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Can anyone suggest an edging for my small front garden?

I have a very small front garden which is paved and open plan. At the moment I have flower tubs on it but children tend to play around there and because it's open plan they pick my flowers etc. I was wondering if anyone could suggest a cheap edging to put around the garden (it's a weird shape) just to discourage small children from playing on there, bearing in mind that it is paved and not soil. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for answers so far. Can I just explain that I live in a quiet country village at the bottom of a cul-de-sac NOT a city/town/built up area. I don't remember saying I lived in a built up area. ???? Anyway, I am a primary school teacher so well used to dealing with kids. I am not averse to the children playing, just want to define my area a bit more. These are 2-4 year old children who really shouldn't be playing out on their own but because we live in such a quiet rural area their parents think they are safe. I just wanted to make it clear that we are not dealing with older children or an inner-city area here, just a little garden definition. Sorry for confusion.

Public Comments

1. Log roll?
2. It's kinda hard for me to imagine - but I would say go to Home Depot or Lowes and get some of those bricks people put around their flower beds - or some of those small wire/metal fences that they sell.
3. If at the edge of the paved area there is a strip of soil to dig into you could edge the area with bricks, either put into the ground vertically or at a 45 degree angle- my parents did this at their house and it looks quite nice another option is black plastic garden edging that you can pick up at a local hardware store
4. Hi, It sounds like you live in a built-up area, possibly a city or in town, so the more rustic types of solutions, like logs, would not look appropriate or be available. You simply want to mark the area as being private, yes? My first suggestion is to talk to the children. If they are small, and you know it is generally the same children, and if you approach them and tell them gently that you were sad because all your flowers got picked and there were no flowers left for you to look at... and it is ok if they look at them too but please can they leave them so you can look at them and be happy... I found this made a difference with my gardens and the neighborhood child who was picking things. I actually gave that child and a small group a little tour, and told them the names of everything and how they grew and some of where I got some if they were from friends or relatives. There was no more picking! because now they knew me and all. If you really want to make an edging, if there is earth you can put things into at the edges, then a small wooden fence perhaps 18" or 2 feet tall would work. Paint to match your house. You might be able to do a fence like this even without earth to put it into if you can get something the legs fit into... I'm thinking of a fancier version of cinderblocks, which have those holes in them... paint to match the fence if they are not already somewhat matching the paving. Doing it all in stone or cement-block or brick would be next, but more expensive. So using the expensive material to hold the legs of a wooden fence would be cheaper.
5. try a dry build wall such as hallmark stone which comes in any quantity so you can have a wall as high or low as you like available from all good builders merchants !! good luck !
6. I truly believe the only viable solution is to talk with the children. Tell them that the flowers were planted for everyone to enjoy and people can't do that if the flowers are picked. Offer them an occasional flower if you're willing, kindness goes a long way. Also, maybe you can place cute little picket signs in the tubs that say "Please Don't Pick The Flowers"