How to Use a Manual Lawn Edger

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Hammer, wood stakes, string (optional)

  • Garden hose

  • Gloves

  • Straight-edge shovel

Clean edges add a professional look to all your landscaping.
Image Credit: Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

A well-manicured lawn has clean, crisp edges around flowerbeds and along the walkway and driveway. To achieve this detailed look, it's best to use a specific lawn edging tool. While some models are motor-driven, you can buy manual models at a fraction of the cost. Commonly used around existing beds or to create a new bed, a manual edger is similar to a shovel, but the blade is rounded like a half-moon. A manual rotary edger has a roller and a spiked cutting wheel attached to a long handle, and works best along your walkway or driveway.

Advertisement

Half-Moon Edger

Delineate Your Area

Mark the area in your yard where you want to create a new bed and want a crisp edge separating it from the grass. If you're simply freshening up an existing edge, skip to Step 2. To mark a straight edge, hammer a stake at each end, and tie a string between the two to use as an edging guide. If you plan to have curved edges, use a garden hose to indicate the arcs.

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Position the Edger

Put on work gloves. Grab your lawn edging tool, and stand at one end of the existing or planned edge. Set the rounded edge of the tool on the turf near the existing edge, or in alignment with the guide string or hose if you're creating a new bed. Tilt the handle back about 45 degrees and place your foot on the top, turned edge.

Advertisement

Cut Into the Turf

Push down with your foot and insert the rounded edge into the turf 2 to 3 inches. Rock the edger side to side and up and back to ensure a good cut and loosen the turf. Pull the tool out of the ground; move 4 or 5 inches to your left, and repeat. Continue to the other end of the bed.

Advertisement

Image Credit: photovs/iStock/GettyImages

Remove the Excess Turf

Return to the start of the edge. Stand on the inside of the bed or the opposite side of the string or hose and repeat the process. Remove the loosened turf with a straight-edge shovel. Add fresh mulch along the edge of an existing bed, or continue planting your new bed.

Advertisement

Rotary Edger

Locate Your Edge

Take a flat-edge shovel and slide it under any grass or vegetation that may be growing over the edge onto your walkway or driveway. This helps you locate the edge and stay on track as you edge.

Advertisement

Position the Lawn Edging Tool

Put on work gloves. Stand at one end of the walkway or driveway. Hold the rotary edger firmly with one hand near the end and the other halfway down the handle. Position and line it up so the wheels are on the walkway or driveway and the cutting spikes are between the turf and the hard surface.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Drive Down the Spikes

Push down to drive the cutting spikes into the ground. With constant downward force, roll the edger forward and backward 10 to 12 inches to cut through the vegetation. You may need to do this several times before you have a clean edge.

Advertisement

Rinse and Repeat

Image Credit: andreusK/iStock/GettyImages

Move forward to the next section, and repeat. Continue along the edge of the walkway or driveway until you get to the end. Remove the vegetation with your shovel. Hose down the hard surface to wash off any clippings or dirt.

Tip

The edging process is easier if you dampen the ground beforehand.

Warning

Manual edging can be hard on your back. To help avoid back discomfort, wear a back support.

Advertisement