If you’ve recently created your own wildlife pond, you’re probably considering pond edging options to increase the functionality, and aesthetics, of your pond. Below is a list of 10 of the best wildlife pond edging options!
How Do I Cover the Edges of My Pond?
Maybe you’ve heard the term pond edging (for the first time today) and you’re wondering what it is, and what it means?
Pond edging is literally anything (within reason) that you can edge your pond with. Its purpose is to add to the aesthetic, and/or functionality of your pond in some way.
Take a look!
1. Plants
If you’ve gone through the trouble of creating a wildlife pond, you likely appreciate the natural look.
Plants can be used to create an edging that looks completely natural, and not only that – plants can also provide shade, food, and O2 to any critters your pond might have (and everyone seems to have these days: koi).
What is also cool, there are a ton of stunning water plants to use – some even trail handsomely into the water:
- Blue flag Iris
- Swamp Milkweed
- Ferns (various varieties)
- Stonecrop
- Creeping Jenny
- Watercress
- Elderberries
- Marsh Marigold
- Blueberries
- Purple Lobelia
- Passionflower Vine
- Creeping Zinnia
- Water Hyssop
- Cardinal Flower
2. Logs/Driftwood/Timber
If you are looking for something more hand-crafted, but rustic look; you could always edge your pond with logs, driftwood, or timber.
These will cover up the bare edges of the pond with some nature-based adornments!
Driftwood is another very environmentally conscious option (because it is harvested from trees that have already fallen). Also, this can give your pond a very neat and unique appearance!
3. Hardwood
Hardwood (like bamboo, maple, pine, or cherry) would be a more manicured edging option.
These will allow you to make a neat, geometrical shape, rather than just a rough shape around the pond and liner.
They will also keep any pond-edging plants from growing out of the water and getting messy.
Ultimately, hardwood is sophisticated and allows you to control many aspects of your pond.
Hardwood for wildlife pond edging can only come so far for shapes. It’s simpler to make shapes, squares, and angles.
If you have a round, smooth pool edge, you might want to consider concrete, brick, or rock!
4. Small Trees
You can use small trees to make a wildlife pond look like a tiny oasis.
Because the trees will improve the aesthetics significantly, and provide shade and shelter for any critters you may have in the water.
Many birds, insects, and other wildlife depend on trees for feeding, breeding, habitat, and the worst thing about edging your pond with small trees is that you need to clean up leaves or bugs that have fallen into the water.
You should also avoid using toxic varieties of trees (cherry, ginkgo, black walnut, etc.), as they may poison the wildlife and/or pond water!
However, the following trees can all make great wildlife-friendly pond edging and decoration:
- Willow
- Dogwood
- Red Maple
- Water oak
- Willow oak
- Magnolia
- Juniper
5. Stones
Stones are a great mix of man-made and natural.
Originally natural shapes, but you can stack them into any shape you like!
This means that stone edging can be great for making rounded shapes like ovals, peanuts, circles, and more.
So, stones are super customizable compared to some, while providing that highly sought after natural look in my backyard!
Also, stones are available in a range of colors, allowing for even more customization as decoration!
6. Boulders
Boulders are an excellent all-natural looking way to edge your pond because they allow minimal detailing.
A few boulder placements will create an alcove look as if nature allowed the pond to pool there.
You can even allow climbing plants and vines (like stonecrop, and vining passionflower) to completely cover the boulders for a noticeably idyllic style!
7. Concrete
Concrete may not initially sound like the most natural idea, and it is not. That being said, it can still be used to – rather rapidly and easily – create the shaped design you want.
This will make it a lot easier to work with the natural contours of the pond, so in a way, it still keeps it harmonious and looking natural.
8. Tiles
If you don’t want to use, or deal with, raised pond edging you can always use tiles to edge it.
This is less control and doesn’t create wildlife habitat, but it certainly makes for an awesome look!
9. Brick
If you want to have the modern style of edging with classic appeal, brick is what you’re looking for.
Brick is classy looking and can be arranged into just about any shape (so the unique contours of your wildlife pond fit).
You can select the classic Auburn brick color, or a more subtle look of tan, off-white, or stone-grey.
The only downside to using brick, is the amount you’ll spent. Brick is pricey, at least compared to simple driftwood, concrete, or rock.
10. Lawn
Another simple and effective option for pond edging is a good old-fashioned right?
Of course, this may make the surrounding area around the pond just a little more difficult to mow, which you may choose to eliminate by allowing the grass to grow tall along the edges.
This will encourage dragonflies and other water-loving beauties to visit (as they now have somewhere to perch above the water). Keep in mind, tall grass also provides a great source for mosquitoes to breed though!
If you are dealing with a mosquito problem, you might want to keep the grass cut (or incorporate mosquito fish and other mosquito eaters into your wildlife pond as well).
Include Rocks and a Slope so Visiting Wildlife is Safe to Drink
For small critters, a pond can pose the risk of drowning.
To make sure this isn’t a tragedy that occurs, you can provide the edging with a slope. So, it isn’t a dropoff, and the critters can get out if they fall in into the water.
The slope will provide the perfect location for them to get a drink.
It is a good idea to provide a few rocks with flat surfaces that just barely stick an inch or so out of the water. This way, baby birds and other less-skilled swimmers will have a place to reach and pull themselves out somewhere onto a rock!
Final Thoughts
So there you go – 10 of the best wildlife pond edging ideas.
Did any of them stand out in your mind?
Maybe you like the look of the manicured, hardwood edging; or maybe you liked the plants or trees, and their beautiful, natural look?
Good luck!