Mild Steel Edging

Which thickness should you choose?

We offer two edge thicknesses, 3mm and 6mm. The main attribute of the 3mm edge is its flexibility and ability to be bent by hand so if you looking to achieve particularly tight curves and wish to form a lot of angles by bending the steel yourself then we recommend the 3mm edge.

The staking and joining system is the same for both thicknesses.

However, our 6mm edge is much more robust and rigid, the extra 3mm makes a surprisingly large difference and as we pride ourselves in offering what we believe is the most secure edging system on the market we would recommend 6mm where possible. To quantify the flexibility of our 6mm edge, it can be flexed to form a complete circle with a radius of 2.5 meters, this is tight enough for most borders with driveways tending to have even more gently curves.

In terms of cost comparison, our 6mm edge is approximately 12% more than our 3mm edge.

We have summarised the main differences below:

• 3mm thick edge.
• Can be bent manually to form corners & angles.
• Reduced cost.
• Easier to handle.
• Supplied in 2m lengths.
• 6mm thick edge.
• More robust.
• Easier to form straight lines.
• Increased lifespan.
• Available in 3m lengths.

We get often get asked if the 6mm edge will form curves? The answer is yes it will. 6mm edging along a curved path, which was achieved with little resistance. As a guide, 6mm thick edging can comfortably form a complete circle with a diameter of 5 metres. The 3mm edging can form a circle with a diameter of 2.5 metres. If in any doubt, please get in touch.

What lengths does the edge come in?

Our 3mm thick edge comes in standard 2 metre lengths. In some areas for large orders we can supply 4 metre lengths.

Our 6mm thick edge comes in standard 3 metre lengths. For large orders we can supply 6 metre lengths. Longer lengths therefore fewer joins is generally faster to install.

To reach your required meterage we can supply a 1 or 2 meter length for no extra charge. We offer a cut to length service to any size for an additional charge see our price list and buying guide. 

It’s straight forward to rejoin a cut edge, our edging can be cut with a hack saw although a grinder is recommended for the 6mm edging to save time. Cutting the edge will remove the welded bolts which form the joining system so if you need to rejoin we recommend using our joining kit. The kit includes all the fittings you need to connect the edge you will need a drill.

There is more information on the corner pieces and joining kits on the main page.

We provide prefabricated corners to provide crisp 90 degree bends, they come with fixings to attach seamlessly to the rest of the edging.

There are two corner options. An external corner for applications where the external face (wide 270 degree angle) will be on show, therefore the fixings are on the inside (bottom photo) these are most common on raised beds for example.

An internal corner, where the inside face (90 degree angle) will be on show, therefore the fixings are set on the open (270 degree) face, see the photo below.

Please note the 3mm thick edge can be bent by hand. We offer corner pieces for those not wishing to do this and clients looking for a sharper 90 degree angle than can be achieved by hand.

How long does the steel edging last?

There are factors which vary the lifespan of steel edging but as a guide our 6mm edge will last in excess of 25 years and 3mm in excess of 20 years

Does the metal edging require any maintenance?

No, it really doesn’t and we generally advise against painting our edging simply because we feel the steel should look like steel and the weathered brown patina is a desirable feature. Painting introduces a maintenance element as it would need to be done every few years. 

Our edging is typically constructed from mild steel. We can supply corten garden edging as well as stainless steel edging. Please enquire for pricing on these.

In most cases recommend installing the edge to the height of the soil so the grass layer rises above the edge, this allows the grass edge to be trimmed with edging sheers or a strimmer.

When landscape edging, there are two ideal opportunities to install our edge. Either early on during the grounds works process when driveways and paths have been excavated but before a subbase has been laid, the edging will then be used to retain hardcore / type 1 etc. and the levels built up inside the edge, this gives a clear framework and levels to work to. Alternatively, later once the hardcore base has been laid, the edge should be set into the hardcore layer so it’s advisable to do this before compacting to enable a shallow scrape to be created easily. The hardcore can then be compacted and final surface laid. We recommend building ground levels up on both sides of the edge during construction to prevent heavy machinery such as vibrating rollers placing lots of pressure on one side of the edge with little support from behind.

When edging new borders and it is advisable to do so prior to planting. New lawns should ideally be edged before the final soil levelling (raking) as the steel can be used as a guide to the soil levels.