Not Plastic Edging: The Eco-Friendly Alternative That'll Add A Tropical Touch

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Garden edging is an outdoor feature that can truly help to elevate the appearance of your property. It does this by clearly marking the border between yard and garden bed, keeping weeds and grass at bay, and lending a completed vibe to the area. But if you're passionate not only about the appearance of your yard but also the environment, it might be time to ditch plastic edging. A more eco-friendly alternative — bamboo — could be a garden edging idea that makes for perfect landscaping.

While plastic edging is easy and cheap to install, it also comes with a laundry list of downsides — chief among them being that it will inevitably discolor in the sun and wind up in the trash. Bamboo, on the other hand, is all-natural and biodegrades at the end of its lifespan, which can be five to 10 years. Unlike plastic edging, which can look synthetic and somewhat jarring in a natural setting like a garden, bamboo edging maintains the visual appeal of the great outdoors while giving your garden a tropical edge. Beyond simply using bamboo edging around garden beds, you can also embrace it as a driveway border material or use it to mark the walkway to your front door. When installed so as to flank pavers or a brick path, it can give serious resort vibes.

Before installing your bamboo edging, you'll have to decide if you want large-diameter bamboo pieces or narrower bamboo poles. The former will have a more luxurious, resort-like effect, but they are also likely to be pricier. You can make your own bamboo edging by cutting bamboo to your desired height, then lashing each piece together with hemp cord for an eco-friendly and durable end product (tutorials for the lashing process abound online).

If taking the DIY route seems too involved, you can also purchase pre-made bamboo edging from Amazon. This Jollybower Bamboo Edging product ($38.99) measures 39 inches long by 8 inches high and is ready to install, and has high ratings. You can find bamboo edging with a uniform height across the entire length, or opt for staggered heights for a livelier, more tropical look reminiscent of bamboo growing in the wild.

Whether you purchase pre-made edging or craft your own, it's important to avoid common edging installation mistakes. Begin by clearing the areas where you're installing the edging, removing grass, weeds, rocks, mulch, or anything else that may get in your way. When placed in the dirt, bamboo will be exposed to conditions that are hard on its structural integrity. That's why it's imperative to keep the bamboo above the moist soil. A good option for securely anchoring it is to use metal landscaping stakes threaded through or behind the hollow bamboo poles and hammered into the ground. Use one stake every 1 to 2 feet along the edging to keep things stable, hammering the stake deep enough into the ground for a strong hold. Once your edging is installed, you can stand back and admire the new, eco-friendly borders on your property.