How To Use A Lawn Edger: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Use a Lawn Edger PDF download Download Article Learn to use a lawn edger to keep your landscape paths crisp and pristine Explore this Article parts 1 Choosing the Best Edger for Your Type of Lawn 2 Clearing Your Lawn and Marking a Path 3 Edging Your Lawn Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Tony Hoang

Last Updated: February 9, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Tony Hoang. Tony Hoang is a Landscaper and the Principal at H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor in Newark, CA. With over six years of experience, he specializes in designing the perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes. H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor is a 4.5-star business on Yelp. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 117,092 times.

A lawn edger is a tool that you can use to trim the grass on the very edge of a lawn or flowerbed that the lawnmower may not be able to reach. Having a well-trimmed edge around your lawn or flowerbed will make it look well cared-for and can prevent unruly weeds from invading your lawn. Lawn edgers are fairly diverse tools[1] that can be used to create a neat edge around your flower beds, to expand an existing flower bed, or to mark out the edges of a new flowerbed or vegetable bed.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Choosing the Best Edger for Your Type of Lawn

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  1. Step 1 Purchase an electric stick edger for a simple, straightforward model. 1 Purchase an electric stick edger for a simple, straightforward model. Electrically powered stick edgers are the most popular type for a reason: they are relatively lightweight and well suited for clearing up the edges around average-sized lawns, gardens, and flower beds. Some electrical edgers do need to be physically plugged into an outlet (so plan to invest in extension cords), but others are powered by a small rechargeable battery.[2]
    • Electrical edgers are also a budget-friendly option. You can find them at hardware stores or home-improvement stores, and they typically cost as little as $30–40 USD.
  2. Step 2 Opt for a gas-powered stick edger to clear heavier brush. 2 Opt for a gas-powered stick edger to clear heavier brush. As you’d expect, gas-powered stick edgers are much heavier and louder than their electric counterparts. However, they are also quite a bit more powerful. If your lawn is covered in weeds, hedges, and other rough brambles—or if you just have a very large lawn to clean up—you may need the power of a gas edger to get the job done.[3]
    • Gas edgers come with either 2- or 4-cylinder motors; the larger 4-cylinder motors run cleaner than the smaller engines but weigh more and are more pricey.
    • You can find gas edgers at hardware stores for around $150–180 USD.
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  3. Step 3 Use a manual blade edger if you have a small lawn to edge. 3 Use a manual blade edger if you have a small lawn to edge. A manual lawn edger comprises a wooden or metal pole with a semi-circular blade at the end. If you have a small lawn or are planning to edge around 1 or 2 small flower beds, a manual edger is the practical choice.[4] Manual edgers come with either a flat blade, which are ideal for cutting along lawn edges, or blades with scoop-cut edges, which are great for edging around delicate flower beds. [5]
    • Manual edgers are the cheapest, since they have no motor and require no fuel. You can find manual edgers at home-improvement or hardware stores for around $20 USD.
    • You’ll get quite a workout using a manual edger, too, which could be a positive or negative thing depending on the region you live in and the season in which you’re edging the lawn.
  4. Step 4 Choose a walk-behind wheeled edger if you have a large lawn. 4 Choose a walk-behind wheeled edger if you have a large lawn. If you have a huge expanse of grass that you want to trim up, a large walk-behind edger is your best bet. These tools—which you’ll use just like a lawnmower—are a good choice for edging around large trees and substantial flower beds. Walk-behind wheeled edgers are also great for trimming the grass along a long stretch of sidewalk.
    • Keep in mind that wheeled edgers only work on flat ground. If you have a sloped or rolling backyard, avoid using a walk-behind edger.
    • These large edgers can cost as much as $400 USD. If the large price tag deters you, consider renting one from your local hardware or landscape-supply store.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Clearing Your Lawn and Marking a Path

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  1. Step 1 Wear protective clothing and ear plugs to keep yourself safe. 1 Wear protective clothing and ear plugs to keep yourself safe. Before you start working on the lawn, put on a pair of long pants and heavy boots or shoes. These will protect you in case you accidentally hit your leg or foot with the edger. Also put in a pair of protective earplugs or wear sound-blocking earmuffs to block the loud sounds of the edger if you’re using a gas-powered model.
    • Also wear protective goggles or eyewear, to keep your eyes safe from any flying debris the edger may kick up. If you don’t already have a pair of protective goggles or ear plugs, purchase them at a local hardware store.
  2. Step 2 Mow the entire... 2 Mow the entire lawn before you start trimming the edges. Mowing your lawn before cleaning up the edges will save you time and effort in the long run. If you trim the edges of your lawn first and mow second, you could end up with edges dramatically longer or shorter than the majority of the lawn. This would give your lawn an unfinished, sloppy look.[6]
    • Cleaning up the edges after you mow also gives you the opportunity to trim any patchy spots you may have missed while mowing.
  3. Step 3 Mark out the path you’ll cut along with a rope or hose. 3 Mark out the path you’ll cut along with a rope or hose. Take a 20–30 feet (6.1–9.1 m) long piece of rope or section of hose and lay it out along the path you’ll be edging. Leave a space of about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) between your marker and the edge of the sidewalk or flower bed. When you’re trimming the grass, you’ll aim the edger’s blade for that patch of exposed grass.
    • Marking out the path will help keep you on track while you cut trim the edges. Once you’ve edged the lawn 3 or 4 times and have gotten some experience, you won’t need to mark the path.
  4. Step 4 Remove large roots and other obstacles from the path you’ll edge. 4 Remove large roots and other obstacles from the path you’ll edge. Before you begin to edge around your lawn or flower bed, take a walk along the path your just marked and pull up any rocks, stones, or other firm obstacles. A rock could easily dent or damage the blade of your edger[7] , so make sure the path is clear before you start trimming the grass.
    • If you’re edging along a well-manicured yard, there probably won’t be stray rocks. However, there could be rocks if you’re trimming near a sidewalk or vegetable patch.
    • Also make sure you aren’t going to be digging where there are power or water lines or where there needs to be manhole access to sewer pipes.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Edging Your Lawn

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  1. Step 1 Position the edge of your tool right against the cement. 1 Position the edge of your tool right against the cement. You want the edger to always be within about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the edge of the lawn, flower bed, or vegetable patch you’re edging around. If you veer off course while you’re edging and come more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) away, you’ll end up cutting a eyesore of a line through the grass.
    • This is where your marking will come in handy. Follow the guide closely and you’ll cut right along the edge of the lawn!
  2. Step 2 Press the blade down with your foot for a manual edger. 2 Press the blade down with your foot for a manual edger. If you’re using a manual edger, use your leg strength to push the blade down into the soil. Hold the stick firmly and set your foot on the edger tool. Push down with your foot to cut through the soil, and rock the blade gently to cut through the turf. It’s also helpful to pry the cut area open slightly by twisting the blade a little to the right and left. This lets you see the line you just cut.[8]
    • Then, pick up the blade and move it a few inches, and make your next incision.
  3. Step 3 Turn on the engine and walk slowly forward with a motorized edger. 3 Turn on the engine and walk slowly forward with a motorized edger. If you’re using a gas or electric edging tool, turn on the engine to activate the cutting blades. Walk slowly forward as the tool cuts into the ground, and make sure to cut along the exact path that you marked out earlier. Engage your core muscles as you push to maintain control over the edger.[9]
    • It’s important to walk slowly, especially the first few times you use a lawn edger. The faster you walk, the more likely you are to inadvertently wobble or go off course.
  4. Step 4 Cut about 2 in (5.1 cm) deep to maintain an even cut. 4 Cut about 2 in (5.1 cm) deep to maintain an even cut. When you’re new to landscape edging, aiming for a 2 in (5.1 cm) deep channel is a good rule of thumb. A line of this depth will be deep enough to control the spread of grass roots, but not deep enough to be easily visible and disrupt the appearance of the lawn.[10]
    • Most motorized lawn edging tools will have a knob or switch you can adjust to change the depth to which the blade cuts.
    • If you’re using a manual edger, of course, you can cut deeper than this. There’s not much reason to dig a deeper line, though; you’re only trying to clear grass away from the edge of the yard, not dig a trench.
  5. Step 5 Clear away cut grass and check that you’re edging straight. 5 Clear away cut grass and check that you’re edging straight. Every 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m), take a quick break to brush the trimmings off of the line you just cut. Once the line is clearly visible, check to make sure that the line is straight and that you haven’t deviated at all from the path you marked out earlier.[11]
    • If you’re edging through heavy brush or undergrowth, you could use a strong rake to clear a lot of debris off at once.
  6. Step 6 Trim back the grass on the edges of the lawn with hand shears. 6 Trim back the grass on the edges of the lawn with hand shears. Once you’ve cut along the entire edge of the lawn or flower bed, all that you need to do is to trim up any long, unkempt grass blades. Go along the route that you just edged, and use a pair of hand shears to cut back the grass so it fades into the lawn. This will give the edge a natural, groomed look.[12]
    • If you don’t have a pair of hand shears, you could also use an electric weed whacker or lawn trimmer.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

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  • Question How many types of edgers are there? Keith Souza Keith Souza Home Improvement Specialist Keith Souza is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Vaulted Hammer Handyman Services. He specializes in home repair, home automation, and yard maintenance. Keith holds an AAS in Electronics Technology from Heald College. Keith Souza Keith Souza Home Improvement Specialist Expert Answer Lawn edgers come in three varieties: electric, battery-powered, and gas-powered. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 6
  • Question Can you use an edger on grass? Keith Souza Keith Souza Home Improvement Specialist Keith Souza is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Vaulted Hammer Handyman Services. He specializes in home repair, home automation, and yard maintenance. Keith holds an AAS in Electronics Technology from Heald College. Keith Souza Keith Souza Home Improvement Specialist Expert Answer Absolutely! Just be on the lookout for sprinkler heads, especially when you're edging the corners of your property. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question How should one choose the right type of lawn edger based on their environment? Tony Hoang Tony Hoang Landscaping Manager Tony Hoang is a Landscaper and the Principal at H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor in Newark, CA. With over six years of experience, he specializes in designing the perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes. H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor is a 4.5-star business on Yelp. Tony Hoang Tony Hoang Landscaping Manager Expert Answer Picking the right lawn edger depends on what's around your yard. Edgers use different cutting methods — solid blades, discs, and flexible cords. If you're edging next to a flower bed with decorative rocks, be careful. Using a string trimmer cord in that spot could flick rocks into the air, which is dangerous. String trimmers aren't really made for edging, even though pros use them a lot. Before choosing an edger, take a good look at your surroundings to avoid accidents. The goal is to get a nice crisp edge without any safety issues. Assess your environment and match the edger to the space. The right tool for the job will let you edge beautifully and safely. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • Avoid marking your edging path with spray paint. While some people use paint, it can create a problem if you accidentally spray along the wrong patch of grass or if the wind blows the spray away.[13] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Edgers are commonly used to cut the grass along the edge of a sidewalk. Large lawnmowers typically cannot trim the 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) right next to the sidewalk, but an edger can easily trim this grass. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • It’s best to edge around the outskirts of your lawn or flower bed when the ground is fairly moist, as it will be easier to cut through than dry earth. If you live in a cold climate, avoid edging your beds in winter when the ground is likely to be frozen hard and difficult to work. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about gardening, check out our in-depth interview with Tony Hoang.

References

  1. ↑ Tony Hoang. Landscaping Manager. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/lawn-edging
  3. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/how-to-create-a-lawn-edge
  4. ↑ Keith Souza. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/lawn-edging
  6. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/mowing
  7. ↑ Tony Hoang. Landscaping Manager. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ https://kingfarm.org/lawn-edging-lighting/
  9. ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/tips-for-edging-your-lawn
More References (4)
  1. ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/tips-for-edging-your-lawn
  2. ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/over-garden-fence/2018-05-21-edging-and-mulching-landscape-beds
  3. ↑ https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/pruning-ornamental-grasses
  4. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns

About This Article

Tony Hoang Co-authored by: Tony Hoang Landscaping Manager This article was co-authored by Tony Hoang. Tony Hoang is a Landscaper and the Principal at H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor in Newark, CA. With over six years of experience, he specializes in designing the perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes. H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor is a 4.5-star business on Yelp. This article has been viewed 117,092 times. 4 votes - 100% Co-authors: 9 Updated: February 9, 2025 Views: 117,092 Categories: Featured Articles | Lawn Care In other languages Russian Spanish
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Tony Hoang Co-authored by: Tony Hoang Landscaping Manager Co-authors: 9 Updated: February 9, 2025 Views: 117,092 100% of readers found this article helpful. 4 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

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