Lawn Edging Tools: The Secret Behind Clean Edges

Perfectly cut edges make your lawn more aesthetically pleasing. They set a boundary between the lawn, walkway, driveway, and other areas. Your lawn looks more prominent and cleaner, and catches everyone’s attention.

To make clean and neat lawn edges, you need lawn edging tools. They are special tools specifically designed to establish and maintain lawn edges with perfection.

We are here with a comprehensive guide on lawn edging tools. We will explain different types of lawn edging tools, their usage, benefits, and limitations. We will help you select the right lawn edging tool for your lawn and share the step-by-step guide to edge a lawn like a professional.

Manual Lawn Edging Tools

Manual lawn edging tools are suitable for small lawns. They do require some physical effort for exceptional lawn edging, but they can do the job well. However, the result depends on the user.

People who hate the noise of power tools also prefer having manual tools. They are maintenance-free, affordable, and quiet. Most importantly, their running cost is zero as they do not need any fuel or electric power, which makes them an eco-friendly option.

Half Moon Edger

It is a classic edging tool that people have been using for centuries. It is an ideal option for creating deep separations between your lawn, pathways, and other areas.

It has a very sharp blade made of thick-gauge steel. The blade is attached to a handle with a comfortable D-grip.

Because the blade is a semi-circle, like a half-moon, the tool is known as a half-moon edger. It can go deep up to 3-4 inches and cut through roots.

Over time, the half-moon edger has evolved a lot. Some have sharp teeth to make cutting grass and roots easier. It’s also available in the V-shape, which makes the front a bit pointy to cut through soil.

It’s a cost-effective option for small lawn owners, and it lasts for decades. All you need to do is sharpen the blade, and it works like a new tool. It’s undoubtedly slow, but an ideal option if you are looking for extreme precision.

Pro Tip: Use a half-moon edger when the soil is damp. Otherwise, it will be difficult to use and will require more strength.

Best For:

New Beds: If you want to establish new beds in your lawn, there is nothing better than a half-moon edging tool. You can precisely give the shape you want.

Deep Cuts: Often, going deep in lawns is difficult because of the roots. However, the sharp blade of a half-moon edger goes effortlessly. It is a long-term solution as it cuts the roots and prevents further growth in the future.

Smooth Curves: For intricate curves and shapes in lawns, a half-moon edger is great. It allows users to effortlessly move the tool wherever they want.

Rotary Edger

A rotary edger is a manual edging tool, but using it is quite effortless, just like a motorized tool. It does not require hefty physical effort as a half-moon edger, but still, it’s effective and loved by many small to medium lawn owners.

It’s a kind of stick tool that has a wheel at one end. The wheels roll alongside the edges, and a sharp circular blade or spiked star disc is attached to them.

The user just needs to push the edger forward to guide it along the lawn edges, while the cutting mechanism does its job and offers clean edges.

It’s extremely simple to use. Users can get clean edges in minimal time. Keep in mind that it is not made for curved and intricate edges. Moreover, it cannot handle overly grown lawns that have tall grasses and very thick roots.

If you try to use it on long grass, it will cut the grass, but the cutting mechanism will get jammed as the grass will roll around the wheels.

Best For:

Shallow Trimming: You can use a rotary edger for shallow trimming of the grass along the edges. The shape spikes do not go very deep but offer a nice edge.

Straight Cuts: It is suitable for making straight cuts only. It runs on a wheel, so you can move it along intricate edges. It is a fast tool for making straight edges.

Quick Touchup: If you want to trim edges in minimal time and get your lawn ready for visitors, a rotary edger is the best tool.

Lawn Edging Shears

These are also known as Long-Handled Edging Shears. They are just like big scissors with long handles. Compared to normal shears, these are in an “L” shape to allow the user to effortlessly cut the edges while standing. The scissors are perpendicular to the handles.

They offer extremely clean cuts on the edges and trim any long or short overgrown grass. They are ideal for extra precise cutting because of the sharp blades. However, they are not for deep cuts and permanent boundaries.

Keep in mind that lawn edging shears do not make any edges. They just clip the grass along the edges while preventing any back strain for the user. They do not disturb the soil and roots.

The tool requires time to get the job done. It’s not suitable for large yards and lawns. Moreover, if the grass is extremely thick and dry, you need to exert too much force to cut.

Best For:

Precision Trimming: Due to incredible precision, users can flawlessly cut the grass and make its appearance exceptional.

Intricate Cutting: Users can use these shears on intricate edges and paths. They work great on any terrain, even if there are delicate stoles, lights, and other objects around where motorized tools can’t work.

Easy Touchups: Using shears is pretty easy. They are just like scissors, and users can trim the edges without any hassle.

Power Lawn Edging Tools

Using manual lawn edging tools makes sense when the lawn is small. For large lawns, they will take forever.

You can use power lawn edging tools. They can be powered with gasoline, an electrical connection, or a battery. The power source can be anything; what matters is the type of tool.

They make noise, but they allow you to complete the job effortlessly.

Stick Edgers

Stick edgers are designed to make edges, but they are only suitable for making vertical cuts. They are just like the Rotary Edger, but powered with a battery or gasoline engine. They can also be corded.

They have a wheel to stay on the ground and follow a path. Along with that, there is a thick metal blade that spins at a very high speed. It’s powerful enough to slice through the dirt and make deep cuts. They can even cut through tough and dry soil and thick roots.

The notable feature of stick edgers is that you can adjust the depth of the cuts by adjusting the height. Whether it is a large lawn or a professional task, these are the right enemies of overgrown edges.

The cuts are exceptionally clean and smooth. They look better and transform your lawn. You struggle with a manual rotary edger and move back and forth to cut the grass. But this one can do the job in only one pass.

It is important to note that stick edgers are not meant for intricate cuts and curved paths. They can ruin the edges if you use them there. Keep them for straight cuts only.

Best For:

Making Lines: Even if you want to establish new lines in your lawn, this is the right tool. A half-moon edger will take forever, but it will do the job in no time.

Large Properties: For covering large lawns in minimal time, you can use a stick edger. It works like a breeze but makes noise too.

Clean Edges: The edges become exceptionally clean. The reasons are the shape of the blade and high-speed rotation. It does not leave anything in its way.

String Trimmer

A string trimmer is a versatile tool. It is specifically designed to get rid of weeds, but it can also help trim the edges.

It’s a must-have tool for every lawn owner, whether you have a small or large lawn. It can also be used as a mower to cut grass at locations where your mower can’t reach.

The tool has a flexible line made of nylon. When it rotates at a great speed, it is able to shred grass and weeds in no time. It could be powered by a gasoline engine or a battery. It turns the motor to which the flexible line is attached.

Keep in mind that the flexible line shreds grass; it does not cut it like a blade. But still, it does the job well. When you want to clean edges using a string trimmer, you need to hold it vertically so that it can shred grass.

It won’t disturb the soil and pre-made edges. It will only shred the overgrown grass. That means the roots stay intact and the grass will grow again quickly. It is meant for quick maintenance, not a long-term edging solution.

If you are looking for extremely precise cuts, it is not the right tool. You will experience even cuts with it. Also, if you go too close to the grass, it might shred too much and leave scalps, so you need to control it and do the job carefully.

Best For:

Intricate Borders: It can shred intricate borders and edges, no matter how curved they are. You can move it in any direction along the edge.

Grass Around Obstacles: If there are obstacles around the grass and using other tools is difficult, you can edge using a string trimmer. It will shred the grass without harming other things.

Hard-to-Reach Areas: If there is any area difficult to reach, it could work perfectly. It can trim and shred the grass and make the edges clean.

How to Select the Right Lawn Edging Tool for Your Lawn?

Purpose of Edging

For establishing a new edge, you need to go deep. It is necessary to cut the soil as well as the roots and create a deep edge that will last longer. If the property is small, you can use the half-moon edger. It goes 3-4 inches deep and cuts the compacted soil and roots. The second option is a stick edger, which is also a great option, and you can also control its depth.

Not everyone needs to establish a new edge. If it is already established, you need to maintain it by trimming the overgrown grass. In this case, you don’t need to go deep. If you are looking for a manual tool, you can go with a rotary edger. It will effortlessly make clean edges in your lawn. If you are looking for a motorized option, you can select a stick edger or string trimmer.

Size of the Lawn

The size of the lawn is an important factor in using the right edging tool. If you have a small lawn with edges under 100ft, you use a manual tool. You can go with a half-moon edger, rotary edger, or lawn edging shears, after looking at other factors as well.

For large lawns, you’ll most likely use a motorized tool. Stick edger is definitely an excellent option for incredible results. But you can also use a string trimmer for quick maintenance. Even if you have a large lawn, you still need some manual tools like a half-moon edger for intricate cuts, small jobs, and places where motorized tools can’t work.

Speed and Precision

There is no doubt that motorized lawn edging tools are the fastest. They help you complete the job in minimal time. But keep in mind that you also compromise on precision when you have a very high speed. Stick edger and string trimmer are your go-to tools for high-speed edging.

In manual tools, a rotary edger is the fastest. It helps you make neat cuts in minimal time by dragging the wheel around the edges. Then, we have half-moon edgers and lawn edging shears that are extremely slow.

If precision is what you need, you can achieve it with a half-moon edger, or lawn edging shears are great. You can choose one considering the depth of the cuts you need.

Straight Line vs Intricate Curves

You can make straight-line cuts with any lawn edging tool. But some make it faster. The ideal options are a rotary edger and a stick edger.

For intricate cuts, you need better maneuverability. Depending on the size of the lawn, speed, and precision, you can go with a half-moon edger, lawn edging shears, or a string trimmer.

Power and Noise

If you are going for a power tool, you have three options: battery, gasoline, and corded.

All of them work great, but you have to choose one according to your convenience. Battery-powered ones are the simplest. They require minimal maintenance and offer incredible convenience. They are also quiet and without any emissions. But they need regular battery charging. They could also stop working in the middle if the lawn is large, and you need to have spare batteries. They are suitable for small to medium lawns.

You can use a corded edging tool as long as you want. You can complete your whole job without any worries. It’s perfect for professionals, but a long cord is required, and you need to manage it while edging the lawn. Your range is limited because of the cord, so you can use it in small lawns only.

Gasoline-powered edging tools are suitable for those who do not like the battery-powered ones. These can be used continuously and are suitable for remote options, no matter how large the property is. They are also exceptionally powerful and can do the toughest edging jobs without any issues. But they involve exhaust fumes and are extremely loud. Plus, the maintenance is also high. They are an ideal option for professional or commercial jobs and can even cover very large lawns.

Budget

Last but not least is your budget. If you don’t want to spend much, go with a manual tool. Half-moon edger and rotary are great. They also last a very long time.

If you want to spend money for convenience and high speed, power lawn edging tools are also great. They are needed for large lawns.

How to Edge Your Lawn Like A Pro?

Even if you have never done edging before, these steps will ensure you do it like a professional.

Water the Lawn

It’s better to water the lawn a day before you plan to edge. It will soften the soil, so it will be easier for you to make edges. It will require minimal effort in damp soil.

Mow Your Lawn

Before edging, it’s better to mow your lawn. It will cut long grass, which could cause hindrance in using lawn edging tools.

You can use a lawnmower. But as it’s a laborious job, a better option would be a robotic lawn mower. Navimow offers a wide range of robotic lawn mowers that mow your lawn according to the set schedule. They are available for different-sized lawns and purposes.

For instance, Navimow i105 is an AI-powered lawn mower. It can automatically mow your lawn as it understands the perimeters, obstacles, animals, etc. Not only can it mow the lawn, but it can also precisely mow the edges to get them ready for edging. Owning a robot mower like this will automate lawn maintenance and take off a burden from your shoulders.

Select the Right Tool

We have already discussed how you can select the right tool for edging. Consider all factors, such as the size of the lawn, speed, precision, purpose of edging, curves, etc. It will help you select the right tool that will do the job with perfection and according to your expectations.

Start Edging

Now, here comes the important part. Every tool has its own working mechanism and operating procedure. Here’s a quick summary of how you can use these lawn edging tools.

Half-moon Edger: Place the tool on the edge. Apply force to push it into the soil. A better way is to use your foot. You can do it multiple times to go deeper and shake the tool when it’s in the soil to create a gap and a visible edge. Once done, you can use the tool as a shovel to remove the excess grass, and you will be left with a clean edge.

Rotary Edger: You need to roll the wheel on a hard surface, such as a walkway, while the blade is over the edge. Then, you need to move the tool to cut the extra grass and make clean edges. If there is too much grass, you need to go back and forth to cut it properly.

Lawn Edging Shears: Place the shears along the edge. With the handles, open it. The grass should be in the middle of the blades. Use handles to close the blade, and it will make a very clean edge.

Stick Edger: Align the stick edger properly along the edge. The wheel should be on a hard surface, while the blade is aligned along the edge. Make sure to adjust the desired depth of edging. Start the tool. The blade will start cutting the edges. Move in a straight line along the edge.

String Trimmer: You need to turn the string trimmer 90⁰ to cut vertically and make edges. Align the trimmer along the edge. Make sure it is not too close to the grass. Start the tool and start moving it along the edges. It is necessary to control the height of the trimmer for a consistent result.

Clean the Area

After edging, you need to remove the soil and excess grass outside the edge. Use a spade to remove everything. You will be left with a clean edge.

Finally, use a leaf blower to blow the dirt and grass clippings from the area.

Further reading: Top 10 Lawn Edging Ideas

FAQs

What is the best tool to edge a lawn?

It depends on the purpose of creating edges, the size of the lawn, the required depth, the speed, and other factors. We have already explained the factors you need to consider. Evaluate your needs to get the best tool to edge a lawn. Generally speaking, the half-moon edger is the best manual tool, while the stick edger is the best power tool.

What is the cheapest way to edge a lawn?

The cheapest way to edge a lawn is to use a manual edger. You can go with a half-moon edger if you want deep, intricate, and precise cuts. It can also be used as a shovel to remove excess grass. For straight cuts, you can use a rotary edger. Both are affordable edging tools.

Is it better to edge a lawn when wet or dry?

It’s better to edge a lawn when the soil is damp. Dry soil is difficult to edge, so you should water the lawn a day before edging.

Do you mow first or edge first?

It’s better to mow first, as it will reduce the height of the grass so that the edger can work properly. Secondly, you will be able to clearly see the edges and make better cuts.