Concrete Tree Surrounds and Lawn Edging: How to Choose

A tree without a surround ends up ringed by trampled soil, puddles and exposed roots; a lawn without an edge ends up creeping into the gravel and the flower bed. Concrete tree surrounds and lawn edging solve both problems with solid pieces that do not rot and need no varnish. In this guide we go through Vetonek's tree surrounds and lawn edging, with the sizes and weights from their spec sheets, so you can choose the one that suits your tree and your garden.

Tree surround and lawn edging: what each one does

The tree surround ("alcorque" in Spanish) encircles the trunk with a ring that marks out the planting hole, tidies the base of the tree and keeps the watering where it is needed. The lawn edging is a straight pressed-concrete piece that is driven into the ground and draws a clean, lasting boundary between the lawn and an area of gravel, bark or flowers. Both are pressed concrete, so you can combine them in the same garden so that the edge of the flower bed and the ring around the tree read as a single line.

Concrete tree surrounds: four models

• Washed finish, in three diameters. The Alberite tree surround is a pressed-concrete ring 10 cm thick with a white washed finish and exposed aggregate. It comes with an inner diameter of 45, 65 and 85 cm (sizes 10 × 14 × 65, 85 and 105 cm) and weighs 45, 62 and 77 kg per piece. Unlike the other three, it comes in several diameters, so it suits a young tree just as well as a mature specimen.
• Wood effect, 6 cm. The Ribafrecha tree surround (6 × 14 × 85 cm, inner Ø 70 cm, 40 kg) reproduces the wood grain in two tones, cherry and Oregon, without the problem of rot from watering.
• Plank effect, taller. The Agoncillo tree surround (4 × 20 × 80 cm, inner Ø 70 cm, 45 kg) is 4 cm thick and 20 cm high, also in cherry and Oregon. Its spec sheet highlights that this tall profile holds soil and irrigation water better than a low tree surround, and that it lets you create a small raised bed around the trunk.
• Large format. The Arrúbal tree surround measures 16 × 14 × 100 cm, with a 100 cm outer diameter, an inner Ø of 70 cm and a weight of 96 kg. Its amber tone recalls sandstone and, according to the spec sheet, goes with stone and paver surfaces. It is specified for squares, wide pavements, car parks and parks.

The spec sheets' trick for getting the diameter right: think of the mature trunk, not the current one. Replacing a tree surround once the tree has grown is far more expensive than leaving room from the start.

Lawn edging: borders that last

The two lawn edging models in the range share the same format: 4 × 22 × 50 cm, that is, 22 cm high to hold back grass roots and contain gravel and bark, and 2 pieces per linear metre. They are driven into the ground and installed without machinery.

• The Alcanadre lawn edging weighs 11 kg per piece and comes in Thames (stone grey) and Terracotta (warm reddish).
• The Ausejo lawn edging reproduces the wood grain in an Oregon tone and weighs 12 kg per piece.

Both have a matching curved tree-surround piece to go around trees, so the straight edge and the ring around the tree share the same tone. In Oregon, the Ausejo also matches the Ribafrecha and Agoncillo tree surrounds. To work out the edge, the spec sheet gives 2 pieces per linear metre: 12 metres of flower bed is 24 straight edging pieces, plus any spare pieces you want to keep on hand.

How to choose: four criteria

• Inner diameter: thinking of the mature trunk, as the spec sheets recommend.
• Style: washed white for pavements, squares and urban settings; cherry or Oregon for rustic gardens or ones with sleepers and wooden pergolas; amber for a stone-like presence.
• Height: a tall tree surround, such as the Agoncillo, holds soil and water; a low one blends in better at ground level.
• Use of the edge: to separate lawn and gravel, a 22 cm lawn edging piece; to soften curves around a tree, the curved tree-surround piece.

Installation: place, drive in and level

Tree surrounds are solid pieces of 40 to 96 kg: the spec sheets state that they rest on the ground by their own weight, with no anchoring or building work. To move them, get help from two people or use lifting equipment, and rest the ring on a firm, level base, centred on the trunk with room for watering. In areas where vehicles pass, the Arrúbal spec sheet recommends leaving it 2 to 3 cm above the level of the paving, without creating a dangerous step for pedestrians.

The lawn edging is driven in leaving only 3 to 5 cm visible, flush with the lawn on the grass side: that way the mower can pass with one wheel on top and you save yourself trimming the edges. If the tree surround is going on a public road, in a square or in a car park, the project is defined by the responsible engineer and local regulations.

To complete the garden, see the guide to garden edging, the one on concrete planter boxes, the one on concrete pavers and slabs for the surrounding paving, the one on concrete breeze blocks and the article on draining concrete for paths and tree pits.

Frequently asked questions

What diameter of tree surround do I need?

Choose the diameter thinking of the tree's mature trunk, not the current one. The Alberite tree surround comes in inner diameters of 45, 65 and 85 cm; Ribafrecha, Agoncillo and Arrúbal have an inner diameter of 70 cm.

Does the tree surround need to be anchored to the ground?

According to the spec sheets, no: they are solid pieces that rest on the ground by their own weight, with no anchoring or building work. On public roads or in car parks, check with the responsible engineer on the project.

What is the difference between a tree surround and lawn edging?

The tree surround encircles the trunk of a tree; the lawn edging is a straight piece that draws the boundary between the lawn and an area of gravel, bark or flowers. Both lawn edging models also include a matching curved piece to go around trees.

How many lawn edging pieces do I need per linear metre?

You need 2 pieces per linear metre, as they are 50 cm long. For 12 metres of edge, that is 24 straight pieces.

Can the lawn mower pass over the lawn edging?

Yes, if you install it flush with the lawn on the grass side. The spec sheet recommends driving it in leaving only 3 to 5 cm visible, so the machine can pass with one wheel on top.

Once the use is clear, the rest is a matter of taste: look at the Alberite tree surround for a white ring in several diameters, the Ribafrecha tree surround for a wood look, or the Alcanadre lawn edging for the edge of the lawn. More options in the garden edging and dividers, garden accessories and lawn collections.