As grass lawns in the cities and the suburbs began to be bordered by asphalt or concrete roads, sidewalks and curbs, the grass needed to be tamed so that it wouldn't grow over the sides. Lawn mowing did most of the work by cutting down the grass, but low growing plants could cascade over the edges and make an unkempt looking appearance. This was especially true for commercial properties where a manicured lawn, such as at golf courses, restaurants, hotels and others, was essential for the overall appearance of the establishment.
Manual lawn edgers, with a hemispherical blade pushed down into the grass where it met the pavement, were slow and tended to dull quickly. However, by cutting into the lawn at this exact edge point, it made a clear and handsome border between the grass lawn and the asphalt or concrete border.
It wasn't until 1940 that the first powered lawn edgers were invented, using a rotating blade on the end of a powered motor shaft. Although crude, the spinning blade easily cut through the soil and made a perfect edge, turning a tedious job into a time saving “must” for commercial establishments everywhere. It wasn't long before powered edgers filtered down to regular consumers, so that they too could add a beautifully manicured edge to their own lawns.
Lawn Edger Types
Belt Drive
The most common edgers use a belt drive system to transfer engine power to the rotating blade. This belt drive arrangement steps up the RPM's and increases blade speed, which makes a cleaner cut into the soil.
The added advantage is that belt drive also allows the blade to slip if it hits a solid object. Smaller and lighter engines can be used with this type of set-up, and that makes them far easier to handle and maneuver, especially when edging lines along winding paths, gardens and flower beds.
Direct Drive
The two main advantages of direct drive are that they’re less complex to manufacture and you'll never have to worry about replacing belts. However, the main disadvantage is they’re down on blade rotational speed when compared to a belt drive unit.
Although this feature makes the edger more reliable overall, you'll have to walk a bit slower. Plus, direct drive edgers are less forgiving if you hit a solid object, and the blade has a tendency to bend, chip or crack more often than ones on a belt drive system.
Shaft Drive
These edgers look much like glorified string trimmers, with an edging head on the end of a long shaft. They are fairly basic units, and although easy to use, lightweight, and highly functional, they are best used for smaller jobs such as edging around gardens and flower beds.
Some string trimmer makers offer power heads that are capable of taking edger attachments. Although the concept is good, standardizing one power head unit to take a variety of useful lawn and garden tools, these edgers are only made for light duty edging tasks.
Features
Blade Stop Clutch
Virtually all powered lawn edgers have a blade stop clutch. When pressed (foot operated) or squeezed (hand operated), the blade rotation will stop practically immediately. Not only is this a necessary safety feature, it also allows the user to stop the blade from spinning without turning the motor off. This is extremely helpful when moving the edger from place to place during use.
Wheels
One-wheeled basic shaft edgers may have only one wheel as a guide. Although that makes them very easy to maneuver, they are not as precise when making a straight edge unlike the following options.
Two Wheeled
- Offer more stability on longer straight runs for a more precise and even cut. It adds a little weight, but they are still light and easy to move.
Three Wheeled
- These have two wheels on one side with the third wheel on the other side, the blade spinning in between them. This gives a more stable platform and greater balance when edging. For areas where the lawn meets a sidewalk or driveway, these units make the most precise cuts.
Four Wheeled
- Have the advantage of having a drop-down fourth wheel. This design is made for cutting along curbs and allows the fourth wheel to literally drop down to the street on the other side of the curb. hese edgers give the ultimate precision cut.
Quick Change Blade
By their nature, all edgers suffer a high degree of blade degradation. This is the reason why many edgers come with another included blade. When one blade gets worn, a quick change blade can quickly be removed and replaced with very little down time. When the job is finished, the blades can be resharpened, replaced and used again.
Height Adjustment
Basic shaft edgers have no height adjustment. The blade width is the maximum depth that can be cut at. You adjust the height by tilting the edger backwards.Edgers that have a height adjustment feature allow you to select the depth of the cut for a more uniform finish.
In general, the deeper the cut, the more manicured the lawn will look. But, keep in mind that the deeper the blade cuts, the more strain it puts on the engine and drivetrain while blade degradation will increase.Less expensive edgers will have the height adjustment on the blade holder arm, while more expensive edgers will feature a handle mounted height adjuster.
Power Sources
Corded electric edgers are the least expensive types available, while four wheel gasoline powered edgers are the most expensive. Electric edgers will give a good account of themselves, but they will always be limited by the recommended 100 feet of cord.
Battery powered edgers are lightweight, environmentally friendly and as portable as gasoline powered edgers, but they are also comparably priced to the expensive four wheeled units, yet they aren't as capable.
What's Best for You
Flower Gardens, Paths and Walkways
Light and easy to maneuver is the keyword here, and if you are only interested in making these areas manicured and pretty, a basic shaft edger is all you'll need. You can wield these edgers like a sword for fine cutting around curves and turns. You may not be able to go very deep, but for this type of edging, you don't really need to.
Sidewalks and Driveways
Two wheeled edgers work fine for shorter runs, and many electric powered edgers come with two wheels. But if you have a long driveway or a lot of sidewalk in front of your home, and you want a very precise and manicured cut, a three wheeled edger is a better bet.
Curbs
The most precise cuts along a curb comes from a four wheel edger. These are the heaviest edgers by far, but their precision is unmatched. They will do straight cuts as well as any other edger, but for that extra curb appeal, this is the edger for you.