| Key takeaways |
|---|
| • A string trimmer is the fastest option; a manual edger gives the crispest curves. • Cut about 2 inches deep along existing borders; slow down on curves. • Edge every 1–2 weeks in peak summer growth, less frequently in slower seasons. • Never edge a wet lawn because it damages roots and compacts soil. |
Learning how to edge lawns is easy: Choose your string trimmer or edger, then walk straight, cutting 2 inches deep along your lawn’s border to prevent grass from encroaching onto sidewalks and flower beds.
If you want that perfectly manicured look but don’t want to spend your weekends sweating behind a string trimmer, Lawn Love can help you connect with experienced local lawn care professionals who handle the mowing, edging, and trimming for you.
| Average cost: $220 for a string trimmer, $30 for a manual edger Time to edge ¼ acre: 10 minutes for a string trimmer, 60 minutes for a manual edger Skill level: Beginner for both types of edgers |
Step 1: Select your edging tools
First, select your edger. There are manual and power tools. The most popular types of edgers are string trimmers, manual edgers, and rotary edgers.
| Feature | String trimmer | Manual edger | Rotary edger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Maintaining lawn edges | Edging out new area | Maintaining lawn edges |
| Speed | Fastest | Slowest | Medium |
| Precision | Moderate | Highest | High |
| Power | Gas, battery, or corded electric | Manual | Manual, battery, corded, or gas |
String trimmer: It’s the most popular lawn edging tool. The best string trimmers for edging around pavement have straight shafts, and curved shaft models are better for landscaping borders.
Manual edger: You need a manual edger to tear out turf for new edges. For example, I’ve used them to create garden beds, playgrounds, and a mulched area around a statue. They provide better precision around curved edges. Thus, perfectionists prefer them for edging around trees and rounded flower beds.
Rotary edger: Rotary edgers can be a stand-alone tool or a string trimmer attachment. The latter is more popular. An edging blade is more durable than string, so some people use them around features that easily snap string. It’s also easier for beginners to cut crisp edges with a blade.
Step 2: Put on protective gear
Wear the proper protective gear to prevent injuries from projectile debris, slippery terrain, and loud noise. When edging, you should wear the following:
- Pants to protect your legs
- Vibration-dampening gloves for comfort and stability
- Non-slip shoes to prevent falls
- Safety glasses to prevent injuries, including vision loss
- Hat to shade your face on sunny days, and shelter your head from debris
- Dust mask, especially if you have allergies or use 2-stroke gas tools
- Hearing protection for power tools that are 85 decibels or louder
Step 3: Tidy up before you start
Before edging, tidy up your lawn and edging tools. Doing so makes it so much easier to create crisp edges along well-defined boundaries.
Lawn: Before you trim the edges, properly mow your lawn using the one-third rule. Also, remove any debris. Tall grass and debris impede the workflow and your view of the edge. Additionally, debris can damage tools or become a safety hazard when it’s propelled.
Tools: Ensure your edger is clean and dry. It should be free from residue and dirt. It’s best to clean equipment right after edging, however, double-check your tools before you start.
Step 4: Plan your edges
Start by deciding the angle of your edges. Flat edges are standard and the easiest angle for beginners. Sloped edges look good along pavement. Sloped ground cover edges look sharp and are easy to maintain. However, that look is harder to maintain on centipede and St. Augustine lawns during the summer.
Next, test your power equipment by inspecting the throttle and kill switch, and adjust handles and hand grips to maximize control and comfort. Also, read the user manual carefully and complete the recommended safety checks.
If you’re using a string trimmer, note the direction in which its head spins. Most straight-shaft trimmers spin clockwise, and curved-shaft models tend to spin counterclockwise. Also, load the trimmer string.
Pro tip for overgrown edges: If you have neglected your yard and the grass has crept several inches over the sidewalk, do not immediately attack it with a string trimmer. Jason Keeley, owner at Mowing Magic in North Garden, VA, recommends another approach.
“If the grass has grown several inches over the sidewalk, I don’t try to reclaim it with just a string trimmer because that wastes a lot of trimmer line,” Keeley explains. “I first cut the edge with a manual edging tool or stick edger to create a clean vertical line along the concrete. Then I remove the strip of overgrown turf and finish it with a string trimmer.”
Step 5: How to edge existing lawn borders
Use a string trimmer, manual edger, or rotary edger to cut about 2 inches deep. Walk in a straight line, using the lawn’s existing edge as a guide. On curved edges, slow down and carefully clip along the curve.
Keeley warns about a common mistake beginners make.
“One common mistake is cutting the edge too deep, which can damage turf roots and loosen soil along the driveway,” he says. “Keeping the edge shallow and blowing debris off the sidewalk after mowing helps maintain a crisp line.”
Also, follow general yard work safety tips, which include never starting gas-powered equipment indoors and turning off powered edgers prior to unclogging them.
How to edge with a string trimmer
- Make sure there’s 4 to 6 inches of weed-eater string on each side of the spool.
- Turn on the trimmer.
- If the head spins clockwise, stand to the left and edge with the left side of the head so the debris flings away from you. If the head spins counter-clockwise, stand to the right of the tool, edging with the right side of the head.
- Hold the trimmer head perpendicular to the ground for flat edges. Taper sloped edges by holding the head at a 45-degree angle.
- Slowly bring the trimmer to the lawn’s edge. Move the trimmer away from your body as you cut.
How do you keep a perfectly straight line? Keeley shares his secret.
“The trick is to focus on the edge of the sidewalk, not the trimmer head. I lightly let the trimmer guard ride along the concrete and walk slowly forward.”
How to edge with a manual edger
- Place the half-moon blade exactly along your planned edge line.
- Step firmly on the tool’s ledge to push the blade about 2 inches into the soil.
- Rock the handle side-to-side to break the grass roots.
- Pull the edger straight up, move it slightly down the line, and repeat the cut.
- Scoop out the separated chunks of turf and soil to reveal the crisp edge.
How to edge with a rotary edger
- Hold the handle with both hands.
- Align the blade with the existing lawn edge.
- For manual rotary edgers, do a small section at a time. Roll the blade back and forth until the section is crisply cut. Then, repeat on each subsequent section.
- For string trimmers with an edger attachment, a single straight pass will cleanly cut the lawn’s edge.
FAQs
How often to edge depends on grass type, preference, and the season. Keeley says that cool-season grasses are generally easier to manage.
“Here in Virginia my lawn is mostly tall fescue, which is a cool-season grass. It doesn’t creep aggressively like warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, so edging is pretty easy,” he says. “A simple string trimmer edge every couple of weeks is enough to keep it looking clean.”
If you have an aggressive, creeping warm-season grass (like Bermuda or St. Augustine) in the peak of summer heat, you may need to edge every time you mow.
A string trimmer is the fastest and most versatile option for most homeowners. For the crispest results, use a manual edger or rotary edger. Regardless of the tool, walk slowly, keep consistent depth (about 2 inches), and let the existing edge guide you.
Edging is cutting the lawn along its edge, and trimming reduces the length of tall grass and weeds. A string trimmer edges and trims, but a lawn edger is only used to create crisp edges.
Read more: String Trimmer Vs. Lawn Edger: What’s the Difference?
I don’t suggest edging a wet lawn, because it’ll be difficult to make clean cuts. Additionally, repeated wet edging damages the lawn and compacts the soil. Similarly, you shouldn’t mow wet grass.
When to call a lawn care pro
Learning how to edge is easy, but perfection takes practice. If you don’t want to wait for a lush lawn with pristine edges, hire a lawn care pro today.
Lawn Love has a network of qualified outdoor pros with affordable rates. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, easy online ordering, and superb customer support.
Main Image: A woman edges the lawn along a driveway with a string trimmer. Photo Credit: olrat / Adobe Stock
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