You have mowed your yard, weeded it, and raked, but you are not quite finished yet. No matter how perfect your lawn may be, if you do not pay attention to the edges it is going to end up looking sloppy. The thin strips of grass that line your driveway, surround your flower beds, and is around your patio and walkways is just as important as the large expanses of grass around it.
When it comes to taking care of these edges of grass your regular lawn mower is not going to cut it. Regular lawn mowers are too wide to handle these small areas to create nice sharp edges.
In order to keep these areas looking clean and well maintained you are going to need to invest in a good quality lawn edger and learn how to use it the right way. If you have some extra cash you could hire a landscaper to do this work for you.
What Is A Lawn Edger?
A lawn edger or edging tool can be either manual or motorized. This lawn equipment has been designed to form distinct boundaries around your lawn. For example, the lawn edger will trim the strips around your mailbox, paved areas, areas of gravel or sand, or areas where the soil is not covered.
A purpose designed lawn edger is more efficient for any long and even edges in your yard. A string lawn trimmer is more efficient for any angular edges and for around interrupting features such as rocks. Often times string edging attachments are available for your weed eater or other cutting device.
Manual Lawn Edgers
For those that are not familiar with lawn edgers, some of the units may seem like a torture device that was used during medieval times. One of the more popular designs of a manual lawn edger features a rolling wheel that has spikes on it. This wheel is attached to a wooden handle. The design is simple, but it can get the job done.
Manual edgers remain a popular choice because of their simplicity. These lawn edgers can help homeowners spruce up different areas of the yard by creating clear and defined edges around gardens and sidewalks. Edging with a manual edger will take a bit of power, but it will help keep weeds from growing over onto the sidewalk or driveway and also trims up areas where a weed eater or lawn mower cannot get to.
Some of the reasons that people prefer manual lawn edgers overpowered ones include:
Durability: there are some manual edgers that have wheels with bearings that provide a more consistent edging. These edgers have a basic design and can withstand the test of time. Since there are so few parts there is very little to worry about when it comes to maintenance, unlike a string trimmer attachment that is at the mercy of the pull cord, engine, and other equipment that can misfire.
Convenience: manual lawn edgers do not take up much space and they can be taken out at any time to use. You do not have to worry about whether or not you have enough gas to start your gas powered edger and you also do not have to mess with dragging out extension cords just to tidy up a small area of the yard.
Cheap: while you can purchase an edger attachment for your weed eater that does not cost much, these often have to be replaced quite frequently. Manual edgers start out at around $15 and they will last for many years.
Electric Lawn Edgers
The next type of lawn edger is the electric lawn edger. There are two types of electric lawn edgers, corded lawn edgers and cordless or battery lawn edgers.
Both types of electric lawn edgers are typically lightweight and small. A corded electric lawn edger will have motors that are rated for power in amps. The typical power of an electric lawn edger is ten to twelve amps. Power for cordless or battery lawn edgers is measured in volts. The most common size for a battery powered lawn edger is 18 volts.
When looking for an electric powered lawn edger you should choose one that has a strong blade. The typical blade size is 7 or 9 inches. If you are considering a battery powered lawn edger choose one that uses a lithium ion battery. These batteries have a longer life span, which will provide you with more consistent power over time.
Some of the reasons to consider an electric lawn edger include:
Lightweight
Easy to use
No carbon emissions, which is better for the environment
Powerful enough for most homes
One of the main issues with electric lawn edgers is that they have to be plugged in to work. This can be a problem if you have a larger yard as you will have difficulty reaching some of the areas that are further away from your home.
While a battery powered lawn edger is a good option, you have to worry about the battery running out of power before the job is finished. In addition, as the battery is wearing down it may not cut as well.
Conclusion
When it comes to landscaping areas around your home, creating proper edging is important. Edging provides your yard with definition and when done correctly can truly make your yard go from okay to spectacular.
While you can hire a landscaper to do your edging for you, doing it yourself is possible as well as long as you choose the right tools. A manual edger will give you a clean and polished look, but it will take a lot of time that you do not likely have. A good compromise is to purchase a electric powered lawn edger to do the tough work and then go over certain areas with a manual edger.
Enegitech lawn edger, work with Enegitech Power Head ZMDG5122P. 58 volts provide you with strong power, allowing you to complete the edging work efficiently. Keep your garden clean and polished.
Except the lawn edger, we also have string trimmer, pole saw and so on. Enegitech cordless gardening tool is coming soon! Let's wait for it!