Edging Part 1: Trenched Edging Products

Landscape edging provides a crisp delineation between lawn and bed areas, but it is also frequently used to contain gravel pathways and patios. There are a variety of materials that can be used for edging, and each has a distinct style and functionality. The final choice often comes down to lifestyle factors, and Pacific Garden Design has experience installing all type of edging in its landscaping projects. Here’s a quick rundown of three major edging choices that are all installed by digging a trench, anchoring the edging, and backfilling.

“Poly” Edging

The old standby that most people will be familiar with is black polyethylene (often abbreviated to “poly”) plastic edging. It’s a very cost-effective solution and is fairly easy to DIY, so it’s become the most common choice for landscape edging. Poly edging’s flexible nature makes it easy to form flowing, organic shapes across rolling terrain, and its position can be shifted if a bed is moved in the future. Once it is installed, black poly edging becomes barely noticeable, receding from view to blend with the landscape.

Poly edging is a cost-effective and popular choice for landscaping.

The major drawback for poly edging, however, is its longevity. Because it is plastic, poly edging can degrade and become brittle with months and years of UV exposure. It requires special care when mowing or line trimming around the edging so as not to damage the material, especially the hollow tube that forms the top. It’s flexibility is a drawback when edging gravel paths and patios, as it is often too weak to effectively contain the rock. And while poly edging is well-suited to flowing curves, it doesn’t lend itself to straight lines and geometric layouts.

Metal Edging

Metal edging is similar to poly edging in its installation, but it is a much more durable product. Steel edging products are available, but for the best lifespan opt for aluminum, which won’t rust like steel. Metal edging is thin enough to virtually disappear in the landscape while still providing excellent definition between planting beds and lawn.

Steel edging is certainly more expensive than plastic, though, with an additional premium for aluminum, and that extra cost can be a deciding factor in many landscaping projects. While it can be used for geometric or curvilinear shapes equally well, it is unsuitable for hilly sites, as it is not flexible in the vertical direction. Finally, metal edging’s thin profile usually means that a pass with the string trimmer to clean up the perimeter is necessary after mowing the lawn.

Composite Edging

Composite bender-board edging strikes a balance between poly and metal edging in both price and functionality. Since it is a solid piece of material, it is more resistant to damage than poly edging, although it still suffers from UV degradation. It can be used for straight runs or curves, though it is not good for hilly sites. Composite edging is thicker than metal, but is available in a variety of colors that will blend into the landscape. That extra bulk is helpful when edging gravel paths and patios, however, as composite bender-board is rigid enough to contain the heavy gravel. And like poly and metal edging, it can be moved if the landscape is altered in the future.

Composite edging performs well around gravel paths and patios.

The next post will cover a few more edging options that are different than those listed above. If you’re considering a landscape makeover, get in touch with us at Pacific Garden Design talk about your options

Fire Pits: Choosing the Right Fuel Type

Fire pits are a fantastic, multi-use landscape feature. They create a natural gathering spot for evening entertaining as people flock to enjoy the light and warmth of the flames. When well-situated, they also provide a stunning focal point from other areas of the yard and even indoors. While there are endless variations in style and design for an outdoor fire pit, there are generally only four fuel choices, each with its own benefits and drawbacks: wood, natural gas, propane, and ethanol.

Wood fires are the classic, and for good reason. They can put out a lot of heat, which can make the difference between enjoying your landscape or staying indoors on chilly evenings. Wood fire pits can be located virtually anywhere, with no need to run supply pipes or electricity to the unit. Wood is easy to source, and nothing can match the crackling pops and smoky scent of a real wood fire.

Those same classic features, however, are also the biggest downsides of a wood fire. Anyone who has spent an evening outside around a fire has probably also spent that evening constantly moving to avoid a face full of smoke. Meanwhile, the sparks and embers from the fire can be extremely dangerous in the right conditions. Not only is it irresponsible to have a wood fire during the hot, dry summers we often get in Spokane and Coeur D’Alene, but it is also illegal if a county-wide burn ban is in place. These often last from the summer into the early fall, which also happens to be some of the best time to actually enjoy your fire pit.

A natural gas fire pit can be a focal point even when you're not enjoying its warmth.

Natural gas and propane fire pits provide a much safer alternative to wood fires while maintaining much of the positive qualities. Both fuels burn cleanly and the fire is easy to start, utilizing either a match-throw system (turn on the flow of gas and ignite with a lit match) or fully -automatic electronic ignition. With the right hardware, you can even sit inside and turn on the fire pit with a remote control. Gas fire pits can’t quite match wood fire for heat, but a sufficiently high Btu burner can come pretty close.

The biggest challenge with gas fire pits is the infrastructure involved. Although it’s possible to integrate a portable propane tank into the design of the fire pit, generally gas itself has to be piped to the unit, and many electronic ignition systems must be hard-wired as well. The costs can add up quickly to make a gas fire pit a surprisingly costly project. And unlike wood, which is a quickly renewable fuel source, both natural gas and propane are non-renewable fossil fuels, for which the price is always trending up.

Ethanol fire pits offer a compromise between wood and gas. Like a wood-burning fire pit, ethanol fire pits are self-contained units which can be located anywhere without running utilities. Like a gas-burning fire pit, ethanol burns cleanly without smoke. It burns cleaner than gas, in fact, producing only water vapor and carbon dioxide, which can allow for their use indoors as well as out. Ethanol is also a plant-based, renewable fuel. So what’s the downfall? Ethanol simply can’t compete with other fuel sources on heat output. And since the fuel isn’t pressurized like gas, the flames can’t stand up to a stiff breeze. Ethanol fires can be beautiful and provide great ambiance, but they won’t do much to keep you warm on a chilly night.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for fire pits, but at Pacific Garden Design, we have designed and installed a wide variety over the years. If you’re considering a fire pit for your backyard landscape, get in touch with us to discuss the possibilities.