10 Stunning Brick Garden Edging Ideas (and How to Install Them So They Last)

Quick answer: Brick garden edging gives beds and paths a crisp, classic border that lasts for decades. The most popular styles are the upright soldier course, the flat sailor course, the angled sawtooth and curved serpentine borders. In Canada, the secret to brick garden edging that doesn’t heave in winter is a compacted gravel base, a snug trench and well-packed soil or sand behind each brick.

Key takeaways

• Brick garden edging keeps grass out of beds, holds mulch in, and makes mowing easier.
• A soldier course (bricks standing on end) takes about 11 bricks per metre. A flat row lengthwise takes about 5.
• In freeze-thaw climates, a 10 cm compacted gravel base stops most heaving.
• Use clay pavers or bricks rated for ground contact. Ordinary wall bricks can crack and flake in winter.

Why choose brick garden edging?

Brick is natural, long-lasting and warm in colour, and it suits almost any home style, from heritage Ontario brick houses to modern builds. Compared with plastic or metal strips, brick garden edging also creates a mowing strip, so your lawnmower wheel can run along it and you’ll rarely need to trim by hand.

10 stunning brick garden edging ideas

1. Soldier course: Bricks stand upright side by side. It’s the strongest, most formal look and great for keeping grass out.
2. Sailor course: Bricks stand on their long edge, with the wide face showing. It’s taller and bolder than a soldier course.
3. Flat mowing strip: Bricks are laid flat, end to end or side by side, level with the lawn, so the mower can run right over the edge.
4. Sawtooth (dogtooth) edging: Bricks are set at a 45° angle so the corners form a zigzag. It’s a classic Victorian cottage-garden style.
5. Serpentine curves: Brick garden edging follows gentle curves around island beds. Short bricks handle curves well.
6. Double row: A flat row plus an upright row makes a wider, more finished border for paths and patios.
7. Herringbone strip: A narrow band of herringbone-patterned bricks between lawn and bed adds texture.
8. Raised brick edge: Two or three courses of brick, mortared on a footing, create a low wall for a raised bed.
9. Mixed materials: Brick paired with river stone, gravel or steel edging gives a modern twist.
10. Reclaimed brick: Salvaged bricks give instant character. Check that they’re sound and frost-resistant first.

How many bricks do you need?

Using standard-size bricks (about 19 cm long, 9 cm wide, 5.7 cm tall):

Style	Bricks per metre	For a 15 m border
Soldier course (upright, narrow face out)	about 11	about 165
Sailor course (upright, wide face out)	about 5–6	about 80–90
Flat, end to end	about 5	about 80
Flat, side by side	about 11	about 165
Sawtooth (45°)	about 8	about 120

Add about 10% extra for cuts, breakage and future repairs. Brick sizes vary between manufacturers, so check the dimensions of the brick you buy.

How to install brick garden edging that lasts

1. Call before you dig. In Ontario, book free utility locates through Ontario One Call before trenching.
2. Mark the line. Use a string line for straight edges, or a garden hose to lay out curves.
3. Dig the trench. Make it slightly wider than the brick and deep enough for 10 cm of gravel, 2–3 cm of sand, and the buried part of the brick.
4. Add and compact gravel. Fill 10 cm of crushed gravel and tamp it firmly. This base is what stops winter heaving.
5. Add a sand bed. Spread 2–3 cm of coarse sand and level it.
6. Set the bricks. Place each brick tight against the last, and tap it down with a rubber mallet to the string line. Check the level often.
7. Backfill both sides. Pack soil or sand firmly behind and in front of the bricks so they can’t lean or shift.
8. Sweep in joint sand. For flat strips, brush polymeric sand into the joints and mist it to help keep weeds out.

ADD IMAGE HERE

Making brick garden edging survive Canadian winters

• Use the right brick: Choose clay pavers or bricks rated for ground contact and freeze-thaw exposure.
• Drainage matters: Water trapped under bricks freezes and pushes them up. A gravel base lets it drain.
• Mortar or dry-laid? Dry-laid edging on gravel flexes with frost and is easy to reset. Mortared edging needs a proper concrete footing below it, or it will crack.
• Spring check: Each spring, reset any bricks that heaved over winter with a few mallet taps.

Pairing brick garden edging with other projects

Brick garden edging is a natural finishing touch for other hardscaping. Use it to frame a stamped concrete patio, edge a stone garden path, or outline a low-maintenance rock garden.

Cost factors

Brick garden edging is one of the more affordable hardscaping upgrades, especially as a DIY project. Your total depends on:

Factor	Effect on cost
Brick type	New clay pavers cost more than concrete bricks; reclaimed varies
Edging style	Soldier and sawtooth styles use about twice as many bricks as flat end-to-end
Length and curves	Curves take more cutting time and waste
Base materials	Gravel and sand are cheap but add up on long borders
DIY vs pro	DIY saves labour; pros are faster on long or curved runs

Get prices from a local landscape supply yard as well as big-box stores. Yards often sell gravel and sand by the yard or tonne, and that’s cheaper than bags for larger jobs.

FAQ: brick garden edging

How deep should brick garden edging be?

Allow for about 10 cm of compacted gravel plus a sand bed below the brick, and bury roughly half of each upright brick. That depth keeps edging stable through freeze-thaw cycles.

Does brick edging need mortar?

No. Dry-laid brick garden edging on a gravel base works well and is easier to repair. Use mortar only for raised edges built on a concrete footing.

How do I stop grass growing through brick edging?

Use a soldier course or flat mowing strip, keep joints tight, and sweep polymeric sand into the gaps. Trim the lawn edge once or twice a season.

Will brick edging heave in winter?

It can if it sits on soil that holds water. A compacted gravel base and good drainage prevent most heaving, and any bricks that do lift are easy to reset in spring.