your thoughts on this flowerbed / tree border

[bob_not_you're_uncle]

I was looking for ways of replacing the old horizontal landscape timbers around my flowerbed and two trees in the front yard. I wanted to do something cheaper than stone, but different than the standard horizontal landscape timbers. I'm going to put the house up for sale.

This picture is of ''redwood rounds'' but I was thinking of doing the same thing with landscape timbers. Just cut short pieces to varying heights (or only two heights?) and plant them in a shallow ditch with quikrete.

Should be the first picture you see with "redwood rounds" in the caption. Thanks for your opinion.

[buffalobill]

stones and lumber can make lawnmowing more difficult in buffalo ny. kids can throw stones all over the yard. how about some energy efficient LED architectural lighting run off a decorative wind generator...

[tbasc]

I think the choice depends on the style of the house.

I, personally, don't like the look of the "rounds". Are the timbers deteriorated? What's the need for change? TB

[ronm]

I agree it depends on the house. Personally I prefer the rounds to the timbers if your going to do it. If the garden is level I would either go with random lengths or all the same. Two heights seems to contived to me. But if your going to sell it I would consider not doing all that work. Why not just cut in a neat looking border edge and let the new owners do what they would like.

[bob_not_you're_uncle]

yeah, the existing landscape timbers are falling apart so I need to do something.

[Bob S.]

And that's all landscaping is - an individual's opinion of what looks good to them. Opinions of others do not really count. That being said, here's another option. Install black plastic edging to about 2" - 3" above ground, then plant monkey grass inside and against the edging. The umbrella shape of the grass will hide the edging and the edging will contain the grass.

[Norminn]

That is not a project I would bother with if I was putting the house up for sale. Beds should be tidy, and, if need be, a couple of feature plants (not too expensive) to add curb appeal. The vertical wood is harder to mow around. I like the black plastic that looks like a hose with a straight flange that is buried. It stays in place unless soil is sand, blends with soil, and the mower can ride the edge and eliminate need for trimming along the edge of the bed. Also pretty nice to contain stone if it doesn't get kicked around too much. If you go with the timbers, just bury about 6" or so of it. I would not use concrete.