Once the grass is mowed and the hedges are trimmed, there is one effective thing you can do to spruce up your landscaping. That thing is to edge the border between the grass and shrub beds or hardscapes. There are many models available depending on the size and location of your edging.
Do you have miles and miles of sidewalk frontage to clean up? Look at a heavy-duty gas walk-behind model. Or do you just need a smaller machine to sharpen up the border between mulch and grass? Maybe a cordless electric trimmer/edger will do. Take a look at our list of best lawn edgers below for some great options.
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1. McLane 9-Inch Gas-Powered Lawn Edger
Pros:- Very heavy duty and durable
- Ergonomically designed for maximum comfort
- Can cut vertically or horizontally at any height
Cons:- Gas engine maintenance
- Expensive
- Not CARB compliant...sorry, California
For large properties or commercial use, an gas-powered lawn edger is nice to have around to keep things neat and tidy. This McLane 9-Inch Gas-Powered Lawn Edger features a high-performance 3.5HP gas engine for reliable cutting power and maximum efficiency. The cutter itself is precision machined with sealed ball bearings for a 2-inch x 9-inch spring steel blade. It has a heavy-duty chassis and tubular steel handle for maximum durability.
This edger can cut vertically or horizontally to handle almost every cutting job. The tires are wide rubber with the ability to ride on most curbs while still delivering a clean cut. The blade can be quickly and easily tilted to any angle and can trim flat at any height. For professional-style workmanship and use, it’s going to be tough to beat this McLane unit.
Find more Ariens 986101 169cc Gas 9 in. Wheeled Lawn Edger (CARB) information and reviews here.
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2. EGO Power+ ME0801 Lawn Edger Kit
Pros:- Battery and charger included
- Two-speed trigger
- Brushless motor
Cons:- Not compatible with attachments from other brands
- A little heavy but it's balanced nicely
- An "a la carte" combo kit option would be nice
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the EGO Power+ ME0801 Lawn Edger Kit is that the tool is available in many varieties. With battery, without battery, with additional attachments, and the list goes on. That’s rare in the world of electric lawn edgers and a very welcome attitude from a power tool vendor. EGO makes some seriously great tools so if you decide you need a pole saw or a hedge trimmer, you’ll be making a great decision by going with EGO.
The power head tool, if you haven’t figured it out by now, can work with a wide variety of attachments. The motor is powered by EGO’s standard 56V battery packs that power over 50 different tools. The edger head is capable of cutting three inches deep for crisp, precise edges around your hardscaped areas. A guide wheel can be easily adjusted to customize your settings as well.
Find more EGO Power+ ME0801 Lawn Edger Kit information and reviews here.
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3. Earthquake 23275 Walk-Behind Landscape and Lawn Edger
Pros:- Flexible depth control
- Five-year warranty
- Four-wheeled balance
Cons:- Throttle could use a lock setting
- Handlebar steel needs to be a larger diameter
- Vague documentation
For power and flexibility while you edge your property, the Earthquake 23275 Walk-Behind Landscape and Lawn Edger is a good solution. The 79cc Viper engine spins a 9-inch spring steel blade at 3400 RPM providing the power and speed you need to get your lawn, sidewalk, and driveway edging done. Installing cable or wire underground? This edger can also be used for smaller trenching jobs such as electric fence installation or creating a run to a garage or shed.
The multi-position pivoting head offers five different cutting angles from 70 to 110 degrees. Adjustment of the head is made by sliding the single-hand operated lever into the appropriate notch on the adjustment plate. Clean, professional lines can be easily achieved regardless of your type of grass when the four-wheeled design is combined with multi-angled cutting. Slice through standard blade grass with the 90-degree option or select between a multitude of angles to create a clean edge when dealing with creeping turf.
A flexible control mechanism makes depth adjustment simple. From the operating position, engage the adjustment lever with one-hand to select from five different depth settings from 1/2-inch to 3-1/2-inches. Durable chain skirting will protect the operator from flying debris while the attached tool holder provides a convenient place to store smaller hand tools making them easily available for lawn and sidewalk detailing. On top of that is a five-year warranty. Boom.
Find more Earthquake 23275 Walk-Behind Landscape and Lawn Edger information and reviews here.
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4. Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Lawn Edger
Pros:- World's largest 80V cordless tool system
- Up to 40 minutes of runtime
- Comfortable portability and power
Cons:- Battery and charger doesn't come with the tool
- It might be cheaper to get the string trimmer with edger attachment
- Slightly heavier than gas models because of the large battery
Greenworks’s line of 80V cordless yard tools is very popular because of the professional-grade power available at a reasonable price. This Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Lawn Edger is a great edger that borders on gas-powered efficiency and ability without the maintenance. Their 80V cordless electric mower and cordless string trimmer are amazing. They can be found in combo packs with batteries and chargers and without if you don’t need them…but with cordless tools, it’s always good to have a redundant spare battery around.
The challenge that I have with this lawn edger is that the tool isn’t available on Amazon with an included battery or charger. Perhaps a better option would be to pick up the Greenworks Pro 80V cordless string trimmer that is attachment capable then pitch out another $70-ish for the edger attachment. Greenworks makes a number of attachments for the main electric tool such as a blower and a hedge trimmer as well.
Find more Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Lawn Edger information and reviews here.
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5. Southland SWLE0799 79cc Walk-Behind Gas Lawn Edger
Pros:- Can do a straight or bevel cut
- Two year warranty
- Durable steel construction
Cons:- Gas engine maintenance required
- Handle is not adjustable
- Engine choke can be tricky
It’s tough to beat a gas-powered tool for a large amount of edging work. The Southland SWLE0799 79cc Walk-Behind Gas Lawn Edger is less expensive than the McLane but still delivers excellent performance, quality, and power. This Southland edger has a manual recoil easy start fuel delivery system and is adjustable to five depth positions up to 2-1/2-inches deep.
The 4 stroke OHV engine offers up 79cc or over 5 HP. The three-point blade angle measures nine inches and can be adjusted for a bevel cut up to 15 degrees in either direction. The metal frame is extremely durable and for added safety, there is a blade guard. This machine only weighs 60 pounds so in combination with the large rubber, no-flat wheels, the Southland is easy to move around.
Find more Southland SWLE0799 79cc Walk Behind Gas Lawn Edger information and reviews here.
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6. Milwaukee M18 Fuel 18V Brushless Lawn Edger Kit
Pros:- Attachment capable
- Battery and charger included
- Powerful
Cons:- Expensive
- Edger not available on its own without the string trimmer
- Replacement batteries are expensive as well
Milwaukee’s series of M18 Fuel cordless electric tools is pretty awesome and that includes this Lawn Edger kit. The package includes a cordless power head with a brushless motor, a Quik-Lok string trimmer attachment, and a Quik-Lok lawn edger attachment. The kit also includes a 9.0 Ah battery and a rapid charger. Unfortunately, the edger isn’t available on its own with the power head tool.
This power tool has the ability to reach full throttle in under a second and will deliver up to an hour of runtime per charge. The motor delivers up to 6,200 RPM and has the power to maintain its speed without bogging down in thick brush or turf. The motor is positioned at the rear of the tool in order to provide a good combination of power, balance, and maneuverability. Along with the included string trimmer and lawn edger attachments, the power head tool is compatible with other attachments like a hedge trimmer and a pole saw.
Find more Milwaukee M18 Fuel 18V Brushless Lawn Edger Kit information and reviews here.
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7. Craftsman Straight Shaft Gas Trimmer and Edger
Pros:- Very reasonable price
- String trimmer and lawn edger all in one
- Will work with attachments from a variety of brands
Cons:- 2-cycle fuel hassle
- Requires annual maintenance
- Just a 25cc motor
Want some gasoline power at a reasonable price and two-in-one variety? Look no further than the Craftsman Straight Shaft Gas Trimmer and Edger. The power head tool features a 25cc, 2-cycle gas motor that is attachment-capable with a large number of tools from a variety of vendors. You know the drill: prime, choke, and pull the string. It’s a dependable power tool from a reliable vendor.
The kit includes a 17-inch straight shaft string trimmer with a bump feed head. The multi-position handle gives the operator more control for less fatigue during use. The edger head provides a 7-1/2-inch dual hardened steel blade that will give your sidewalks, curbs, and landscape beds a clean, manicured look. The edger also has a large guide wheel to help with stability as well as an adjustable blade depth for taking care of the worst of lawn edges.
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8. WORX WG896 12 Amp Electric Lawn Edger
Pros:- Pivoting handle
- Compact storage and easy transport
- Quiet electric motor
Cons:- Definitely not professional-grade
- Takes some time and effort to get through overgrown, thick turf
- Make sure to tighten the blade out of the box
If you’re not looking for the freedom of a cordless electric garden edger or the power of a gas-powered machine, check out the WORX WG896 12 Amp Electric Lawn Edger. It features a 12 Amp motor that spins the 7-1/2-inch blade quick and deep at 4700 RPM. For professional-looking lines and edges, it’s a good tool for your garden shed if you don’t mind being tethered to an electrical outlet.
There are three depth adjustments between 1-inch to 1-1/2-inches depending on your desired task of the day. A cutting line indicator will help you stay on the straight and narrow as well. The shaft and the handle are both adjustable so users of all shapes and sizes will find the WG896 simple and comfortable to use. For really shaggy lawn edges that haven’t tamed for a season or two, you may struggle a bit to start but stick with it and this edger will do the job.
Find more WORX WG896 12 Amp 2-in-1 Electric Lawn Edger, 7.5-Inch information and reviews here.
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9. Greenworks 27032 12 Amp Corded Garden Edger
Pros:- Integrated cord lock
- Good value for the price
- Spring-assisted front wheel
Cons:- Blade guard can clog quickly
- Tethered to an electrical cord
- Supporting wheels placed too narrowly together
This corded electric garden edger from Greenworks provides solid residential performance for a reasonable price. It’s a good choice for rural or urban lawns that need some edges trimmed. This lawn edger features a 12 Amp motor and a 7-1/2 inch double-edged blade to get through the shaggy boundaries of your grass.
The front wheel is spring-assisted and will allow the user to control the blade depth by increasing or decreasing the pressure. There’s no need to manually adjust the setting. While this saves time while working, it also prevents a firm depth setting for an even distance. The handle is height adjustable for comfort and the cord outlet has a locking feature to make the most of having to be on an extension cord leash.
Find more GreenWorks 27032 12 Amp Corded Edger information and reviews here.
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10. Black+Decker Electric Landscape Edger and Trencher
Pros:- Three blade depth positions
- Good for both right and left-handed people
- High-torque, 12 Amp electric motor
Cons:- No D-shaped auxiliary handle available
- Depth adjustment wheel seems a little flimsy
- Folks over six feet tall may have to stoop over to use
Power through tough overgrowth and dig clean-looking trenches around garden beds with the Black+Decker Electric Landscape Edger and Trencher. Yes, you’ll need an exterior extension cord and access to an electrical outlet. That said, this edger is powered by a high-torque 12 Amp motor and features a 7-1/2-inch blade.
Three blade depth settings are available for different trenching or edging jobs you may have. The pull-up edge guide provides you with the ability to dig clean-trenches and cut clean lines with confidence. And since edging can be dirty work, an easy-access door on the guard makes cleaning simple. Trench around garden beds, trees, and other borders, install outdoor igniting or invisible dog fencing, and edge along hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and patios, all with just one tool.
Find more Black+Decker Electric Landscape Edger and Trencher information and reviews here.
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11. Radius Garden 22611 Root Slayer Edger
Pros:- Small for easy storage
- Easy to use
- No gas or electric motor
Cons:- Requires some muscle
- Time consuming
- Will need sharpening
If you insist on keeping things simple, or maybe you need a workout, you could do a lot worse than the hassle-free than the 22611 Root Slayer Edger from Radius Garden. When it comes to keeping your lawn edges neat, this vicious-looking tool will definitely do the job. This hand tool has no moving parts to repair or maintain plus it may be stored in even the smallest shed with ease.
The Root Slayer really doesn’t need explanation but here we go: the half-moon blade features an inverted V-shaped cutting tip and shark-like teeth that rip through dirt and roots easily. The blade is made of powder-coated carbon steel, perfect for dealing with irregular edges in your yard and garden. A resin-encased carbon steel shaft with non-latex grips around the circular handle provides strength, stability, and a long lifetime.
Find more Radius Garden 22611 Root Slayer Edger information and reviews here.
What are Lawn Edgers Used For?
A lawn edger is a garden tool used to create a clear boundary between two distinct patches of ground cover. The most typical example is an edge between a lawn and a hardscape like a patio or sidewalk. Learning how to edge a lawn is fairly easy.
Lawn edgers help to prevent the incursion of grass into walkways and gardens. If you're a golfer and you've seen the crisp, clean line between sand traps and greens or fairways on a golf course, you've seen what a good lawn edger can do.
Garden edgers can also be used to make a division between mulch and a patch of sand or gravel. They can also create a clean line between ground cover and a garden (hence the name garden edger or lawn edger depending on where you use one).
Personally, I employ an English trench style of edging between my lawn and garden beds. During the spring and summer, I'll use my 4-cycle gas-powered grass edger with a straight blade to trim the unruly turf. After I'm done, it looks amazing even without any sort of plastic edging product, which tends to look shabby after a year or two.
Lawn edgers come in two varieties: manual and motorized. For the purposes of this article, we'll stick to motorized but you should know that manual edgers can be useful if you consistently tend to your yard. They require more labor to use however they're much cheaper. If you don't have a lot of footage to keep clean, they're good tools.
How Do I Choose a Lawn Edger?
For larger areas that need edging and for long stretches of sidewalks, patio surfaces, or rocks, a motorized garden edger will be your best bet to get your landscape cleaned up efficiently. But how should you choose which lawn edger would be best for you?
There are so many models, versions, colors, and styles of outdoor power equipment available on the market. The sheer number of choices can overwhelm the average consumer. Ask yourself a few questions before you search for the perfect garden edger:
1. What's the size of my yard?
You'll be using your new grass edger around sidewalks, driveways, patios, gardens, and flower beds. The more footage you have to edge, the more you'll want to spend for a larger, more powerful lawn edger. Walk-behind edgers are great for long stretches of sidewalk but a stick edger is more nimble, less expensive, and easier to operate.
2. How Much Time Will I Spend Edging My Yard?
Most people don't have (or want) to spend hours edging the yard. It can take time, especially if there is a large area to cover. You'll most likely want to finish the edging job as quickly and as efficiently as you possibly can.
I love doing yardwork so I make sure to put aside enough of my week to take care of it. That said, I also have to mow, trim hedges, and take care of the garden and it is definitely possible to have too much of a good thing.
If you enjoy being out in the yard like me, a smaller stick edger with a smaller blade and less power will do the job. If you need to make each second count, you are going to be better served by choosing an edging machine that is a bit more advanced.
3. What Kind of Power Do I Want?
Like other yard tools like hedge trimmers or string trimmers, you've got a choice between gasoline power, corded electric, or cordless lawn edgers. Speed and power are the norm with gas-powered units is the best option. With that comes some drawbacks: noise, fumes, and maybe the mixing of gas and oil for fuel.
If you have a smaller yard without a lot of edging to do, an electric grass edger will do the trick. An electric-powered garden edger is typically lighter, quieter, and more environmentally friendly. While corded varieties have typically represented electric edgers, cordless models have gotten much, much better in terms of power and runtime.
The type of engine won't matter as much if you're looking at a grass edger. If you think a gas-powered machine is what you'll need, then you will have a choice between a 2 or 4-cycle engine. A 2-cycle engine will be less expensive, but understand that you'll have to put up with mixing oil and gas. You'll also smell like an old motorcycle after you use it. 4-cycle engines are easier to use (just pour straight gas into the tank) however, they cost more and they weigh more.
4. What's My Budget?
Look to spend less than $100 for smaller, corded electric lawn edgers. Large, walk-behind models powered by gasoline can get up to $1,000. Yeah, there's a real difference. If you're a professional landscaper without a lot of time to get in all your jobs, this will pay for itself in no time.
It's important to understand that if you want a meticulously edged lawn for most of the summer, it's completely worth it to increase your budget. Quality comes with a price but that price also provides a better tool with a longer lifespan.
5. Do I Want a Straight or Angled Blade?
Most edgers use a blade that rotates perpendicular to the ground. My 4-cycle lawn edger has a blade like this and it works great for what I need it for. I typically change it out each year (rocks can really wear a blade down) and my English trenched edges look fabulous.
Some lawn edgers may include fancy features that may be angled to provide different types of edges. Angled blades provide more flexibility and can provide a nice finish, but to me, that's overkill. Straight blades will usually work just fine for most homeowners.
What Have We Learned Here?
There's a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a lawn edger for your yard. Figure out your budget and how much work you'll have to do each week (or month, if that's your thing). Look for lawn edgers that sync with your budget.
The size of your property should determine your budget; the bigger the yard, the more powerful garden edger you'll need to get the job done. Manual edgers are fine for smaller jobs handled infrequently. You'll need a motorized lawn edger for any sort of consistency unless you have countless hours to donate to the cause.
Gas edgers are great for time and efficiency but are expensive and messy. Also keep in mind the maintenance they require in the form of mixed fuel, oil changes, carburetor cleanings, and more. Cordless electric lawn edgers can be really effective but research the runtime of the battery platform. If you can't get your edging done in 30 minutes, stick to gas.
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