What Is Landscape Edging? | Defining Lawn Borders

Landscape edging is a border material or defined cut line separating lawn, beds, mulch, and walkways to create clean, finished landscape zones.

Landscape edging is the material or defined cut line that separates your lawn from garden beds, mulch, gravel, and walkways. It serves two main purposes—visual definition and material containment—and some products also work as a physical barrier against grass and weeds. The right edging turns a messy yard into one with crisp, intentional lines, whether you’re bordering a flower bed, a tree ring, or a gravel path.

What Does Landscape Edging Do?

Edging keeps different landscape zones from bleeding into each other. It stops grass from creeping into beds, holds mulch and gravel in place, and creates a neat, finished edge along walkways and driveways. Beyond function, it adds curb appeal by giving your landscape a deliberate, polished look.

Some edging is purely decorative, sitting above the soil to add visual interest. Other types are installed deeper and act as a true barrier, blocking roots and rhizomes from crossing into your beds. Knowing which job you need done matters—a decorative border won’t stop aggressive grass, and a buried barrier may be overkill for a simple visual line.

Edging Materials Compared

Your material choice comes down to budget, durability, the look you want, and how much abuse the edge will take from mowers and foot traffic. Here is how the common options stack up.

Metal edging, especially steel and aluminum, is favored for crisp lines and longevity. Aluminum is rust-proof and bends easily around curves, while steel is stronger but costs more. Plastic and recycled plastic are the budget-friendly pick—flexible and easy to install, though they typically don’t hold up as long as metal or stone. Brick, stone, and pavers deliver the best appearance and permanence, but they need to sit several inches into the ground to actually stop grass and root encroachment. Wood creates a natural look, and rot-resistant choices like cedar or redwood are worth the extra money.

How Much Does Landscape Edging Cost?

Materials run from about $0.50 to $15 per linear foot, and professional installation adds $1 to $15 per linear foot on top of that. A typical 100-linear-foot project lands between $150 and $3,000 total, depending on your material and whether you hire out the work. Basic plastic edging sits at the low end—$0.50 to $2 per linear foot for material and $1 to $3 per linear foot for installation—while stone and steel push the price up.

If you’re weighing options for your own yard, our tested roundup of the best edging for landscape beds breaks down which materials actually hold up.

How Is Landscape Edging Installed?

Start by defining the purpose: do you need a physical barrier, visual separation, or both? Then pick the material based on budget, durability, and how much mower and foot traffic it will face. Mark the layout with string for straight lines or a garden hose for curves, dig the trench, set the edging, and secure it with stakes if the product calls for them. Backfill so the edging sits flush or slightly above the adjacent surface, depending on the product’s design. Retailer guidance from Lowe’s highlights pre-cut sections and flexible coils as the easiest routes around beds, trees, and walkways.

The most common mistake is choosing a decorative border when the job needs a true barrier. Stone, brick, and blocks installed too shallowly look great but let grass and roots push through. Likewise, a thin plastic edge won’t stand up to mower contact or years of freeze-thaw cycles the way steel or concrete will. And if you’re bordering a paver patio, remember that landscape edging is not the same as paver edging—the latter is built to hold hardscape units firmly in place.