String Trimmers & Edgers – Page 5

I just finished mowing my lawn, but I have a lot of flower beds and stone areas, not to mention the paved driveway and walkway. If you’ve spent any time mowing lawns, you know that a lawnmower is too wide and bulky to get close enough to these areas, and you are typically left with long clumps of uneven grass. For some of us, this is maddening, but what is the best way to fix it - do you get a lawn edger? Are lawn edgers worth it? If you care about the way your yard looks, then most likely the answer is yes. But, there are many other factors that need to be weighed in before making the purchase. The value and worth of an edger is dependent on: the size of your lawn amount of ornamental areas what other equipment you have the amount of money you are willing to spend As a general rule, the bigger the lawn and the more ornamental areas, the more worth it an edger will be. To get a more clear idea if an edger is worth it or not for you, you should read more about what types of edgers are out there and what they are capable of. Understanding Different Types Of Edgers There are two basic types of edgers, motorized and manual. Knowing the difference, the pros and cons of each type will give you a better idea of their worth. Here are some thoughts on each. Manual Edgers Manual edgers require you to supply the power, which means edging your lawn might take a bit more time, but there are benefits to going manual. Durability: Manual trimmers are very basic in their design. Unlike motorized edgers, where you have to worry about pull-cords, engines, and other mechanical parts, manual edgers are made up of maybe a wheel and teeth. The lack of sophistication almost guarantees that it will last years longer than a motorized edger. Convenience: If you are short on storage space, manual edgers are way more convenient. They take up less space and you never have to worry about having enough gas or pulling out extension cords. Cheap: If you are on a budget, manual edgers tend to cost much less. Pair that with the fact that they last years longer and they are clearly the most budget-friendly options. You also never have to pay for gas to make it run. The major con going with a manual edger is the amount of work you will have to put in. It may be cheap and take up very little room, but you are going to be sweating when you are done. If you have a large yard or many gardens or ornaments on your lawn, a manual lawn edger is not for you. Motorized Edgers Motorized edgers are bulkier and more expensive, but will save you a whole lot of time and energy. Unless you are very low on funds or enjoy spending hours out in nature, a motorized edger is probably more worth purchasing. There are two types of motorized edgers, electric powered and gas-powered. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. You are probably going to choose one or the other based on what type of yard you own. Here are some quick descriptions… Electric Powered: These edgers run off of either a battery or a plug. Battery power will give you more freedom, but less power. Edgers with plugs and cords will have more power, but you will be limited on where you can get to with the cord. This is a good choice if you have a smaller yard with a few flower beds or gardens. Gas Powered: These edgers run on gas. Because of that, they have the most power of any type of edger. They take up more room and will cost more, plus gas and oil, but If you have a large yard with a long driveway and walkway with lots of flower beds, this is what you want. Other Edging Options There are other edging options, but most of them are not as efficient as either an electric powered or gas powered edger. That being the case, if you have a large yard that needs a lot of edging, the motorized edger is probably a better option for you. If your yard is small and you have limited edging needs, maybe one of these would work for you: Use A Trimmer: If you already have a weed wacker, you should be able to use it to do some edging. Turn the trimmer upside down so the guard is pointing into the sky and run the string down the edge you want to trim. It will not be as clean as an edger, but it is one less piece of equipment. Plastic Edging: This won’t remove grass, but it will help it from becoming a major issue. The edging will hold back the grass and prevent it from moving towards the walkway or driveway. Just dig out a small strip between the grass and the paved surface or flower bed, place edging in the hole, and hammer it in with a mallet. Decorative Brick: These work pretty much the same way as edging, but will make your yard look more decorative. Dig out a 4-inch trench between grass and surface or flower bed. Place the bricks in the trench by standing them up at a 45-degree angle. Lean each brick against the one before it. Then, fill in with garden soil, leaving the pointed corners of the brick sticking out. Gravel Moat: If using decorative brick isn’t your style, but you want to try something that is stylish, try a gravel moat. Dig a 2-inch deep trench around whatever area you want to separate from the grass. Make the trench as wide as you find aesthetically pleasing. Fill the trench with decorative pebbles or stones until they are level with the ground around them. Shears: If you only have a small flower bed or garden that you are looking to clean up, you might just grab a pair of lawn shears and manually cut grass that bleeds across the edge. This will take time and energy but will get the job done if you don’t have a lot of areas to cover. Reading through these options should give you a better idea about the worth of an edger. Keeping clean edges around your property will make it look amazing and presentable. The question is, how much work are you willing to put into it, how much money are you looking to spend, and how much room do you have for equipment? There is a way to make your lawn look great no matter your answer to these questions.