Risks and Alternatives to Black Plastic Lawn Edging

These days, very few products on the market are out-and-out poisonous-particularly those that are specifically labeled and marketed for use around the home. Granted, products meant for the yard are not required to live up to the same standards that a child's toy might, but basic safety measures are employed on a regular basis. However, news stories about the dangers of different manmade materials are readily available on a near weekly basis, so being cautious when purchasing any products for use around the home is important.

Fortunately for consumers, in order for plastic edging to be effective it is important that it retain its substance and shape. Particularly as it relates to vegetable gardens, or beds with potentially edible berries, nuts, or fruits, it is good to know that your edging is manufactured specifically to resist leaching. In many cases, plastic edging can actually prove safer than woods or metals: in fact, treated woods (as most outdoor woods are) are much more porous and thus prone to leaching the chemicals that make them weather and pest resistant, while metals have a tendency to rust and decay, depositing small amounts of various alloys into the soil. From the standpoint of chemical danger, plastic edging actually proves to be much more safe for home use than the alternatives.

That said, homeowners wanting to employ an artificial edge should make sure to purchase those materials which are certified for use in the lawn. Just as the FDA regulates what consumers eat and drink, the EPA examines materials for use in the lawn. Non-toxic, durable products are available and should be clearly labeled so that you can be confident the edging you select is safe in the yard. Homemade or non-regulated products carry a much higher risk due to the plastics that might be used in manufacturing them. While most landscape edging products are intensively tested in the lab before being marketed and sold to consumers, certain products that a homeowner might "recycle" into landscape edging have not been duly tested. For the eco-friendly consumer, Master Mark Plastics recommends purchasing a certified product that has been made from recycled material and then tested is the better approach.

Though the ideal situation would be to always purchase pre-tested, certified products, many individuals are determined to reuse materials designed for one task in another setting. It is important to realize the limitations of chemical leaching in the ground when making a decision about what material to use for edging: a purely ornamental bed will likely suffer no consequences from the presence of an uncertified product. A vegetable garden, by contrast, may be significantly tainted by harmful chemicals in the ground. As a general rule, it is best to raise those plants which you or your family will ingest in the most natural way possible. Just as insecticides and chemical fertilizers are recommended to be used as sparingly as possible (or even not at all), yard implements like edging and decorations should be verified as safe by a third party before use. When in doubt, opt for a natural solution; the Calgary Garden Coach recommends trenching as a completely natural alternative to black plastic edging. In many cases, it may even surpass the edging in preventing grass spread.

Master Mark Plastics: http://www.mastermark.com/product_f.php?category_id=2