A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Shade Garden in April (pics), trim ideas needed.

I have two large maples and a walnut tree in a row on my property, so I deal with lots of shade.

This section gets part sun in the section at the bottom half of the photo.


The big picture of the shady side of the back yard...


I used to have bamboo trim along all the gardens. It was so nice, but it didn't hold up well at all. Any ideas what I could use for edging that wouldn't be terribly expensive? I'm not sure I'd like a brick edging, but need something that will hold up well in a zone 4b climate, can make a nice curve, and can handle a lawnmower butting up against it. Any suggestions are welcome.

Here's the trim that just fell apart, the photo is awful because my camera was broken that year.

Very pretty!! nice job!Pianolady!!!

red cedar logs stood up on end
Or stones

The dollar store had some wire edging last year that was pretty cheap. And it's flexible so it would handle the lawnmower and the curved shape ok. It doesn't show up much would that be a problem?

I had such a large area to border, I decided to try trench edging. I cut a 6" wide trench 3" deep, and filled it with mulch. At least I have a dividing line now where the grass is supposed to end, and the garden start. That will make weeding much easier.

After pic

Nice Job looks great ... Boy you have a big yard

Thanks SpringFever. I have my parents to thank for that. While neighbors sold off their extra lots for development, my folks refused. Good for them! We purchased this house from my parents, and they moved to a new one (they needed a one-level home), and I get to live in my childhood home.

That is great !!! What a score .. did you keep your old room?Hahaa .. I wouldn't wanna mow that lawn though..at least not with my push mower..
I love all the old fashion style flowers black eyed susan ect...

Now that's an awesome landscape!
I'm truely amazed!
Great work you've got Pianolady!
I'd love to see much more!

What a stunnig yard! I love the new trim you did!

Can you get free rocks anywhere? I use lots of that ..But our meadows are loaded with rocks.

However the grass around trim is a problem.. You will see .

You did lots an lots of planting.. Nice.

dodge

Yes, I can get free rocks, but it's about a 3 hours' drive, and I have to roam the countryside looking for gravel road construction through the hillsides (takes lots of gas).

They leave the rocks along the road for the taking, and they'll let you pick them up if you are in a county where that is allowed. But, nothing locally, and I'll need a lot of them. I can buy them locally for $.15 per pound.