Landscape edging gives lawns a tidy, manicured look
By Kari Smith

It's gardening season - that wonderful time of year when people dash outdoors and spend hours creating the exquisite flowerbeds they dreamed about all winter.

Their lovely landscape dreams can turn into nightmares if unwanted plants invade their flowerbeds. The easiest solution to this common dilemma is a solid, functional edge.

Edging reduces the time and effort needed for landscape maintenance by defining boundaries between the lawn and planting areas and keeping creeping grass, groundcover and weeds at bay. Edging also holds mulch in place, which reduces evaporation and helps conserve water.

Today's gardener can choose from a wide selection of edging products. From concrete to plastic, there is a border for every taste and budget. Some edging styles have notable drawbacks. Wooden edging can be bulky to transport and tends to rot over time. The sharp edges of metal can be especially hazardous when rusted.

Fiber Edge is a unique lightweight border made from flexible fiberglass. The product received the U.S. National Home Gardening Club's coveted Seal of Approval. Club testers gave this edging a 95% approval rating based on ease of use, performance, durability and appearance.

Ultra-Edge, another lightweight flexible border, gives gardeners an earthfriendly edging option. It looks like wood but is actually made from recycled plastic. Both of these borders are guaranteed not to rust, rot, crack or fade. More information is available online at www.easygardener.com or toll-free at 1-800-327-9462.

Practicality isn't the only reason to use a functional border around landscape beds. Edging also adds aesthetic value. It gives lawns a tidy, manicured look.

Edging showcases landscape beds like frames highlight great works of art. Gardeners can create fussfree masterpieces in their lawns by pairing gorgeous gardens with functional frames.

Kari Smith is a garden lover and freelance writer.

- News Canada