Metal lawn edging vs hardscape edging: The differences

When it comes to landscaping, defining the boundaries of your outdoor spaces is essential for achieving a polished and organised appearance. Two popular options for creating these boundaries are metal lawn edging and hardscape edging. While both serve the purpose of creating clear divisions in your landscape, they have distinct characteristics and applications.

In this article, we'll explore the key differences between metal lawn edging and hardscape edging to help you choose the right option for your landscaping needs.

Metal Lawn Edging: Versatility and Elegance

Metal lawn edging is a versatile and stylish choice for separating your lawn or grassy areas from other landscape features such as flower beds, mulched areas, or gravel paths. Here are some of its notable features:

Durability: Metal edging, often made from materials like steel or aluminium, is known for its durability and resistance to weathering. It can withstand exposure to the elements for many years without rusting or deteriorating.
Flexible Installation: Metal edging is typically flexible and can be easily bent to follow curves and contours in your landscape, allowing you to create graceful lines and flowing shapes.
Aesthetic Appeal: Metal lawn edging is prized for its sleek and contemporary appearance. It adds a touch of elegance and modernity to your landscape design.
Mower Guide: Like other types of lawn edging, metal edging serves as a guide for your lawnmower, making it easier to maintain the edges of your lawn without damaging surrounding features.

Metal Lawn Edging Installation

Installing metal lawn edging involves digging a shallow trench along the desired edge and then securing the metal strips in place. The flexibility of metal edging allows for creative and customizable designs, including curved borders or sharp angles. This type of edging is often considered a DIY-friendly project due to its relatively straightforward installation process.

Metal Lawn Edging Maintenance

Maintenance for metal lawn edging is minimal. Periodic checks for any damage or shifting may be necessary, but overall, metal edging is a low-maintenance option that retains its appearance and functionality over time.

Hardscape Edging: Stability and Definition

Hardscape edging is designed to create clear divisions between different hardscape features within your outdoor space, such as pathways, driveways, patios, and retaining walls. Here's what sets hardscape edging apart:

Structural Support: Hardscape edging provides structural support and stability to hardscape elements, helping to keep them in place and prevent settling or shifting over time.
Clear Separation: It offers a clean and defined separation between various hardscape features, enhancing the overall organisation and aesthetics of your landscape.
Durable Materials: Hardscape edging materials are typically made of rigid materials such as concrete, pavers, metal, or stone. These materials are chosen for their durability and ability to withstand heavy use and weathering.

Hardscape Edging Installation

Installing hardscape edging involves digging a deeper trench, levelling, and compacting the base, and setting the rigid edging material in place. Unlike metal lawn edging, hardscape edging is less flexible and is better suited for creating straight lines and sharp angles. While it may require more labour and expertise, hardscape edging provides long-lasting and stable boundaries for your outdoor features.

Hardscape Edging Maintenance

Once hardscape edging is installed, it generally requires minimal maintenance. The rigid materials are designed to withstand the elements and heavy use without shifting or deteriorating over time.

Choosing the Right Edging Option with Kinley

The choice between metal lawn and hardscape edging depends on your landscaping goals, the specific area you're working with, and the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes.

We are a leading UK designer, innovator, and manufacturer of steel and aluminium landscape edging products. For more information on our full range of products, inspiration for your future projects and technical resources to help you specify and install metal edging, get in touch with our team of experts today. We’re always happy to help and answer any questions you may have.