With a bed edging made of metal, you can effectively, simply and simply separate the lawn and bed from one another. In our detailed test and comparison you can find out what distinguishes metal bed borders, which types there are and what you should pay attention to when buying.

Especially with rampant plants, it makes sense to erect a border that goes deep into the ground

Table of Contents

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  1. What are the basic characteristics of bed edgings made of metal?
  2. What types of metal bed borders are there?
  3. Other purchase criteria
  4. What brands are there?
  5. How do I care for metal bed edgings?
  6. Which accessories are useful?
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. What are the basic characteristics of bed edgings made of metal?

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    Lawn edge 5m 10m 15m 20m 30m 40m 50m 100x14cm or 100x18cm galvanized bed edging bed border mowing edge metal palisade (length 5m - height 14cm)
    EUR 18.90 To the product

    Metal bed edging is one of the most popular types of bed borders. They are always in demand when it comes to creating robust borders between bed and lawn. Metal frames are extremely robust, almost indestructible and therefore durable.

    Practical: Bed borders (€29.90) made of metal represent impenetrable barriers for roots if they are planted deep enough in the ground.

    Another functional advantage is the fact that metal bed edgings are relatively easy to install. Depending on the specific product, you can simply snap the boundary components together and then pound them into the ground. Some versions require additional screwing.

    Extra: Which connection method is the best?

    As mentioned above, there are two main methods of connecting the parts of a metal border:

    • (just) put together
    • plug and screw together

    a) plugging together

    our recommendation
    wolketon lawn edging 10m 100x18cm metal bed border galvanized mowing edge bed edging - length 10m height 18cm palisade
    35.99 EUR To the product

    Overlapping plug-in connections, often designed as intelligent clip systems, allow uncomplicated and quick assembly.

    But: If the lawn edges are not firmly connected, they pull apart in the ground. It is therefore important to rely on a first-class plug-in system - or even better on the combined plugging and screwing.

    b) Plug and screw together

    It is true that plugging and screwing together is more complex in every respect; but it is also a guarantee for high stability.

    Note: Hobby gardeners sometimes work with loose connections (completely without plugging them together); However, these are not recommended at all, as they are anything but stable. Once the lawn mower or even your foot has touched the bed edging, it gets out of joint. The edges will come loose if they are not absolutely firmly connected.

    Optical aspects of the bed borders made of metal

    First, a positive note: Metal bed edgings are usually almost completely buried in the ground, so that often only a few centimeters (or just a few millimeters) of the material are visible. Accordingly, such limitations only affect the appearance of your garden to a limited extent. Nevertheless, the bezels are not invisible. Therefore, you should think carefully beforehand whether you actually want to integrate metal lawn edges into your green oasis.

    Bed borders made of metal are very modern and have a cool appearance, which forms a contrast to the generally warm atmosphere in the natural garden. In order to ensure a harmonious ambience in your outdoor area, you should make sure to use other metal elements in addition to the metal flower bed borders - for example garden chairs and tables or decorative accessories such as lanterns and sculptures. Make sure that all the details make a coherent whole.

    Note: If there are several details made of silver-colored metal in your garden, an antique-looking flair with plenty of elegance can also result.

    What else you should know about metal bed borders

    • Depending on the specific material, metal bed borders can be easily bent. As a result, wavy borders can also be realized - without loss of stability.
    • In most cases, various corners and end pieces are available separately or as supplements. You can create angular, oval or round shapes as required and desired.
    • Metal bed edgings are more expensive to buy than many other borders, such as those made of plastic or wood. On the other hand, metal bezels remain in very good condition for a long time.

    General pros and cons of metal bed borders

    benefits
    • Robust
    • resilient
    • Durable
    • Easy to install
    disadvantage
    • Cool optics
    • More expensive than many other materials

    What types of metal bed borders are there?

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    49.87 EUR To the product

    Metal is not just metal. In other words, not all metal borderings are made of the same metal. Commonly they are made of either aluminum or iron. In addition, bed borders made of cast iron, corten steel, stainless steel and sheet steel are usually counted among the metal borders and categorized as such, although strictly speaking this is not entirely correct.

    Cast iron is a ferrous material with a high carbon content; Corten steel, stainless steel and sheet steel are among the steels. Now most people think metal and steel are synonymous. This is largely due to the little differentiated use of the terms - and also because the properties of the two substances are more or less identical. However, there is definitely a difference between metal and steel:

    • Metals are all naturally occurring substances.
    • Steel is always a so-called alloy - i.e. an artificially created combination of several metals.

    Note: Steel consists largely of iron - each supplemented by other metals.

    Since steel bed edgings are usually listed under the metal borders in shops, we would like to take a closer look below not only at the characteristics of the lawn edges made of aluminum and iron (pure), but also at the features of the models made of cast iron, corten steel, stainless steel and sheet steel take the magnifying glass.

    Aluminum bed borders tested

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    31.95 EUR To the product

    Aluminum impresses with its diverse lightness:

    • It's lightweight.
    • It bends easily.
    • It's easy to install.

    For these reasons, aluminum bed edgings are particularly recommended for beginners - i.e. hobby gardeners who are laying a lawn edge for the first time, whether made of metal or another material.

    In addition, aluminum is weather-resistant, but less stable than iron and steel. For this reason, you should use aluminum bed borders if possible in lawn areas that are not heavily frequented.

    We don't want to ignore one plus point: bed borders made of aluminum are usually cheaper than borders made of other metals and steels.

    benefits
    • Lightweight
    • Easy to bend
    • Easy to install
    • weather resistant
    • Less expensive than other metals and steels
    disadvantage
    • Less stable than other metals and steels

    Iron bed borders checked

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    34.15 EUR To the product

    Unvarnished iron bed edgings appear silvery-white. Since iron tends to be one of the softest metals, it is particularly easy to stretch. At the same time, however, it is strong and tough, which is important for the stability of bed borders and other products made of this material.

    Here are a few more superlatives about this substance:

    • Iron is the second most common metal in the earth's crust (aluminum the most common). It is extracted from ore in opencast and underground mining, mainly in Brazil and other countries in South America, in Canada, Australia, China and also in Eastern Europe.
    • Iron is the most used metal worldwide - no wonder considering the high availability as well as the pronounced strength and toughness. The availability also has an advantage for you: bed borders made of iron are relatively inexpensive.
    benefits
    • stretchy
    • Fixed
    • Tough
    • Stable
    • Inexpensive
    disadvantage
    • none worth mentioning

    Cast iron bed edgings tested

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    Esschert Design bed fence, decorative fence motif Piedmont made of reddish cast iron, approx. 26 cm x 28 cm
    7.07 EUR To the product

    Cast iron bed borders impress with their elegant appearance. This ferrous material with a high carbon content can be cast into playfully ornate shapes. In this way, magical bed edgings are created that are real eye-catchers in the garden.

    Note: Cast iron is not a real metal, nor is it steel. It acts as a special iron-carbon alloy that's great for casting but not forging (steel is the exact opposite).

    Cast iron bed edgings otherwise have more or less the same properties as iron borders.

    benefits
    • Elegant look
    • high stability
    disadvantage
    • none worth mentioning

    Corten steel bed borders checked

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    To the product

    There are good reasons why bed edgings made of CorTen steel are finding more and more supporters: the weather and corrosion-resistant mild steel stands out visually from other steels and metals. It typically develops a rust-red patina that brings a stylish, antique flair to the green oasis.

    tips

    Corten steel contains about one percent copper. This makes it an insurmountable barrier for snails. For you, this means that you kill two birds with one stone with bed borders made of this material: On the one hand, you organize your garden; secondly, if you are looking for a healthy way to keep snails away from your plants, a corten steel strap acts as a non-toxic solution.

    However, Corten steel does have one “disadvantage”: it is much more difficult to form than other steels and metals. That's why most bed edgings made of this material come as relatively simple steel bands. The special feature is undoubtedly the special rust color.

    benefits
    • Weather/corrosion resistant
    • Rusty patina
    • Non-toxic anti-slug agent
    disadvantage
    • Hardly any creative forms possible

    Testing stainless steel bed edgings

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    Flexible and perforated lawn edges made of stainless steel V2A (20x100cm flexible)
    14.99 EUR To the product

    Stainless steel is the collective term for alloyed and unalloyed steels with a very high degree of purity. Most stainless steels are rustproof. Bed borders made of stainless steel impress with their often noble appearance. They are always extremely elegant. In addition, they have largely the same (all-round convincing) functional advantages as frames made of other steels.

    On the downside, we have to mention that stainless steel bed borders are often a bit more expensive than borders made of other steels.

    benefits
    • Noble-elegant optics
    • resilient
    • Durable
    • Stable
    disadvantage
    • Often more expensive than other steels

    Bed borders made of sheet steel checked

    Sheet steel is a rolled steel product that is always significantly longer and wider than it is thick. Bed borders made of this material are usually kept very simple and inexpensive. Sheet steel for bed borders is often galvanized for additional stabilization and optimized durability.

    benefits
    • Robust
    • resilient
    • Stable
    • Inexpensive
    disadvantage
    • Little creative

    Other purchase criteria

    In addition to the specific material and its functional properties, you should consider the following criteria when buying a metal bed edging in order to find the best model for your needs:

    • height
    • color
    • costs

    height

    The height of the metal bed border depends primarily on how high the plants are in the bed and how deep they are rooted.

    Important: In order to prevent the roots of deep-rooted plants from spreading in the soil of your garden, it is important to set the bed borders as deep as possible in the ground.

    On the market you can choose from frames in various heights, e.g

    • 30 cm,
    • 40cm,
    • 50cm or
    • 60 cm.

    color

    Unpainted metal and steel borders are mostly silvery white in color. An exception is Corten steel, which takes on a rust-red nuance due to the patina.

    Some manufacturers paint their metal bed edgings so that you can also choose from black, anthracite, green and other tones.

    costs

    Of course, the price also plays an important role. With a metal bed border, you pay an average of ten euros for one meter. Only stone surrounds are even more expensive.

    Tendentially cheap bed edgings made of metal and steel:

    • aluminum
    • iron
    • sheet steel

    Metal and steel bed edging tends to be expensive:

    • cast iron
    • corten steel
    • stainless steel

    What brands are there?

    Popular brands of metal bed edgings at a glance:

    • Beckman
    • Gardena
    • geoBORDER
    • Richard Brink
    • Thomas Phillips

    An overview of dealers and shops where you can buy metal bed borders:

    • Aldi South/North
    • Amazon
    • stretcher
    • Ebay
    • Globe hardware store
    • Hagebau
    • bright way
    • Hornbach
    • OBI
    • toom

    How do I care for metal bed edgings?

    The good news: A bed border made of metal or steel is easy to care for and does not cause you much work. The metal materials are extremely robust. They generally do not require any touch-up work at a later date. They often last for many years.

    Of course, metal or steel bed edgings can get dirty, for example with soil or other dirt. In these cases it is sufficient to remove the dirt with a soft sponge. Dampen the sponge and feel free to use a touch of dish soap.

    A note on Corten steel: Conveniently, the patina is automatically reproduced on digging surfaces.

    Extra: susceptibility to rusting of the metal

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    94.99 EUR To the product

    Like other metal products, metal bed borders can rust. Since the latter are permanently used outside and are therefore exposed to different weather conditions, the susceptibility to rust is of course increased.

    tips

    Galvanized lawn edges are less prone to rusting. With other metal or steel frames, you can help with special rust protection if necessary.

    Which accessories are useful?

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    In addition to the edging, you need a few accessories to lay metal bed borders:

    • connection hook
    • hacksaw
    • Angle grinder (incl. cutting disc for metal)
    • spade
    • Plastic or rubber mallet
    • wooden pole
    • knocking stick
    • shovel
    • rake
    • pickaxe
    • screwdriver
    • guideline
    • Zinc repair spray (rust protection)
    • safety goggles
    • ear protection

    You can find out how to use the various utensils in the FAQ section of our guide - with the step-by-step instructions for installing a metal bed edging.

    frequently asked Questions

    How do I install a metal bed edging?

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    Preliminary remark: With a normal garden soil, thin metal bed borders can simply be hammered into the ground with a plastic or rubber mallet. Make sure, however, that there are no roots or stones in the ground in the way. Otherwise, some preparatory work with a spade is necessary.

    Our step-by-step guide will help you install your metal bed edging yourself. Read them thoroughly before breaking ground and prepare your garden project accordingly.

    Note: If you are dealing with a longer lawn edge, it makes sense to work with a second person.

    The seven main steps at a glance:

    • Prepare ditch
    • customize metal bed edging
    • connect individual elements
    • Use metal lawn edging
    • Tap metal edge
    • tamp down the earth
    • Check result

    1. Prepare the trench

    Mark out the desired area for the border with wooden stakes.

    Attach the plumb line (€7.13) to the wooden stakes.

    The guideline is for your orientation.

    Note: The guideline should specify or mark both the course of the metal edge and its height. So work very carefully here.

    At the very end, the metal frame should protrude about one to two centimeters from the ground. It must not be completely embedded in the ground, otherwise it would probably be overgrown. Based on the height of your metal border, you can calculate how deep the trench needs to be.

    Dig a ditch along the guideline with the spade.

    Recommendation: The garden soil is particularly hard? Then it is best to dig out the earth with a pickaxe and a shovel.

    Leave the excavation next to the ditch, you will need it again at the end.

    In order to lay a bed edging in the ground, some earth must be dug up

    2. Adjust metal bed edging

    Be sure to wear safety goggles and hearing protection when adjusting the bed boundary elements. You should also always be aware of the sharp edges of the metal.

    Cut items that are too long to fit. You can do this depending on the type of metal and the border of the bed

    • a hacksaw or
    • an angle grinder with a cutting disc for metal

    use.

    Caution: Before cutting, make sure you are cutting the metal on the correct side. In the case of plug-in systems, the elements that collide at the corner must then still be able to be connected.

    Before you tackle the third step, you should treat the metal elements with zinc repair spray (to protect against rust) if necessary.

    3. Connect individual elements

    Connect the individual elements of your metal border:

    • Slide the palatine of the first panel under the edge of the second panel
    • Bend the connecting hooks with a suitable screwdriver and press tight
    • Bend the connecting rabbet for a stable corner connection

    Note: To be absolutely sure that the metal edges do not come loose, you can also screw them on after the plug connection.

    4. Insert metal lawn edge

    Insert the pre-assembled metal bed edging as a whole into the prepared trench. Depending on the length of the lawn edge, you should have one or more people help you.

    5. Tap metal edge

    Now pound the border into the ground with a plastic or rubber mallet.

    Recommendation: If you use more force in some places, it makes sense to put a wooden mallet underneath. This ensures that the metal plate does not bend. At the same time you protect the top edge of the bezel from the hammer.

    6. Tamp down the earth

    Gently tamp down the surrounding earth (excavation).

    7. Check result

    Check (already while tamping down in step 6) whether the metal edge is actually at the desired height - simply use the guideline as a guide. If necessary, level the ground with a rake.

    What is a metal border used for?

    With a robust, sleek, modern metal bed edging, you create a visual separation between lawns and beds; On the other hand, suitable bed borders prevent roots and/or bushes from growing into the lawn and, conversely, the lawn from spreading into your beds.

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