Product types
Metal comes in a variety of looks. In contrast to cheap plastic, it proves to be durable and robust. Choose from the following product types:
- Corten steel
- stainless steel
- Galvanized sheet steel
- aluminum
Corten steel
Thanks to its rust look and the slightly reddish shimmer, Corten steel gives garden decorations a rustic, romantic look. For this reason, numerous decorative elements are made of the metal. A bed border made of the same material stylishly rounds off the overall picture of your garden. Corten steel also looks very good with granite. In the shops you can even find flower beds (€ 26.90 at Amazon *) in curvy shapes.
To the buying guide for Corten steel bed surrounds
advantages
- Rustic look also in the cottage garden
- easy to care for
- also available in serpentine lines
disadvantage
- Acid sensitive
IRKA lawn edging tape made of Corten steel, 15 cm high. Lawn edging with stiffening edge, 20 meters of bed border
189.00 EUR To the productTips
Corten steel is sensitive to acids. Bird droppings can damage the material.
stainless steel
In contrast to corten steel, stainless steel is completely rust-free. The shiny appearance may seem out of place in cottage gardens, but modern gardeners are extremely fond of the metal. Above all, the unsurpassed robustness makes stainless steel popular. As a low lawn edge, it keeps the lawn off and gives hungry snails no chance to get to the vegetables.
To the buying guide for stainless steel bed surrounds
advantages
- Rustproof
- robust
disadvantage
- Expensive
- not suitable for near-natural gardens
IRKA lawn edging stainless steel 18 cm high, with new vertical stiffening edge
14.90 EUR To the productGalvanized sheet steel
Galvanized sheet steel is an all-rounder in the garden. Unlike other metals, it is very inexpensive. Models are available in both straight and curved designs.
advantages
- Inexpensive
- many forms
disadvantage
- Not as high quality as stainless steel, for example
Lawn edge 5m 10m 15m 20m 30m 40m 50m 100x14cm or 100x18cm galvanized Bed border Bed border Mowing edge metal palisade (length 5m - height 14cm)
21.90 EUR To the productaluminum
Aluminum is particularly suitable for beds that are not frequented too often. Since it is a particularly light material, installation requires little effort.
advantages
- Low dead weight
- corrosion resistant
disadvantage
- Risk of scratching
Beckmann KG BKZ aluminum frame
29.99 EUR To the productFurther purchase criteria
Unfortunately, when mowing the lawn, you have to be very careful not to scratch your metal bed border. You can find out what else to look out for below.
shape
When choosing the shape, the following criteria play a role:
- height
- Assembly
- Edge finishing
- Extensibility
height
While a low lawn edge can be installed quickly and easily, it unfortunately does not prevent large plants from overgrowing. For high bed borders, however, only Corten steel is suitable, as the shiny material looks unnatural.
advantages
- Easy construction
disadvantage
- Get overgrown quickly
Assembly
You certainly want to save as much work as possible when installing your bed border. The relevance of height for this criterion has just been discussed. The higher the border, the more support you have to give it. At low heights, it is sufficient to embed the border around two thirds of the soil.
When buying, look for butt connectors. With these tools, you don't have to drill or weld.
Tips
If you dig a joint when sinking it into the ground, you must be aware that metal warps due to temperature. The colder it is during assembly, the wider the joint must be.
Edge finishing
With regard to the edge finish of your bed border, you will find the following variants in stores:
- straight
- edged
- rounded
The purchase decision is purely a matter of taste.
Extensibility
At best, your metal can be bent easily, similar to sheet metal. This property makes it easier to lay curves. Aluminum is highly recommended in this regard. Alternatively, you can use a pre-made template.
Tips
Many hardware stores also offer custom-made products.
Brands / sources of supply
You can find bed surrounds made of metal on the Internet at Amazon or in the hardware store. Here is a list of the most popular points of sale:
- Obi
- Hornbach
- Toom
- Hagebaumarkt
- Beckmann
- bauhaus
Sometimes metal beet borders are also available from discounter such as Aldi.
Care instructions
Every metal has advantages and disadvantages. Stainless steel is definitely the most durable material. Aluminum does not rust either. Corten steel is susceptible to acid, but is still considered to be very easy to care for. Minor soiling, such as splashes of mud, should be gently wiped off with a sponge.
Tips
Did you know that the platina of the Corten steel reproduces itself when it is abraded?
equipment
Metal bed borders are usually offered as a complete system. Use ground spikes to connect the individual elements. Butt connectors facilitate the assembly of the outer corners and radii. In addition, when using aluminum, a lawn edging cutter that resembles a spade is recommended.
A special utensil are tree rings, which are also sold under the name of bed surrounds. They are used to border trees or bushes.