Steel and aluminium lawn and landscape edgings have come a long way since the days when timber, concrete and even terracotta were the garden edgings of choice. Having the right material, the correct height and even the right choice of fixing can make a huge difference to the result.
So, to keep this simple, there are certain critical points to think about, starting with the appearance of the finished result – how much can you see of it in the finished project, and then how much and what type of traffic will the edging be subject to?
To allow for these two important points, you then have five main elements to consider, these being:
- Height dimension – Usually between 2.0mm and 6.0mm
- Finishes – What appearance are you looking for?
- Material – Steel (Weathering, Stainless or Mild etc.) or Aluminium
- Thickness – Gauge of metal for sufficient strength
- Profile Shape – Standard flat material or L shaped
The first thing to consider is Height
It is well to note that the difference between 100mm high and 150mm may seem disproportionate, so you will need to consider your budget carefully here.
150mm high edging is excellent, but do you need it?
Only if one of the surfaces will be walked across, is near vehicle traffic, or you require a difference between one height and another should you need anything more than 100mm.
In some situations, you can quite easily use 75mm successfully for lawn edging, but the small additional cost of 100mm will be worthwhile in terms of durability and ease of use when installing it.
There should be a minimum of one third in the ground on both sides when installing with a differentiation in height.
Finish
The required finish will be one reason you may choose one material over another, but this is simply aesthetic. While important, it is not a technical decision and should be considered depending on the other elements within the decision-making process.
Choice of material
This determines both what it looks like and how it performs, so this is probably the next question to ask yourself.
The popularity of weathering (corten) steel is due to its long-lasting properties and natural appearance, so it is a great choice.
However, many “corten” steel products available now are not made of a material with weathering properties, so corrosion could be a problem if you are buying “natural” unfinished mild steel. Be aware, as proper weathering steel is significantly more expensive — for good reason!
A great alternative to steel is aluminium which, although not having the natural looks of proper Cor-Ten® or unfinished mild steel, is light and very resilient to the elements, especially in damp conditions for long periods, which could quickly corrode mild steel.
Aluminium is usually a little more expensive for the equivalent thickness but is extremely strong. One thing to be aware of when using aluminium is its tendency to kink once bent into a curve, whereas steel is springier and will flex back into a straight line. For this reason, particular care should be taken when looking to curve aluminium as you will be unlikely to make it straight again!
If you are looking for a flexible metal edging, then both steel and aluminium have properties that lend themselves to following the gentle curve of a path or lawn edging against a flower or shrub border.
Thickness
The thickness of material depends on whether you go for aluminium or steel.
The best aluminium edgings are extruded, which makes them much stronger than a thin sheet folded in an L shape. The thickness of extrusion, designed for maximum strength, will generally have a top edge of around 5.0mm.
Steel landscape edgings start from 1.6mm and go up to around 8.0mm for heavy-duty applications. For a lawn-to-border application, something around 3.0mm is probably the best thickness to aim for, although you may find an aluminium equivalent (with a 5.0mm top edge due to the extruded profile) handles and fits more easily.
At the minimum point, an aluminium edging should be no thinner than 2.0mm.
A key element to consider when thinking about thickness is the longevity of the product. Although thinner steel material is fine when installed, it will eventually rust away, leaving a very sharp top edge as it does so. Aluminium or 5.0–6.0mm steel will last much longer and be safer.
So, if you are considering a timber lawn edging or concrete path edging, consider metal edging instead, as it is competitive in use, faster to install and won’t rot or chip in the same way. It is also more flexible and will follow those sinewy curves, giving an exceptionally neat and clean edge.
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