There are few things in life as wonderful as spending a gorgeous, sunny afternoon relaxing and enjoying your beautiful garden. The catch?

You have to create that beautiful garden first, which will be all the prettier when set off by one of our smart-looking garden edging ideas.

Depending on where you live, spring may already be settled in. Or, you may still be waiting for the last frost to move the seedlings you started in your home or greenhouse to the garden.

But however far along spring is, there are some fundamental steps to creating a garden that have nothing to do with plants.

First, plan your garden’s layout—a crucial component often forgotten by homeowners. Next, you’ll want to make sure you’re fully stocked on tools.

Consider adding a potting bench if you’re looking to spruce up your potted plants this year.

Next, prep your soil to make sure your plants have proper nourishment. And, of course, we can’t forget the final step: edging your beds.

Edging your garden beds is an essential step that many people skip, which leads to a garden that looks unfinished and bare.

Your plants might be blooming beautifully, but if the bed they are in looks unkept, it can ruin the entire look. Edging your garden takes a little extra dirty work, but it’s worth it in the end.

There are a variety of edging materials you can choose that range in price, installation difficulty, and durability.

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