How to edge a lawn

What’s the best way to edge a lawn?

Whether you have a small flowerbed or a large yard, lawn and garden care is important to keep your space healthy and attractive. One of the most common lawn maintenance jobs is edging, which serves to both protect and beautify spaces in and around your home.

Edging is done with a lawn edger, and depending on the size, the edger may be handheld or feature one or more wheels for guidance and stability. While edging is a relatively simple task that’s often done only a few times a year, proper planning and execution will ensure your lawn is looking its best. We provide a step-by-step guide on how to edge a lawn and the tools needed for the task.

In this article: Craftsman 30cc 4-Cycle Gas-Powered Lawn Edger, Worx 12 Amp 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher and Ames 39-Inch Saw-Tooth Border Edger

What is lawn edging?

Edging is the process of creating boundaries in and around a lawn or garden. Edging digs down vertically — usually around 2 to 3 inches — to separate outdoor spaces. One might edge around a driveway, sidewalk, mailbox, shrubs, trees or gardens. Edging highlights specific areas such as flower beds while protecting others from weeds, like driveways.

Edging is a similar operation to both trenching and trimming, and many edgers may serve multiple functions, performing either of these tasks as well. Trenching is the process of digging a deeper and often wider boundary than edging, while trimming is the maintenance of that boundary, cutting horizontally to stop the encroachment of weeds.

How to edge a lawn: A step-by-step guide

Gather lawn edging tools

In order to edge your space, you need the right edger. There are three main types of edgers available, sorted by how they derive power. This includes gas-powered, electric and manual lawn edgers.

Craftsman 30cc 4-Cycle Gas-Powered Lawn Edger

Gas-powered edgers are ideal for those with larger spaces or anyone who will be tackling ground that’s tough and infrequently tended to. Gas lawn edgers can achieve a higher power than their electric counterparts but also tend to be heavier, noisier and less environmentally friendly. Most gas edgers feature wheels so that movement is easier. Gas edgers feature a blade that adjusts to various depths.

Worx 12 Amp 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher

Electric edgers are typically light, eco-friendly and easy to maneuver. They may be corded or cordless, and the latter are powered by batteries which need to be maintained and fully charged when you’re ready to use the edger. Electric lawn edgers are better for smaller and medium yards since they have either a limited cord or a limited runtime. Electric edgers may feature a blade, but most incorporate a nylon string to cut through soil and grass.

Ames 39-Inch Saw-Tooth Border Edger

Manual edgers are distinct from powered ones in both their operation and usage. Manual edgers are inexpensive and best suited for those with small yards and garden beds. Manual edgers resemble a shovel, and you firmly push the edger straight down into the ground with your feet to create the boundary. Manual lawn edging involves moving the tool from side to side to create space. You then remove the edger and any loose soil and repeat until your boundary is complete.

Assess space

Once you have your lawn edging tool ready, survey your space and plan your route. Some people like to use rope or a hose to set a course to follow around the yard and set it up so that you edge on the inside of the guide. It’s not recommended to use spray paint, as wind may create more of a mess. If you’re only edging around straight borders, like a driveway or sidewalk, setting a path may not be necessary.

Determine how deep you want to cut. Most homeowners prefer edges that are 2 inches deep. Depending on your lawn and desired aesthetic, you may want to go deeper, but be aware of any buried wires or cables.

Be sure to check ahead of time for any stubborn rocks, large rocks or wayward debris or toys that may be strewn across the yard. When you’re ready to edge, it’s best to make sure any pets or children are inside away from the activity.

Wear the right gear

It’s advised to wear some protective gear to cover your ankles, wrists and eyes. Wear closed sneakers or boots, preferably ones that block your shins as some sticks or rocks may fly back during edging. Outdoor or garden gloves are recommended for added comfort and to avoid any sores or blisters. Safety goggles or a pair of well-fitting sunglasses are also suggested. While most edgers feature effective guardrails, errant twigs or stones are possible.

Check the weather as well. You may want to wear sunscreen, don a hat and bring a water bottle, depending on the temperature.

Start edging

Assume a comfortable grip and posture when you begin edging. Walk slowly and methodically, following the traced course. Exercise more caution and care about curves. Depending on your edger, you may have a wheel to guide you for added assistance, but you should still proceed at a gentle pace. 

Patience is the most important part of edging. Moving too quickly may result in uneven edging or the machine running off-course. Some less powerful electric edgers may struggle if you move too quickly, especially through tougher soil.

Storage and maintenance

Once edging is complete, it’s important to clean your edger and store it properly. After the power is turned off, remove any dirt or other debris that may be stuck in or around the string or the blade. Store the edger in a cool, dry place away from humidity, heat and temperature fluctuations. 

If you have a cordless lawn edger, remove the battery and place it on the charger. For gas-powered models, you can store normally unless it’s the end of the season or you won’t be using the edger for months. In that case, you’ll likely want to stabilize the gas or empty it entirely.

Best lawn edgers

Ames 39-Inch Saw-Tooth Border Edger

This sturdy manual lawn edger is ideal for smaller edging jobs. The versatile blade cuts straight or curved edges. It’s easy to use and control with the built-in footplate and the T-shaped handle is comfortable to use.

Greenworks 24-Volt 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer/Edger

Lightweight, affordable and versatile, this Greenworks string trimmer and edger is ideal for small and medium yards. This battery lawn edger has no hassle and low maintenance. It runs for up to 20 minutes on a single charge.

Worx 12 Amp 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher

You won’t run out of batteries with this corded lawn edger. It offers three depth adjustments and both edging and trenching modes. A line cutting guide offers precise edging and control while working along hard surfaces or trenching borders. The shaft length is adjustable to accommodate users of different heights. 

Craftsman 30cc 4-Cycle Gas-Powered Lawn Edger

For those with medium-sized lawns, this gas-powered edger is a good choice. This quality walk-behind edger features six different depth positions and provides precise cuts. The molded ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to use even during longer edging tasks. 

Earthquake 79cc 4-Cycle Walk-Behind Edger

For larger yards, this heavy-duty unit is the best lawn edger to use. This gas lawn edger produces nearly twice the power of the previous model. The multi-angle cutting head offers five positions and depth can be adjusted between 0.5 to 3.5 inches. A debris guard protects the user from debris and there’s a convenient holder for storing hand tools. 

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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