Stone border: 3 examples & instructions

Stones are a popular design element in the garden. Stones are also very suitable for edging beds. Both permanent and temporary solutions can be realized with stones.

Temporary bed border made of stone

With a temporary surround beds can be kept in order that should not remain permanent, for example in the vegetable garden or if you generally like variety in the garden and often rearrange it.

Suitable material:

• Stones from specialist shops: same size and shape, diverse selection of different types of stone
• unprocessed natural stones: some very large, different colors and shapes
• Bricks: same size, shape and color, for more severe borders
• Field stones: smaller than natural stones, often rounded, for borders that are made up of several stones

Notice: Natural and field stones can often be collected by yourself. Possibly obtain owner permission before entering fields.

instructions

1. Once the size and shape of the bed has been determined, the border of the bed can be planned. To do this, make a sketch or fill in the border with the stones you have chosen and mark it with a piece of string.
2. For a simple edging, lay stone by stone tightly around the bed, filling in any gaps with smaller stones.
3. An enclosure with a ditch gets more stability. To do this, dig a trench around the bed with a spade. This should be about half as deep as the stones are high. Do not smooth the bottom of the trench, but loosen it. Fit the stones one by one and tap them down a little.

advantages	disadvantage
quick and easy to do	is not particularly neat
free bed shapes according to personal taste possible	stones that are too small can be moved too easily
no preparation needed	Working in and outside the bed is only possible with caution
Weeds can grow between the stones

advantages	disadvantage
more precise work leads to more attractive results	takes longer
later easier work on the border of the bed	bigger effort
Stones stay in place	Excavated earth accumulates
with weed fleece under the stones, weeds can no longer grow through	more tools needed

Notice: If bricks are to be used on edge, the trenching method is always preferable.

drywall

The dry stone wall is a distinctive feature among the bed borders. It is also not firmly assembled, but should last for a long time. It is consciously accepted that a dry stone wall changes over time.

instructions

1. A dry stone wall is suitable for higher beds, preferably beds that are mostly left to their own devices, i.e. no vegetable beds. The bed height should not be higher than one meter. In addition, dry stone walls are well suited for fixing a slope, the bed then lies between the wall and the slope.
2. For a straight wall with an even shape, it makes sense to purchase the bricks from specialist retailers. If you want something more natural and wild, collect stones of different shapes and sizes. In addition, sand and soil (possibly herbal soil) are necessary to fill the joints.
3. In order for the wall to have a better hold and stand, the bottom row should consist of large stones. In addition, a simple foundation with gravel is laid. To do this, dig a trench about 40 cm deep along the length of the wall, smooth and compact the ground, then fill it with 30 cm of gravel and compact it as well. The last layer is 10 cm of sand, which is smoothed. The stones are placed in the bed of sand and knocked down until they no longer wobble.
4. Place the other stones on the first row. The wall should have a slight incline backwards towards the bed so that it gets a better hold. Between the individual stone layers comes a mixture of sand and loamy earth or herbal earth. Fill larger joints or gaps with small stones.
5. If the wall is to be planted, then the right time for this is during the layering of the wall. Spread the individual plants over the entire surface between the stones in the soil of the joints.
6. Flat stones that are not too large are suitable for the top of the wall. It makes sense to keep the most beautiful ones for this, as they are the most visible of all the stones in the wall. They are placed on the drywall and tapped firmly.

Permanent bed border

At higher beds and a clear garden design that is to be maintained over a longer period of time, it makes more sense to invest in a solid stone border. This is more complex and also more expensive, but you can enjoy it for much longer.

Suitable material:

• Lawn edging stones: especially between bed and race, making lawn mowing easier
• Concrete block: very strong, straight edges, good for walls
• Paving stones: path between beds, different shapes possible
• Concrete slabs: to be used edgewise or flat, difficult with curves

instructions

1. The number of stones depends on the size of the bed. A sketch makes it easier to imagine what the bed will look like later.
2. A frost protection layer is essential to ensure that the stones are really stable. The trench must be at least 30 cm deep for this, but even deeper for larger stones.
3. First put in a layer of crushed stone, about 10 cm. On top of that a layer of split, also 10 cm. Compress both well.
4. A layer of mortar is applied over the frost protection. Immediately place the stones on top of them and tap them firmly. Make sure to work at the same height if possible, unless irregularities are desired. There is also a mortar joint between the individual stones.
5. If the bed is to be surrounded by a small or large wall, place at least one more row of stones on top of the first row. Always apply a layer of mortar in between. If the wall is high enough, allow the construction to dry thoroughly for several days.

frequently asked Questions