Ideas on garden borders?

Amy
by Amy

We finally did something with our oak tree and I like the result, but some of the bricks aren't even. (See pics below). Of course the old tree has lots of huge roots, but we also have a garden fabric cloth in place so it is hard to dig in the ground. Anyhoo, I would love to see your ideas about what we could put in place of the bricks that aren't level, and look "off". THANKS!!! Pics & Links greatly appreciated :)

  10 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 09, 2020

    You could take the eye to something else besides the bricks, plant a row of flowers just inside the bricks, that will disguise the unevenness. Something that will slightly mound over the bricks. Check with your local nursery for what would work best in your climate.

  • Gk Gk on May 09, 2020

    You could add some dirt under the lower bricks so that the top is all one level. Or perhaps push in decorative fencing rather than bricks. Comes in different designs and heights.

  • Tom Stuart Tom Stuart on May 09, 2020

    Amy, I think your wall looks great. It has a certain natural quality to it. If the unevenness bothers you you could remove a few in that area and dig out a little dirt to even it out.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 09, 2020

    Hello there,

    You could use a lawn edge. Metal or plastic. You could employ a bricklayer to do a permanent job of laying the bricks correctly. You could fix a low fence or for almost no money, fill old stockings or tights with soil or sand and lay like bricks or push in the ground old glass bottles (neck first). Best wishes.

  • Deb K Deb K on May 09, 2020

    Hi Amy, You will likely need to dig out any roots that are in the way or go around them by making your edging wider. Here are some ideas for you, hope they help you

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDYQFR_vme8


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ_7FBwSR0w

  • Beth Beth on May 09, 2020

    You could try putting another layer of smaller bricks on top. I have a similar border around the front of my house, and it looks much better with the small bricks on top. You don't noticed the bumpiness or slight unevenness of the larger ones underneath.

  • Dima Dima on May 09, 2020

    Start collecting rocks! Putting the larger ones at the bottom, simply create a ring along the outside of the existing bricks. It's kind of like a jigsaw puzzle - finding the perfect stone as you add more rows. The great thing about a stone border is that it doesn't have to be perfectly level. I did this in my garden and it became a "thing" with friends dropping by with a rock that they had picked up thinking of me! It has grown over time and gives me joy each time I look at it; remembering the story behind a particular stone and the special people who became a permanent part of my landscape!


    This is a picture of my border that also started out as a couple rows of crooked bricks!

  • Rymea Rymea on May 10, 2020

    The idea of planting something to trail over the bricks is good. I'm wondering if you need the bricks to be two layers high. Instead of the little pots, I would probably plant the area under the tree with Hostas, ferns and Heuchera/coral bells. Picture from Brecks

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 11, 2020

    You could go with rocks of various sizes that are not intended to look uniform.