What Myrtle Beach's Coastal Environment Does to Every Edging Material Except Concrete
Landscape edging materials are tested by three forces in Myrtle Beach's environment: thermal cycling, salt air exposure, and rainfall intensity. Most products fail on at least one of these dimensions within a few seasons. Concrete fails on none of them.
Plastic edging is the most common upfront choice because it costs least. In South Carolina's heat — summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F on dark plastic surfaces — it becomes brittle within two seasons. Thermal expansion from summer heat pushes sections upward and outward. The brief winter temperature drops cause contraction that cracks brittlized plastic at the stakes. Within three years, sections are above grade, gaps have opened where grass crosses through, and portions have cracked. The edging that was supposed to reduce re-edging labor now requires both replacement and the re-edging it was meant to replace.
Metal edging outperforms plastic for mechanical stability but fails in the coastal salt-air environment that defines every Myrtle Beach property. Standard steel edging develops surface rust within three to four years in direct coastal air. That rust migrates onto adjacent concrete and stone surfaces, creating staining that requires professional cleaning to remove. Aluminum doesn't rust but still shifts from soil movement and provides no mulch retention advantage over plastic alternatives.
Concrete curbing is chemically inert to salt air. It doesn't rust, corrode, or chemically degrade in coastal conditions. It doesn't expand and contract in the temperature range South Carolina's climate produces. It sits on the soil surface rather than being inserted in the ground, so root pressure and soil movement don't displace it. The raised profile retains mulch during the 50-inch annual rainfall events that wash plastic-edged beds out with every major storm. Install it once and it is still performing identically in twenty years.
Concrete Curbing Profiles, Colors, and Applications
Curved Border Profile
Smooth flowing curves that follow the natural contour of bed edges. The classic residential landscaping curb look across Horry County — installed as a single continuous pour with no joints or seams. Appropriate for traditional, organic, and naturalistic landscape designs throughout Myrtle Beach, Conway, and surrounding communities.
Mow-Over Profile
Low-profile curbing designed so mower wheels ride over the edge cleanly, eliminating trimming labor along the curb after every mowing visit. The most practical choice for vacation rental properties and homeowners who want the visual benefit of defined edges without any additional maintenance step post-mowing.
Straight-Run Border
Clean precise straight lines for contemporary landscape designs, formal garden layouts, and properties where geometric precision is the design goal. Often paired with symmetrical planting schemes and modern architectural styles.
Color Options
Standard concrete gray is the default. Integral pigment is available in tan, terracotta, brown, charcoal, and red — add $0.75–$1.50 per linear foot. Colors shown during the free on-site estimate so you can choose what complements your home's exterior palette before installation begins.
Concrete Curbing Pricing — Myrtle Beach 2026
| Installation Scope | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard curved border — per linear foot | $4–$7 |
| Mow-over profile — per linear foot | $4–$6 |
| Colored curbing add-on — per linear foot | +$0.75–$1.50 |
| Front yard installation — 40 to 60 linear feet | $160–$420 |
| Full property — 80 to 150 linear feet | $320–$1,050 |
| Large or complex properties | Free on-site quote |
All installations include site preparation, continuous pour-in-place, shaping, and finishing. Allow 24–48 hours curing before planting or heavy foot traffic adjacent to new curbing. Most residential installations complete in one to two days.