How to trim lawn edges properly, according to landscape gardeners

Whether you want to create a barrier between your lawn and a flower bed or just make sure the grass around your driveway and walkway looks fresh, edging your lawn can help you create clear sections in your landscape. This can save money and make mowing easier because you don’t have to drive around hard landscaping features that may require extra effort in your regular lawn care routine.

Read our expert tips for creating the perfect lawn edge below, including step-by-step instructions.

Tools you need

• Edging tools (circular shears, string trimmer/edge cutter, edge cutter, lawn lifter, etc.)
• Shovel or spade
• Border materials when choosing a physical border
• Edge guide (a straight edge, strings and stakes or paint)
• Leaf blower or rake for cleanup
• Safety glasses, hearing protection and a mask for those who are sensitive to grass clippings

Instructions

First step: protection and precautions

Before you begin, check with your local utility company to make sure there are no underground lines running beneath the area you plan to dig.

Once that’s done, Daniel Carpenter, landscaper at The Barlow, says you should gather your safety gear, which he says should include eye, hearing and respiratory protection. “A sturdy pair of boots/shoes and long trousers are always a good idea when using sharp tools around the lower extremities,” he adds.

Step 2: Clean and prepare the room

For best results, you’ll want to start with a clean surface, which is why Carpenter says it’s important to do a little mowing and cleanup before you begin. “If you’re working around flower beds, using a fan rake to pull mulch away from the edge can help keep it cleaner and debris-free,” he says.

Step three: Choose your tools

There are a variety of different tools you can use for edging, depending on what you have available and how much work you’re willing to put into the task. “Shovels are great for heavily overgrown walkways and cutting fresh edges around flower beds without borders, while string trimmers and circular saws can really add a clean edge to a nicely mowed lawn,” says Carpenter, adding that you should choose your method depending on the area you’re working with.

“Caution must be exercised when working on surfaces or areas that could be damaged or scratched by tools,” he says. “A string trimmer can really damage wood or plastic steps and edges.”

Step four: Create an outline

Choose a starting point and get to work with your chosen tools. “You should mark the area you want to edge or carve out with spray paint. If you have string and stakes for a straighter line, you can mark it that way too,” says Sara Abbass, owner of Sara Mairead Landscape Design and co-founder and board member of the Northport Native Garden Initiative.

If you have a super To draw a straight line, Carpenter says you can also use a piece of PVC pipe. For gentle curves, he has a surprising trick to achieve the rounded result. “A rubber garden hose can help you make it easier to create your planned border.”

Step five: Make your cuts

Abbass says that for these initial cuts, you should use a spade to cut along the spray or string line. “When you press into the soil, you don’t want to go too deep because you only want to remove the sod that is about two inches deep in the soil,” she says, adding that if you use a manual tool for edging, you should be able to easily lift the sod off the ground after it’s cut.

If you’re using an electric edger, Abbass says you’ll get the best results by turning it on its side and moving it in one direction along the intended line. “Often you’ll see that turf can be set off from hard surfaces depending on the homeowner’s preference, but we would never recommend more than 1/2 to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm) of clearance (soil) before moving from hard surfaces to turf.”

Step Six: Clean Up

Carpenter says you can dispose of these grass clippings and weeds in your yard waste or compost bin. “Grass clippings and soil can blow back into the lawn and displaced mulch can be brought back. Be careful not to leave mulch around trees.”

Practical tips for edging your lawn

When deciding between the manual method and something more powerful, Carpenter says there are a few things to consider. Rotary shears and line trimmers, for example, will give you more speed and precision, but you may end up with a bigger mess.

On the other hand, working with manual equipment can be easier – especially for those who aren’t as comfortable handling more powerful machines. However, this equipment also requires a lot more labor and time to complete the project, he says.

But no matter what tool you choose, Carpenter says you’ll get a nice result if you double up on the process and make your cuts twice. “Along flower beds, a second cut or pass at a shallow angle from the walkway or flower bed side can help with particularly overgrown areas and create a nice buffer zone.”

Abbass says you can reduce lawn edging maintenance by adding a barrier between your grass and the rest of your garden. “An alternative way to edge a garden bed is to add plant material such as sedges, small grasses or compact plants that will naturally line the border and reduce the need for power tools and/or manual labor.”