Best Lawn Edgers (Manual, Gas, Electric & Battery)

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Just like every other person, a lawn requires care and maintenance. And the most useful tool that can keep the lawn happy is nothing but a lawn edger. If you own a lawn and want to keep it clean and fresh, then an edger should be the first pick. But before you get yourself one, let’s know a few kinds of stuff about this equipment! With our all-inclusive reviews, you can pick the best lawn edgers easily and effectively.

Definition:

A lawn edger is a kind of garden tool. It is typically used to trim the edge of a lawn and separate the tool cleanly to form distinct boundaries between a lawn containing paved surfaces. The surfaces can be grass, asphalted area, concreted area, soft botanical ground cover, kerb, sidewalk, uncovered soil such as unbounded garden and granular material like gravel or sand. Such tool can either come in manual or motorized where the latter employs an electric motor or small two strokes gasoline motor.

History of Lawn Edgers:

It has still been unclear for us how a lawn edger had been invented and who came up with it first. But it is certain that the manual edgers surely belonged to the first designs. It is anticipated that the original tool had resembled a shovel incorporating a half-circle shaped blade mounted to a handle. This blade chopped through sod and grass that helped clear bigger areas.

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However, people wouldn’t cut sod typically unless they worked for a landscaping company back in the days. It was not only a part of preparing the field to plow but also a part of the construction process.

After going through several changes in design and attributes, powered edger emerged. It came in the form of gasoline-powered edger that was pressed on by Louis Faas in the 1940s. He worked for the company King o’ Lawn and used a system of pulleys with 1.5 Briggs and Stratton motor to operate the tool.

Soon after such design was evolved, other companies too started coming up with different edger designs including adjustable blades.

Types of lawn edgers and reason to use:

Manual:

Man powered edger is basically manual edger. It comes with a wheel containing spikes on the surface. The wheel is mounted to a wooden handle. Edging with this tool can require a bit of more power but it will help keep the grass from growing over onto the driveways or sidewalks.

Why pick this tool:

Cheap.
Long-lasting.
Convenient

Gas-powered:

Such edger has been engineered around a rotary blade connecting to a 2-cycle or 4-cycle engine with a belt and 2 pulleys while attaching to a handle. They have wheels that provide you with stability and portability.

Why pick this tool:

Great for bigger areas.
Powerful.
Durable.
Portable

Electricity powered:

At present, most of the modern edgers come in powered that are run on battery or electricity. These may not be as solid as a gas-powered edger but you will find them light and easy to handle. Not only that, it also requires lesser maintenance and can be extended as far as the power cord would allow.

Why pick this tool:

No carbon emission.
Powerful.
Easy to use.
Light.

Battery-powered:

Battery-powered edgers are actually cordless tools that run on a battery. They are likely to last around 30 minutes. However, you will find them convenient for small yards having manageable grass.

Why pick this tool:

Powerful.
Portable.
Easy to use.
Light.

Best lawn edgers

1. Southland SWLE0799 Gas Lawn Edger

Call it the most flexible or the best lawn edger, Southland SWLE0799 has the ability to be both. This particular model comes with a variety of adjustable functions that ease up your job!

Features:

Gas-powered
Triangular 3 Point Blade
Bevel Adjustment
5 Depth Positions
Curb Hopping Feature
Metal frame and blade guard
79cc OHV engine
Wheels for mobility.
Stabilizer requires fueling if the edger is not in use for a month.

Pros:

Depth can be positioned up to 2.5 inches deep.
Curb hopping ability.
The blade can be adjusted +/-15 degree angle for a bevel cut.
EPA and CARB certified.
2-year warranty.
Powerful 3.5 foot-pounds of torque delivery.
Manual recoil for an easy start.
Easy to assemble.
Quiet operation.
Fuel tank lets you keep track of the fuel level easily.
Offers a convenient way to trim the edges around the curb.
Protection ensured by a metal frame and blade guard.

Cons:

The wheel may not track straight.

2. WORX WG896 Electric Lawn Edger

WG896 by WORX promises you to give some definition to your lawns making it the best lawn edger in the market. You will love how its blade remains tight even after using for an hour. Hence, WORX knows how to WORK!.

Features:

Electric
12 Amp motor.
7.5 inches blade.
4,700 revolutions per minute.
Cuts down at 1 inch, 1-1/4 inch and 1-1/2 inch
Cutting line indicator.
Adjustable shaft.
Adjustable handle.
14 pounds in weight.
The blade is made of steel with serrated edges.

Pros:

The blade remains tight even after an hour of use.
The motor spins the blade quick and deep at 4,700 RPM offering straight and clean cuts.
It offers professional-looking lines and edges.
Three depth adjustments.
Able to stay on straight and narrow.
Adjustable shaft benefits people of any height.
An adjustable D-grip handle offers control and comfort.
Lightweight and easy to use.
Cleaning out clogs is easy.
Quick and easy to assemble.
Fits a variety of extension cords.
It requires low maintenance.

Cons:

Takes a bit while on the first go around.
The short handle can be a little awkward.

3. Poulan PP1000E Pro Lawn Edger Attachment

Are you looking for an edger that will not only be safe but powerful as well? Then take a look at PP1000E lawn edger attachment from Poulan. It can meet all of your expectations by being the best lawn edger for you.

Features:

7 inches hardened steel blade.
Magnesium gearbox.
Barrier handlebar.
Cutting depth adjusts up to 2 inches.
Multi-tool attachment system.
Wheels for portability.
Knob for height adjustment.
2.38 pounds in weight.
2 years warranty.

Pros:

Handlebar helps protect against accidents.
The solid blade offers durability and protection.
Compatible with most attachment-capable gas trimmers.
Fits different branded trimmers with the removable shaft.
Heavy-duty gearbox.
Requires a simple click to install attachment.
The adjustable cutting depth cuts a deep clean edge.
Short and light offer convenience.
Cuts through the greens easily and perfectly.
Less hassle in maintenance.
It does not offer frequent clogs.
Construction is durable and solid.

Cons:

Height adjustment knob vibrates and comes out loose.
No edge guide causing the blade to spin in the wrong direction or area.

4. McLane 101-5.5GT-7Gas Powered

McLane has been known to provide you with their best lawn edger models since 1946. With power and precision, 101-5.5GT-7 run on gas power has got the appeal to impress you.

Features:

Runs on gas.
Made of heavy-duty steel frames.
Single lever blade clutch.
Depth control.
Sealed precision ball bearings.
Precision machined cutter head.
2 inches by 9 inches spring steel blade.
7 inches ball-bearing wheels.
Rubber tires.
It meets safety standards.
Manual throttle.

Pros:

Edging and trimming use.
It offers a precise cut with power.
The tool uses a blade clutch and depth control for precise cuts.
Able to ride on most curbs.
It offers clean cuts.
Able to cut horizontally and vertically.
Smooth rubber replaceable wheels.
Wide wheels can be moved easily from spot to spot.
The blade can be tilted quickly and easily at any angle.
Able to trim flat no matter what the height is.
Able to meet all safety standards.
Easy to put together.
Start quickly on the first pull.
Chip resistant baked-on powder-coated paint.
Very easy depth adjustment.

Cons:

Overheating issues on the drive pulley.
Blade wears out quick.

5. WORX WG160 GT 2.0

WORX WG160 GT 2.0 is also able to be the best lawn edger for its convenience. It can give you all the freedom to edge around your lawn with optimum performance.

Features:

3 in 1 function.
Dual-position wheels.
10 inches cutting line length.
12-inch cutting diameter.
Automatic single line feed.
Quick-release lever.
Adjustable height.
90-degree tilting shaft.
Dual function flower spacer guard.
5.7 pounds in weight.
7600/minute no-load speed.
One 20 Volt cordless MAX lithium battery.

Pros:

It offers precise cuts with power.
Solid construction and ergonomic design.
Easy transition from trimming to edging to mowing with no tools.
Quick-release lever for quick telescopic height adjustment to 90 degrees tilting shaft.
Flower spacer guard protects vegetation while acting as a guide.
Cordless offers great mobility and portability.
Takes only 3 hours to fully charge.
Able to trim around an average of 1/4 acre yard in less time.
Dual-position in-line wheels make the easy edging.
Ultra-lightweight.
Quick and easy to assemble.
Mini-mowing function maintains around hard-to-reach or landscaping areas.

Cons:

The wheels can fall off quite often while mowing.
The battery lasts about 20 minutes.

Things to consider in buying lawn edgers:

Edger type:

You will find a variety of edger types in the market. Although each of them has the same purpose but will function differently with different attributes. Make sure to pick one that fits your requirements.

Man powered:

Cheap.
Well-built.
Useful.

Gas-powered:

Ideal for bigger areas.
Durable.
Portable

Electric powered:

Light and easy to use.
Powerful.
No carbon emission.

Battery-powered:

Light and easy to use.
Free movement.
Powerful.

Construction:

Obviously, you will need to get a lawn edger that will feel solid so you can use it for years. It should not be flimsy and wobbly because these are the indicators that are telling you to not buy the tool.

Purpose:

Understand your objective. Ask yourself if you need to use the tool just for extra grass removal or for different purposes. There are different models that are multipurpose and can help to edge in different ways. You can opt for 2 in 1 function or 3 in 1 function models that offer edging, trimming and mowing.

Blade:

Keep the type of blade in mind while looking for the best lawn edger. It’s the type that relies on the kind of area in which you will use the tool and on how deep the cut will be. You can take a close look at the nature and texture of your lawn and go with a blade accordingly.

Moreover, you also need to take adjustable cutting depth and 3 blade positions into considerations. They will help you get a sharper line.

Also, look for blade detachment ability so it can be easy for you to keep the blade from turning. Plus, also look for a model that will let you remove and replace the blades quickly and easily.

Yard Size

Make sure to observe the size of your lawn area. If it’s big and huge with precisely divided, then pick the one accordingly.

A manual edger for a huge lawn is a big NO-NO since you won’t have enough manpower to operate it. Meanwhile, a big edger for a small area will be a waste of money and other functions.

Wheel number:

The number of wheels is determined by the way an edger will be used and the person who will be using it.

Make sure to avoid picking one that you will not be able to use. The models that come with extra wheels are stated to be a bit cumbersome. Hence, if you think you can handle the wheels and maintain their wear and tear, then you can go with them.

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Ease of maintenance:

You will surely like to pick a model that will be simple to use. You have a variety of high-end options if you can work with a large unit.

Meanwhile, you can also go with a light and comfortable option by picking an edger that will be easy to maintain and will not need extra effort.

Comfort

Comfort is basically synonymous with ease of use. Make sure to choose a model that will be easy and comfortable for you to use. It should provide you with decent visibility while edging. This way, it will help in assisting you to see what you are doing so you can achieve optimum performance.

Moreover, the height of the blade should also be comfortable to adjust so it can match your height.

How to use lawn edgers

So, you just got yourself a lawn edger and you are very new to the tool. What you will do?

Well, you have two options, either call an expert or google the steps for the job. Surely, you opt for the latter since you are probably reading the write.

So, if you don’t know how to use lawn edger, we will help you out. You will just need to follow the steps below.

Step 1: Mow it

It’ll be great if you mow the entire lawn to the desired height to get rid of overgrown and obstructive grass. It’ll help give you an even surface so you can use it as a guide to having a neat finish.

Step 2: Make an outline

With a flexible garden hose, create an outline for the lawn edge. You can use chalk or spray paint to transfer the outline to the grass.

For getting a curved edge, you can bend the hose and for getting a straight one, you can pull the house taut.

Step 3: Positioning blade

If edging is placed between hard surfaces like the lawn and a patio, make sure to line up the blade with the edging line. It will help you position the blade placed on the turf.

There are many models that come with edge guides that help to position on paved surfaces. Such guides make it easier to position the blade properly.

You can either keep both the wheels on paved surfaces or keep them on the lawn side of the edging line if you want to edge flower bed.

Step 4: Start the edger

Now, activate the edger and let the blade spin for a couple of seconds prior to operating the tool. Electric edger comes with a button that turns the machine on and off whereas gas-powered ones need you to pull a cord for activating the motor.

Step 5: Cutting through the turf

To cut through the turf, push the edger gradually in accordance with the edging line. Keep the blade tight against the paved surfaces.

Make sure to observe the edger so you can guide the speed. The unit is stated to work harder when it cuts through the turf. It also gets quieter as it finishes cutting and gets ready to move with the line.

Step 6: Pull back when the blade slows down

If you think that the blade is slowing down, then pull the edger back a few inches. It can happen when the blade either cuts through thick grass or when it gets caught.

Step 7: Add mulch

Pull the plants up between the flower beds and cut edging lines with a small shovel for taking out the grass. After that, add mulch to the edge of flower-beds for creating a bold and vibrant contrast against the greens. Albeit, the step is not necessary while you edge along the paved surface. It’s because the blade tends to cut with the surface directly that leaves no room for plants.

Step 8: Repeat the process

Repeat the process of edging at least once in every month. You can also repeat it when you find the grass reappearing and growing beyond the edging line. Learn how to edge a lawn and garden.

Finishing line

The article has come up with almost all aspects of a lawn edger from definition to how to use it. We believe you can now select the best lawn edgers in the market too. It is never the end of development as development is a continuous process. Please feel free to share any ideas in your mind. Happy lawn care.