9 Modern & Contemporary Garden Edging materials

4/4/2024

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When it comes to modern and contemporary landscaping, definition and structure is everything. That’s why choosing the best modern garden edging for your contemporary project is essential.

Such edgings do not just serve aesthetic purposes but also have many functional qualities. Edging materials help to retain aggregates, define paving and help to direct circulation of a space.

At the same time modern edging should be bold forming unique shapes and contrasts to the overall design. From the crisp look of stainless steel to the granular textures of granite there is plenty to choose from.

In this article I list 9 modern garden edgings perfect for any contemporary landscaping project.

1. Rendered concrete

Cement based renders upon concrete block can create the perfect smooth surface for a clean, modern feel. In modern gardens rendering can be painted pretty much any colour to compliment any design.

A typical choice is to paint renders light tones of cream and white to contrast with darker paving. A good example of this would be white render with black slate.

Low retaining edging walls can be built to line paths and walkways and capped with natural stone.

2. Glazed bricks

Glazed bricks present a fabulous opportunity for creating unique, modern, edging which has impact. Particularly white glazed bricks provide purity and gloss which really adds a sparkle to contemporary landscaping.

These bricks are perfect for edging lawns and flower borders as well as raised borders. They have a natural water and weather resistance which make them a durable and suitable choice.

3. Modern block paving

Block paving is a very common paving material normally utilised for driveways. However, block paving’s popularity has led to a great variation of colour tones and styles.

There are now plenty of block pavers which lend themselves to contemporary landscaping projects. These can easily be laid as flush modern garden edging to lawns, pathways and flower beds.

Pavers such as Marshalls Argent and Driveline metro are good examples of these.

4. Granite setts

Granite has been used as a building and paving material for thousands of years. Granite setts have always been a popular paving material for public spaces and streetscapes.

Due to its igneous formation granite is extremely dense and weather resistant making it perfect for external edging. Its light colours and speckled texture works extremely well for contemporary style gardens.

5. Cut paving

Cut paving is an underrated landscape edging perfect for flush border edging and mow strips. Paving slabs can be cut into strips, blocks and even setts to create a broad range of garden edging.

This approach works really well for modern edgings especially using contemporary style paving. Black slate, porcelain and granite paving work particularly well as flush contemporary edging.

6. Kerb edgings

Kerb edging come in a broad variety of varying edging products and specifications. Most kerb edgings are retaining edgings manufactured using concrete and colour dyes.

These kerbs are traditionally made to work alongside block paving and patio landscaping projects. Kerb edgings are generally bulky and robust, perfect for retaining edging to steps and raised flower beds.

7. Flexible metal edging

Flexible metal edging has become an increasingly popular choice within current landscaping trends.

The interest in clean lines and minimalist styles has made this metal edging desirable for many external applications. This edging is perfect for defining new lawns and pathways as well as retaining gravels.

Leading brands have a minimum thickness of 2.5mm and come in arange of styles like ‘Core Edge’.

8. Engineering brick

Engineering bricks are well known, commonly used bricks within the construction industry. These bricks are well favoured for their dense structure and impervious nature.

Kiln fired twice at extremely high temperatures the external surface becomes glazed. This gives the bricks an attractively uniform colour and enhanced durability.

Blue engineering’s make particularly effective, modern, garden edgings to lawns and patios.

9. Contemporary stack cladding

Stack cladding has become particularly popular for its unique texture and contemporary style. Although not technically an edging this cladding can be used to clad retaining edging and low wall borders.

This can create a real modern look to functional landscape edging. For flush edgings, stack cladding can be set into strong mortar or attached to in-situ concrete installations.

Thank you for visiting our article on modern garden edging for contemporary gardens. Below I will link to some other articles you may find relevant.

If you require modern or contemporary landscaping services do not hesitate to contact us.

Based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, we serve all of Buckinghamshire and the neighbouring counties of Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.

We have also just opened our Norfolk office.

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The Author
Paul Nicolaides
BA (Hons) Dip

Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening.