Best Lawn Edgers

A neat lawn truly turns your yard into a picture-perfect scene. While mowers and clippers cover the large areas, they often overlook the edges. Trimming by hand is one way to tackle those tricky spots, but it is quite a hassle. It’s tiring and drags on forever, leaving the job half done.

Lawn edgers allow us to edge along pavements and sidewalks. They cut deep, removing any unwanted turf. In some cases, they come as attachments to trimmers and mowers. But there are cases where they are standalone tools.

Whether you have a large yard or a small yard, the best lawn edger is one that’s powerful, easy to use, and efficient in maintaining smooth edges. We have rounded up the top models, as well as a buying guide to ensure you get one that fits your budget and suits your needs.

Best Lawn Edger Reviews

Black+DECKER LSTE523 Lawn Edger

Key Features

• It works as a trimmer and as a wheeled edger.
• String diameter – 0.065 inches.
• It features PowerDrive transmission that delivers enough power for edging.
• Dual power control that lets you choose between extended run time and more power.
• It features the AFS (Automatic Feed Spool), and the line feed is through pushing a button.
• It comes with a 20V battery that ensures it lasts longer.

For ultimate lawn maintenance, this battery-powered Black+Decker LSTE523 is an ideal choice. It comes as a trimmer and as a wheeled edger. These two functionalities help you trim along buildings, and maintain smooth edges along pavements. It also features the powerdrive transmission that ensures it has enough power to edge even through overgrown grass. It’s our best cordless lawn edger by far.

Why we like it

• It’s a great landscaping tool since you can accomplish edging and trimming simultaneously.
• The wheel makes it easy to push and maintain smooth lines.
• The line feed system is easy to use.
• The dual-speed control gives you control over the amount of power you need for specific tasks.
• The shaft’s height can be adjusted to accommodate people of different heights.

What we don’t like

• The button for releasing the line into the spool is quite delicate.

Our Verdict

This product is a perfect combination of simplicity and efficiency. The PowerDrive transmission delivers maximum torque for edging and trimming. It also ensures comfort for the user. This is by having an adjustable handle, and the dual control feature to control the amount of power. We would recommend this tool for smaller yards.

Greenworks 27032 Lawn Edger

Key Features

• A 12 amp motor powers this tool.
• It features a 7.5-inch dual blade for maximum edging.
• It features a cord lock that prevents the cord from detaching accidentally.
• The manufacturer offers a three-year warranty.

This Greenworks model attempts to solve the unreliable batteries menace, and the gas-powered tools hassle. It may not be as powerful, but the 12 amp motor is strong enough to edge lawns with regular types of grass. It also features an adjustable 7.5 inches blade.

Why we like it

• It’s easy to start.
• It’s less noisy and more environmentally friendly.
• It comes in a small compact size that’s easy to maneuver.

What we don’t like

• It’s not strong enough to cut through overgrown grass.
• The shaft is made of cheap materials, making it less durable. A worst-case scenario is where it snaps, and fails to hold the blade in place. This can be very dangerous to the user and anyone around the yard.

Our Verdict

We would recommend this to those with smaller yards, or those who would love to avoid gas emissions. It is moderately robust, easy to start, easy to use, and maintain.

Black+DECKER 3-in-1 MTC220 Edger

Key Features

• It is a 3-in-1 lawn maintenance tool.
• It features the AFS line feed.
• It also features a gear drive transmission for maximum torque.
• It comes with two batteries, ensuring you work for extended periods.

This 4-wheeled garden tool delivers enough power and stability to edge medium-sized lawns. It’s also a 3-in-1 (Edger, trimmer, and mower). This combination allows you to mow large parts of lawns, trim close to walls and buildings, and edge along sidewalks, all with one tool. The 4-wheels ensure precision in maintaining smooth edges.

Why we like it

• It’s easy to convert to a mower, edger, or trimmer.
• It comes in a compact size that doesn’t take too much storage space.
• Since its battery-powered, it’s flexible, light, and environmentally friendly.
• The 20V batteries last longer.
• The mowing deck is adjustable to various heights.
• The handles are also adjustable to ensure comfort for the user.

What we don’t like

• The Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) malfunctions frequently.

Our Verdict

This tool offers excellent landscaping functionalities for a small yard. It’s also very powerful, thanks to the gear transmission. Its small compact size enhances maneuverability and secure storage.

WORX WG170GT Revolution 20V Lawn Edger

Key Features

• It’s a 3-in-1 tool.
• The line feed is through the push of a button.
• It comes with two 20V batteries for extended runtime.
• The shafts’ height is adjustable to ensure comfort for the user.

It seems like the combo edgers are the best when it comes to lawn maintenance. Our third entry is a 3-in-1 (mini-mower, edger, and trimmer) from WORX. It’s light and efficient. It also features a flower guard to protect delicate plants as you edge.

Why we like it

• It’s easy to use and saves the user a lot of time and money.
• It’s easy to convert from the mini-mower.
• It is wheeled, which allows you to maintain straight lines.
• The flower guard prevents you from damaging flowers and other delicate plants along the edges.

What we don’t like

• The batteries last for about 30 minutes. If you have a more extensive lawn, then you’ll waste a lot of time recharging now and then.

Our Verdict

This is a great lawn maintenance tool that’s easy to use. If you have back problems or are limited physically, the wheels on the edger make it easier for you.

Buying Guide

There are two main types of lawn edgers;

1. Pole Single-wheel – These are smaller tools that resemble a string trimmer. They are the best for smaller yards since they feature excellent maneuverability.
2. Walk-behind – These are larger tools and more powerful. Most of them are 4-wheeled, and they are gas-powered. Since they are quite heavy, the handles have been enhanced with soft grips and adjustable heights to make them more comfortable.

Factors to Consider when Buying a Lawn Edger

Size of the yard

Lawns come in different sizes and shapes. More extensive gardens require more powerful products such as gas, or powerful battery-powered varieties. If you have sharp corners, a battery model is the best since its lighter and easier to maneuver. Corded edgers are the best for smaller yards closer to your house, or closer to a source of power.

Power Source

There are four sources of power for garden tools. They include manual, electricity, battery, and gas.

Manual

These rely on physical power. They comprise of a rotating wheel and a long handle that you use to push the blade into the soil manually.

Electric powered

Corded edgers are the smallest, least powerful, and cheapest. They are easy to start since you don’t need to mix oil and gas or switch batteries. They are also less noisy and more environmentally friendly when compared to gas-powered models. However, they are limited to edging small areas close to the power source. The cord is also risky since it may accidentally come off.

Battery-powered

Battery-powered lawn edgers are environmentally friendly and more portable than their corded counterparts making them the best for medium-sized gardens. The issue is that they don’t last that long.

Gas-powered

These lawn edgers deliver maximum power and are the best for large yards. They are also the best when you have overgrown grass and harsh types of grass that electric models can’t handle. 4-stroke engines power most of these. 2-stroke engines can also handle these tasks but are less powerful. They also need the mixing of gas and oil. Gas varieties are noisy and emit greenhouse gases. The initial purchasing costs and maintenance costs are also quite high.

Size of the Blade

A high-quality lawn edger should be able to cut deep to remove any unwanted weeds along the sidewalks. 9 inch and 7-inch blades seem to achieve the most desired results. These blades should also have a flower guard to protect the flower beds and other delicate plants from damage. The 90 degrees pivoting feature also comes in handy when edging along walls and buildings.

Ease of use

Lawn edgers tend to be DIY tools, though there those that are specifically designed for professionals and accordingly you should get one that you’re comfortable with. For instance, the length of the handles should be adjustable. The handles should have soft grips. The assembly, starting, and attachment, if it comes as an attachment, should be straightforward. It’s also important to check if the manufacturer offers technical support.

Combo

Some come as attachments in trimmers and lawnmowers. This combination saves time and money. However, some features may not work as expected in these tools. These combos are the best for DIY homeowners. For a professional edging experience, we believe specialized models are the best.

Price

If you’re on a budget, you can always choose a cheaper electric or manual edger. You can forego advanced features that gas-powered models offer. If you’re looking for advanced features, 4-stroke engines are the best, but quite expensive. However, ensure that the price is reasonable and match the functionality. High prices don’t guarantee quality products.

Maintenance

Maintenance costs are also worth consideration. Gas models are costly to maintain since they need oil, gas, and some engine parts that need frequent replacements. Electric and manual models are cheaper to maintain.

Benefits of Lawn Edgers

• Beauty – A nicely edged lawn creates a good first impression to your visitors. If you were to sell this property, edging could help to attract buyers and increase the value of your property.
• Lawn Maintenance – Cut deep, cutting roots of grass and weeds. If you have flower beds and grass lawns, you can use an edger to prevent grass roots from interfering with the flowers.
• Protection of concrete surfaces – Some grassroots can be quite aggressive. They may cause cracking on the driveways, pavements, and other concrete surfaces. A lawn edger that cuts deep helps get to these roots before they cause this damage.
• Controlling grass growth – Allow you to restrict the grass growth to specific sections on your farm. Also, by clearly marking the barriers on the pavement, people will avoid stepping on the lawn.
• Easy to use – Regardless of the size of your lawn, you can efficiently work on your yard without having to hire a professional.
• Affordability – You can get a suitable model for less than $100. Most of them are also easy to maintain.

Safety Precautions to Observe When Edging Your Lawn

• Ensure that you edge when the ground is relatively dry. This ensures that you maintain a clean and precise cut.
• If you are using a gas product, wear ear-mugs, to protect you from the noise. You should also use gloves to protect you from the vibration.
• You need to ensure that the area you intend to edge is free from stones, twigs, or any other debris. These objects are capable of destroying the blade or other internal parts.
• Ensure that you wear protective glasses since edgers may throw debris towards your face.
• Make sure you mark the path you’ll use when edging. Ensure that you follow this marked path to avoid leaving irregular patches along the edge of the lawn.
• You should always mow your lawn first before edging. This order saves you more time and achieves better results.
• Ensure that the one you purchase adheres to the safety regulatory bodies in your region.
• Extra safety gear such as helmets, overalls, and boots should help to protect other parts of your body.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I Use a Trimmer as an Edger?

Trimmers can work in some cases, but they aren’t effective. A trimmer may not have a wheel, which makes it challenging to edge along a straight line. Trimmers also use a filament string. Strings can’t reach as deep as a blade would.

Do You Edge First, or Mow First?

We believe that you should mow first. If you edged first, you might tamper with the smooth edges when mowing, and you will have to come back and fix the patches.

How Often Should I Edge My Lawn?

Once a year is enough. If you maintained this schedule, you wouldn’t have to deal with excess overgrowth every time.

Final Thoughts

We believe that the Black+DECKER LSTE523|Li-on String Trimmer is the best lawn edger in terms of functionality, ease of use, and affordability. Thanks to the PowerDrive transmission, this lawn edger is robust and resilient. It also cuts deep, making the best tool for maintaining driveways, sidewalks, and flowerbeds.

It also features a flower guard to protect the flowers from damage. It has a dual power control allowing you to choose between working for extended periods and working under maximum power. The 20V battery lasts long enough for small and medium-sized lawns. It’s also easily converted to a trimmer, allowing you to accomplish two distinct lawn maintenance functionalities at the same time.