7 Budget-Friendly Recycled Garden Edging Ideas in [2024!]

Most garden owners prefer aesthetically appealing and durable options for edging their gardens. However, it does not mean that the material must always be new. Recycled materials can be fantastic choices for edging if you prepare and install them properly. 

Some cost-effective and eco-friendly recycled things that you can choose for edging your garden include:

• Reclaimed bricks
• Old glass bottles
• Used landscape rocks
• Junk wood
• Recycled tumbled glass
• Scrap metal, and 
• Old terra cotta. 

In this blog post, we will discuss where to find these scrap items and how to prepare and install them for garden edging.

Materials That You Can Recycle And Use For Garden Edging

Here, we mention seven items that can be recycled and used as garden edging. They require nothing more than systematic preparation and installation.  

1. Reclaimed Bricks

They are one of the fantastic and tolerable options for garden edging. Using reclaimed bricks adds a unique charm to your garden and represents a sense of history. 

Reusing existing bricks is an eco-friendly practice that saves energy and material for new brick production. You can collect them from waste recycling yards or nearby demolition companies. 

After collecting these bricks, the first step is to prepare them for edging. It begins with sorting them by size and discarding the cracked ones. You must clean them with a wire brush and water to remove dirt on their surfaces. 

The time of installation comes next. Here is the sequence of how you can do it:

• Dig a channel around your garden bed’s border. Its depth will depend on your preferred edging height. 
• Lay those bricks straight or in a herringbone pattern, according to your desired style.
• We also suggest beginning the installation with a straight edge. 
• Use landscaping fabric under the bricks for better grass and weed growth prevention.

Finishing the edge is also essential for better appearance and effectiveness. You can fill the gaps with gravel between bricks. Many even top the brick edging with flat stones for a polished look. 

A great convenience of installing recycled brick edging is it requires minimal maintenance. You may need to remove weeds between bricks occasionally.

2. Old Glass bottles

Used glass bottles are a popular and classic material for garden edging worldwide. If used properly, they can create excellent aesthetics for your garden. Edging your garden with recycled glass bottles is also eco-friendly as you keep them out of landfills. However, you must be careful about broken glasses.

Beer, wine, and juice glass bottles are widely available. Collect them yourself, or ask friends, family, and neighbors to give you junk bottles. You can also purchase them from recycled item stores.

When you have sufficient glass bottles, clean them thoroughly, remove their labels, and sort them by color and size. We suggest choosing thicker glass bottles due to their durability. After preparing those bottles, get ready for their installation.

• Make a trench considering the bottle and edging height so they can sit properly.
• After that, burry bottles neck down. It will ensure their stability.
• If you need more firmness, fill gaps surrounding bottles with crushed rock or gravel.

Note: When you handle glass bottles, wear safety gloves. Keep children and pets away from those bottles as well.

Glass bottle edging usually will not require any maintenance. However, they can break! You must check and remove the broken ones periodically. 

3. Used landscape rocks

Landscape rocks are attractive and durable choices to edge your garden. Reusing them also helps the environment by reducing the need for new rocks and minimizes construction waste.

You can collect them from landscaping companies or demolition sites offering leftover rocks from different projects. Sometimes, people also sell used landscaping rocks on online marketplaces.

As the preparation for using recycled landscaping rocks, sort them carefully. For a more even look, categorize them by color and size. You should remove dirt and dust from their surfaces. However, if they look clean, you can skip this step. 

To install used landscaping rocks for edging your garden:

• Dig a trench to sit the rocks well. The depth of the trench will depend on the edging height.
• Place the rock carefully for an even alignment. We suggest placing the larger rocks at the back of the trench and the smaller ones at the front.

If you want a better aesthetic and finish, you can mix rocks with different sizes. Some garden owners even plant low-growing herbs to get a more natural feel.

Landscaping rocks are low-maintenance garden edging materials. However, you should check and remove growing weeds between rocks occasionally. Moreover, top-up the edging with additional rocks can be required. 

4. Junk Wood

If you are looking for natural edging materials that add raw aesthetics and charm to your garden, junk wood is excellent. Choosing them for alternative usage also saves trees and the environment. They are also cheaper compared to other options on this list. 

The first source of junk wood can be the leftover wood from your DIY projects. If you are not involved in such work, you can ask friends and neighbors if they have any scrap wood. They can also be found on construction sites. 

When you collect them, ensure the wood pieces have no rot and holes. You should choose rot-resistant wood for edging, like cedar, redwood,  locust, etc. After selecting the wood, cut them in similar sizes for a uniform look. Some garden owners also sand the wood for a better appearance, though it can be unnecessary.

Installing the pieces of recycled wood surrounding your garden is similar to other materials. Here is the process:

• Create a trench with a depth so the wood pieces can easily sit.
• When laying the wood, begin with straight edges.
• If the pieces of wood are heavy, make a layer of crushed gravel in the trench. 
• For shorter pieces of wood, you may need staking. It will require hammering wooden stakes into the ground behind the scrap wood.

Due to its biodegradable nature, wood edging will require some maintenance. You should frequently inspect if there is any sign of rot or twist on the wood and replace the damaged one soon. Also, keep the surroundings of the edging clean to prevent weed growth. 

5. Recycled tumbled glass

This artificially weathered glass lets you utilize your creativity during garden edging. If you prefer the beautification of the garden, go for it. Using tumbled glass for such a project also saves the environment as the waste glass gets a new life. 

You can get these glasses from landscaping suppliers and recycling centers. Sometimes, they are also available to online retail sellers. 

Tumbled glasses are ready to use, which saves the time of preparation. After collecting them, proper installation is the only task to do.

• Dig a groove to sit the tumbled glass properly.
• Pour the glasses carefully.
• To ensure an even distribution, you can mix small and large pieces of glass to minimize their gaps.
• When you handle and install tumbled glasses, do not forget to wear safety gloves.

Many garden owners mix and match colored recycled glasses to make the edging finish attractive. Tumbled glass edging will require minimal maintenance. However, it may require adding more glasses if the pieces become displaced over time.

6. Scrap metal edging

Metal pieces are one of the most durable and unique options for garden edging. Using scrap metal in alternative projects (like garden boundaries) is good for the environment because they are being reused instead of going to landfills. 

Metal scrapyards are the best place to find junk metals. Moreover, you can find them on construction sites or visit online marketplaces to buy them.

When choosing metal for garden edging, go for rust-resistant options, like galvanized steel, corten steel, and aluminum. Avoid using metals for garden edging that can leach harmful chemicals into the soil, for example, lead.

If your collected pieces have sharp edges, grind them well for safety. Then cut them into pieces of similar height for a uniform-looking edging. If you require curved edging, bend them before the installation. Some garden owners even paint them with colors that match the garden theme. 

After preparing the scrap metal, the installation process comes next. 

• Make the trench according to the height of the metal pieces to sit them well.
• Sometimes, movement can occur due to improper alignment. It may require rebar or staking into the ground behind the metal pieces to hold them vertically. 

Metal edging has no major issues except rust. They are highly durable and low-maintenance edging materials. However, you must maintain safety when preparing and installing the metal pieces. Due to their sharp edges, wear safety gloves and shoes when working with them.

7. Old Terra Cotta 

Used terra cotta is a fantastic choice for garden edging that offers an antique look. Along with their natural and eco-friendly materials, reusing old terra cotta for alternative work also helps reduce waste. 

You will find old terra cotta in nearby architectural reclamation stores. Sometimes, they are sold in online marketplaces as well.

After collecting them, clean the dirt and debris from their surfaces. Then, sort them by size for easier and even installation.

When the preparation is complete, go for the installation.

• Dig a trench surrounding your garden.
• Place the selected terra cotta gently into the trench to avoid damage.
• If you want stability, fill the trench with soil. Some garden owners add edging spikes for more solidity of the edging. 

Terra cotta is a low-maintenance material for garden edging. You have to do nothing after installation except occasional cleaning and weed removal.

related FAQ about Recycled Garden Edging Ideas

Q. Are recycled garden edging materials durable? 

Old bricks, glass bottles, and scrap metal are very durable and effective for edging. However, their durability can vary depending on the usage, alignment, and weather conditions.

Q. What is the benefit of using recycled items for edging? 

The practice can save the environment as you are reusing them for alternative purposes. Recycling and using old materials for garden edging is also a cost-effective and creative approach. 

Q. How do I choose the right recycled material for my garden edging?

You must consider the aesthetics and durability of the edging that you prefer. Also, note your local weather conditions and the ease of installation and maintenance.