JC
Lawn edging tips: getting clean, straight edges with a line trimmer or blade edger
Had a decent lawn for a while but never cared much for the edges.. Want to invest in some power edging tools so borrowed a mates to try out. Nylon trimmer and blade edger. Holy moly how do u keep that straight. Please tell me it comes right with practice… Maybe I should just stick to my foot stomper haha. Heres some of my attempts
😂🤣 Get yourself one of these…
@Jonny Hicks and then it'll magically be straight :D
@Jonny Hicks good deal here? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/home-living/outdoor-garden-conservatory/garden-power-tools/trimmers-cutters/listing/5892617040?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21314500525&gbraid=0AAAAADu3Wfsx99iBDRRArgb85efQIJACh&gclid=CjwKCAjwhqfPBhBWEiwAZo196rB6qqNNclvXyv-gXXkkmguf-gPCJ1rvGMISp9ZN9Hi82hH8NbjT0xoCLoIQAvD_BwE
@Joel Calnan you’ll need the part that powers it and the AP battery. They’re pretty expensive to be fair. They’re commercial tools though. I don’t mind paying the money as I know they’ll last, there’s commercial guys hammering them everyday.
The quality of your edging is only really as good as what you’re edging up to. Eg. if you’ve got a wavy concrete driveway edge, it’s always going to be harder to get that crisp straight look with a line trimmer, and pretty much impossible with a blade edger. Looks like you’ve got timber edging in some spots and plastic in others.
I use two tools myself: the Ryobi 18V blade edger and a 40V line trimmer. The blade edger gets used anywhere there’s a solid hard edge, then the line trimmer is for fences, around the house, awkward corners, etc.
With a blade edger, first kick back any overhanging turf so you can actually see the edge/line you need to follow. Start with the blade vertical (almost 12 & 6 position), then drop it into the line you want to cut. Fire it up and move forward at a steady pace, or whatever pace the edger naturally wants to go. Let the tool do the work and don’t try to force it. For stubborn bits, you can work it back and forward a little.
Don’t stress if you hear the blade touching concrete now and then either, that's pretty normal.
And yep, like most lawn stuff, practice makes perfect. A sharp edged lawn really makes the difference.
Ryobi 18V blade edger on Elfin Tall Fescue.
Wooden edge , watch for the pegs that hold it up . If it's broken consider replacing it , the one by the tarseal path or drive .
Line trimmers can with patience and very soft ground punch through dirt to find the edge .
The rocky garden edge I presume has a wooden edge aswell either go inside the wood or outside making wooden edge visible. Oddly walking backs is easier.
Gets easier with time .
Blade edgers great for breaking in over grown edges some like them for regular maintenance. Once again beware of wooden pegs .
Rotary scissors are now becoming the thing to use , still not cheap to buy .
Practice, high chance of burning cord off at the head , I still do and only commercial for 20 odd years. Edged with atom edger steel blades x2 . Went to line trimmer as faster once edges broken in . Bought idech rotary scissors they are heavy but good for personal use. I've put video up on Nzla FB of edging . My tiny lawn . Commercial stuff was largest site of 1.2k . Thankfully not anymore.
We used a hoe to remove heavy stuck in cut line . Spade works too