(Author of The Bulb-o-licious Garden)

I pride myself on being somewhat of an oddball, always looking for unusual plants for the garden or think outside the box when it comes to garden décor and the like. So in keeping with this different approach to gardening, I thought it a good idea to share some of my favorite edging ideas for the garden”¦outside the norm, of course.

Here are my top 5 picks for edging in the garden:

1. Bottles – Bottles come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I find them to be interesting not only for use in creating bottle trees, but as unique edging, they can be turned upside down and inserted into the ground.

2. Rocks/stones – Just as with bottles, there are endless styles, shapes, and colors of rocks and stones. These makes great edging for natural beds and landscapes. Other similar items might include old bricks or pieces of broken concrete. Stagger them naturally around beds or build up a small retaining wall. You can even add plant pockets for additional interest.

3. Wood – Many people use landscaping timbers or railroad ties as edging but treated wood can adversely affect plants as well as beneficial insects. Natural, untreated alternatives like small logs or branches are safer and add organic matter to soil as they break down. They look especially fitting as woodland garden edging.

4. Broken items – I hate throwing things away if I think there’s any potential future use for them. This is where broken household items come in for use as edging. Damaged vintage plates can be given new life by setting them slightly in the ground for a neat looking border. Pottery shards can be used the same way to make unique edging.

5. Bowling balls – Yes, I said bowling balls! If you have access to them (my neighbor happens to be an avid bowler and has plenty of old ones on hand) and you only have a small area requiring edging, then bowling balls carefully cradled into the soil can make a very interesting border. They can be easily painted to match your current décor or simply leave as is. If you live near the beach with lots of coconut palms and like the rounded ball effect, try using coconut hulls/shells instead.

What you choose for edging should always be compatible to your landscape. For example, if you live in a really fancy home, you likely don’t want to choose anything ratty-tatty looking. Opt for something more formal, such as the vintage dishes or brick retaining wall.