigour of everyday garden maintenance. Self-builders and homemakers are spending
increasingly more time, money and effort on the outside of their properties. It is all well and good having the perfect home but it needs to be surrounded by the perfect external space. While edging might be low on the list of initial concerns, a properly finished garden really can make or break the overall impression of a property. Steel edging is now available in a range of finishes and can, therefore, be used as more than just a functional tool. By far the majority of people will still use a
brown powder coated finish to subtly blend the edging into the landscape. However, more and more people are now using edging in a variety of colours to accentuate designs or to draw the
Self-builders and homemakers are spending increasingly more time, money and effort on the outside of their properties. It is all well and good having the perfect home but it needs to be surrounded by the perfect external space
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eye to certain features. A dark grey slate finish might work best against a stone path while a black edging might be used to give a heritage feel. Even an unpainted shiny silver finish might be used for a more contemporary feel. In recent years, a desire for a more rustic look
has become prevalent among high-end garden designers and this has now begun to filter down to private gardens. Steel can be offered in its raw form and allowed to rust naturally. While this does not give you the life expectancy of other options, it is a cost effective and simple way to achieve the desired effect. However, a material that was, until recently, little known outside of the manufacturing industry in now proving very popular in gardens around the world. Cor-Ten™ Steel is a unique brand of steel
which is designed to form a rusty patina but, unlike raw steel, will not break down or flake. Clever engineers have, over the years, developed this steel with a much higher copper content than regular steel. This extra copper prevents the outer layer of rust penetrating into the core of the steel meaning that a rustic look can be achieved
selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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