Best Lawn Edger

A perfectly manicured outdoor space can take a lot of work, but it gets easier when you have the right tools for the job. Homeowners that want beautiful, crisp edges around lawn and garden beds should consider purchasing an edger. A powerful lawn edger can roll along the sidewalk, driveway, or path and cut a strong, crisp line at the edge of the grass. An edger can be either gas or electric powered. It has a rotating blade that cuts into the ground, trimming off roots and grass and leaving behind it a clearly defined cut. Some edger models combine the edge feature with a string trimmer to get two chores done at one time. While the edger blade is cutting along a sidewalk or bed, the trimmer is taking down any grass that escaped away from the lawn mower. A garden or lawn edger is sometimes confused with a trimmer. They both can do some of the same jobs around the backyard. Trimmers are typically either a string trimmer that is used to clean grass and weeds from corners and edges of an area or it can be a hedge trimmer, with an oscillating blade, that is used to shape bushes and keep topiary neatly trimmed.

Both edgers and trimmers are used to clean up edges and corners where a regular lawn mower cannot reach. They are the best way to develop a trim, neat lawn area that tidily ends where beds or sidewalk begins. A power edger provides a quick way to neatly take care of the grass, weeds and roots that like to undermine or infiltrate walks, drives or bedding areas. With that said, it is also nice to have a manual edger to take up the slack where the power edger runs into trouble. The best lawn edger will depend on several factors like the size of the lawn and how often you plan to use it. Gas powered edgers have the most power and capability to get any size job done. Corded electric edger machines are best for small lawns and gardens. Battery power will extend your range, but might not be as powerful as corded or gas powered. A manual edger is a good backup when all other resources fail. Below we take a look at our favorite type of garden edger from several different categories.

Best Lawn Edger

With a strong, gas powered motor and an easily adjustable blade, this garden edger from McLane gives homeowners everything they need to maintain the edges of a long sidewalk or driveway. Powerful spinning blade makes quick work of lawns and roots leaving only a crisp, clear edge. This edger is expensive but it is powerful, reliable and sturdy.

---

Less powerful than our top pick but still highly capable with pivoting head, variable speed, and convenient, cordless electric power. The WORX WG184 conveniently switches between an in-line wheeled edger to a trimmer. Push button line feed adds to the convenience, but ultimately it cannot replace the power of the spinning metal blade garden edger options.

---

Budget Choice: Garden Edger

12amp motor and a sturdy blade make this a solid choice for homeowners that do not mind the inconvenience of a corded option. Spring assisted front wheel and 7.5 inch double edged blade combine to make cutting sharp edges easy.

---

Garden Edger Buyer’s Guide

Who Should Buy an Edger

Edgers are an excellent tool for home landscaping enthusiasts, weekend lawn care entrepreneurs and lawn and garden care professionals. They are excellent for creating a definite edge along walks, around beds and at the extent of property. An edger will, ideally, cut through the tough grass and roots that like to undermine walkways, drives and similar features. They are good for creating a defining line between lawn and bedding areas.

Important Features to Consider

There are a wide variety of edgers available. They include gas powered, corded electric, battery powered, and manual. For truly big lawn and garden areas, gas powered is most reliable. Battery powered offers the ability to work far from power sources, but avoids the mess and noise of gas-powered motors. Corded electric works very well for medium to small lawn and garden areas where a long extension cord will reach every part of the desired area. Finally, for those corners and crannies where no power tool can fit, a hand edger can finish up a job, take care of a tight curve or otherwise supplement the power tools. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. Gas powered models are usually more powerful, but require oil maintenance as well as gasoline. Corded electric garden edgers do not require recharging, but have the trailing cord to contend with. Battery electric models lose the pigtail, but are not always as well powered as the gas models. A manual edger requires no gas, electric or battery, but can be labor intensive. Homeowners should carefully consider how they will be using the garden edger to help decide what model is best for them.

---

Lawn Edger Reviews

---

McLane 101-5.5GT-7 Gas Powered Lawn Edger

Key Points at a Glance

• Gas powered- Heavy duty- Hand choke- Hand speed control- Adjustable angle on cutter- Metal blade

The McLane 101-5.5 GT Gas Powered lawn edger is the swiss army knife edger and trimmer. It has a strong blade that can be angled for a precision cut anywhere you need to trim something. It can go along the edge of a walk, be angled for a hillside cut, or tipped flat to deal with tough weeds and brush along an expanse where a regular lawn mower cannot reach. It is perfect for going along beside an established hedge. Hedges that like to keep putting out fresh shoots and leaving their designated area are easily controlled with this edger.

---

WORX WG184 40V Power Share 13“ Cordless String Trimmer & Wheeled Edger

Key Points at a Glance

• String cutter- Battery powered- Battery and charger sold separately- Does curves easily- Ideal for smaller garden and lawn applications

Like the McLane edger, the Worx WG184.9 Trimmer/Edger is a dual-purpose machine. It is ideal for smaller lawn and garden areas or for curved edging where the McLane is too large or awkward for use. The WG184.9 uses string for cutting, rather than a solid blade, but unlike a standard trimmer, the string bed can be tilted so that it delivers a vertical cut rather than horizontal. In this position, it uses a small set of dual wheels to act as a guide along the edge of walks, drives, or beds. The electric power feed is variable, which makes working around delicate areas easier.

---

Greenworks 12 Amp Corded Edger

Key Points at a Glance

• Corded- Unlimited power- Suitable for small lawns and gardens- String cutter- Guide wheel for vertical cutting

This edger from Greenworks is very similar to the Worx 184 in the way the cutter behaves. The primary difference between the two is that the 184 is battery operated, whereas the Greenworks 12 Amp is corded. This means that you have the inconvenience of a trailing cord and the need for a nearby power outlet. However, this also means that your work time is not limited to the amount of charge you have in your batteries. Like the other machine, it has a variable power feed which means that the speed and power of cutting can be suited to the job. The string cutter can be adjusted to a horizontal or vertical position. In the vertical setting, there is a small wheel to help guide the cutter. Ideal for very small lawn and garden applications where all parts of the area is within easy reach of a long extension cord.

---

WORX WG896 12 Amp 7.5“ Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher

Key Points at a Glance

• Corded- Edger only- Metal blade- Will do gradual curves- Good power, variable- Adjustable handle

The WORX WG896 12 Amp 7.5“ Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher, 7.5in, Orange and Black is a bladed edger. It is battery powered and an excellent choice for cutting along the edges of beds, sidewalks and driveways. It might have some difficulty on tightly rounded bed edges but can handle most any other job well. The adjustable handle makes it easy to accommodate various user heights. Heavier than the combination string and trimmer combos above, it is a serviceable alternative to the McLane for users who prefer electrical power. It is a corded garden edger, so a long extension cord or access to an outdoor power source is needed.

---

Radius Garden 25602 Pro-Lite Ergonomic Carbon Steel Edger

Key Points at a Glance

• Manual- Looped handle- Half-moon blade- Good foot supports- Ergonomic

There are always a few areas that no automated tool will reach. For these places, the Pro-Lite carbon steel edger is a perfect choice for homeowners. It features a half-circle blade that can be rocked back and forth over tough roots or into hard soil. The looped handle allows for natural hand placement, and easy adjustment to various hand sizes and user heights. Wide top shoulders allow firm foot placement to assist with powering down through roots or packed earth.

---

Conclusion

An edger is a valuable tool where clean, precise lines are desired. They are a valuable tool for anyone who does lawn and garden work, whether they are performing professional work or taking care of their own lawn and garden.

An edger is especially valuable when cleaning the edges of a sidewalk, driveway or around ornamental beds where a clean demarcation between lawn and bedding area is desired. A good edger can be the difference between a lawn and garden area that looks nice and one that looks spectacular.