7 Creative Ways to Edge Your Zinnia Flower Bed Using Natural Materials

3. Reclaimed Wood Slices: The Woodland Look

A massive storm rolled through our neighborhood last spring and snapped a huge oak branch right into my driveway.

I was honestly so annoyed at first, just staring at this giant, leafy mess blocking my car.

But then I realized I was looking at a pile of completely free reclaimed wood just waiting to be used in my yard.

I actually went out and bought a cheap electric chainsaw that very afternoon just to tackle it.

I spent hours slicing that branch into thick, beautiful wooden “cookies” to hold back the soil around my favorite blooms.

It gave my garden aesthetics this incredibly cozy, rustic woodland vibe that I get compliments on all the time.

Slicing Your Own Garden “Cookies”

If you have fallen logs in your yard or know a neighbor who just took down a tree, ask to grab those thick branches!

You want to cut them into rounds that are roughly two to three inches thick so they are heavy enough to stand upright.

Try to make the slices as uniform as possible, but please don’t stress if they aren’t totally perfect.

Embracing the natural imperfections is exactly what makes this DIY garden edging look so wonderfully charming and organic.

Trenching and Treating the Wood

Now, you definitely don’t want to just lay these slices right on top of wet dirt, because they will rot away by August.

You need to dig a narrow, shallow trench and bury the bottom third of each wood slice to anchor them firmly against the heavy soil.

To make your flower bed border last a few extra seasons, I highly recommend painting the bottom half of each slice with raw linseed oil.

It is a completely natural, non-toxic wood preservative that keeps the moisture out without leaking harsh chemicals into your precious garden beds.

If breaking out a power saw sounds a little too intense for a relaxing Sunday afternoon project, don’t worry at all! The next method uses materials you can literally just pick up off the ground with your bare hands, so hit the next button below to step right into a magical fairy garden aesthetic!