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Wood Lawn Borders: Exploring the Pros and Cons

Wood is a perpetually popular building material. From siding to trim, decking to lawn borders, there’s an undeniably classic appeal to using wood for nearly any building project. When it comes to wood and Orlando, though, using wood for home building is trickier. The qualities of wood make it inherently difficult to protect from damage in moist, warm climates. Not only does humidity in the air cause wood to expand and contract, which weakens it over time, but the warmth and moisture can also encourage the growth of moss and algae, which also break down the wood.

Wood is, as you may imagine, a common material for creating lawn borders. But here in the Orlando area, that can be a tricky material to work with because of the rain and overarching humidity we experience. If you’re looking into wood as a lawn border, here’s what you need to know:

It Adds Warmth

Wood is well-loved as a building material because it makes a home look warmer and more welcoming. It’s chosen so often because of the aesthetic boost it brings, no matter what your home improvement project is. The variation in wood grain also brings a sense of texture which increases the feeling of having a pattern that won’t actually clash with other patterns or materials. Wood has gained the reputation as an all-purpose material for a reason.

It Provides Structure

When it comes to lawn borders specifically, wood is a good way to create a stronger support structure. This is ideal for raised garden beds and sloped lawns because wood lawn borders have the strength to help guard against erosion and create that structure that keeps your landscaping from floating away with the rain.

Wood is Natural

Many people want a natural appearance for the natural spaces in their yard. Wood is a great option because a wooden lawn border, even cut down to smaller pavers or shingles, is still made from natural materials. It’s often easier to blend a wood lawn border into landscaping in a way that is unobtrusive and appears more natural.

The flip side of this, however, is that wood often needs a bit of extra care in order to survive a longer life outdoors. The good news is that waterproofing treatments can keep wood protected for years, even decades. However, you’ll want to keep an eye on wood retaining walls and lawn borders. Check for signs of wood rot just to make sure that the waterproofing has held and that the wall won’t surprise you and collapse in a heavy rain.

It’s Sustainable

If you’re looking for an option that will have a lower impact on your carbon footprint, wood is (generally) a good way to go. There are some concerns about some lumber mills’ practices, but if your landscaping team sources wood from a reliable source, wood is generally more sustainable than other options. Since we can continue growing trees, and it isn’t as processed as other options, creating a wood lawn border is generally a more sustainable option.

It’s Straight-Edged

Most wood made for landscaping is cut into smaller beams, uniform planks, or shingles. If you’re looking to quickly create a lawn border, beams or planks can be a great option because the space can be cleared and leveled relatively quickly. The downside is that it can be harder to fit those long lengths of wood into a curved space, and wood shingles don’t typically offer the strength necessary for, say, a retaining wall. Smaller wood segments work better to create a lawn border for flower beds and landscaping elements on flat or mostly flat surfaces, which don’t need to be bolstered by the lawn border.

It Can Be Cut

Wood is used for so many different projects because it can take on almost any shape imaginable. However, when it comes to border edging, the fact that wood can be cut is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s easy enough to cut pieces down to size and make the lawn border fit your space. On the other hand, cutting wood into smaller segments offers increasing opportunities for water or pests to work their way into the wood. Larger sections are typically better because they can be protected more easily.

Are you looking for the ideal lawn border to complete your landscaping? Connect with Border Magic of Lake and Orange Counties for professional lawn border help and more in Orlando and the surrounding areas.