Transform Your Garden Bed with Stunning Edging Ideas Using Perennials, Annuals or Shrubs

Maureen
Jun 23
2 min read

Delineating your garden bed with hard materials such as rocks, pavers, or by making a trench (sometimes called a Victorian trench) is a great way to define your garden bed and keep grass from creeping into it.

The addition of a line or grouping of perennials, annuals, or small shrubs to the front of your border steps it up a notch, providing both practical and aesthetic benefits that enhance the overall landscape. It can create a beautiful transition between lawn and garden through texture, height, and contrast. This layer is also beneficial for suppressing weeds, reducing soil erosion, and retaining moisture.

Catmint 'Cat's Pyjamas' borders a garden bed of peonies — Catmint 'Cat's Pyjamas' in front of Peonies

Annuals are great at ensuring colour all summer long, while perennials and shrubs return year after year, providing long-term structure and colour without the need for replanting each season. Once established, most perennials and shrubs are low-maintenance and require minimal care.

This layer of plantings can effectively frame taller plants, providing a consistent, flowing base for more unruly or diverse plants. Design-wise, you can choose a tidy, clipped look or a more relaxed cottage-garden style; the choice is yours.

Regardless of your choice, using the same plant in a line or grouping at the front of your borders creates a uniform look that is pleasing to the eye.

My favourite perennials for this include:

Catmint
Periwinkle
Hostas
Creeping Phlox
Wild Ginger
Japanese Forest Grass
Coral Bells
Salvia
Lavender

I also like the look and ease of small shrubs like Berberis, boxwood and weigela. Shrubs can be particularly helpful to keep tall plants from falling over.

Golden berberis in front of Purple Sand Cherry — Berberis in front of Sand Cherry

Lush garden with berberis, peony, and sand cherries, neatly trimmed grass, and a gray house wall. Bright, sunny day. — Berberis

The most reliable annuals for my 5B garden are impatiens, begonia and baby’s breath. I typically like to use annuals combined with decorative rocks.

Green hydrangea bushes and bright yellow Japanese Forest grass in front of a red brick wall, creating a vivid, lush garden scene. — Japenese Forest Grass in front of Annabelle Hydrangea

Coral Begonia and white baby's breath blossoms in a garden, bordered by rocks and green grass, create a colorful and serene setting. — Begonia and Baby's Breath

A garden bed bordered by a line of green periwinkle, victorian garden trench and grass. Bushes and trees form a vibrant, serene background. — Periwinkle trimmed to created a clipped edge

Lush garden with vibrant green and blue hostas, surrounded by trimmed hedges and grass. Calm, natural setting with various leaf textures. — A mix of Hostas in Shade Garden

Choosing the right mix of perennials, shrubs and annuals for the front of your garden will elevate your space and provide year-round enjoyment.Happy Gardening!

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