Lawn edgers tend to be either manual tools, or powered by petrol or electricity. Each power source has its advantages and disadvantages. Manual Edgers With a comfortable non-slip handle, this edger isn’t too taxing too use; however, the T-bar is a little on the small side. For those gardeners with larger hands, there may not be quite enough room to hold the handle as one might like. On the flip side, the foot ledges are generously sized, making it easy to push the blade into the soil. This is certainly also a space-saving design, removing the necessity to have several full-size tools, creating a perfect scenario for those gardeners who are always struggling to find room for storage. Lawn edgers with flat, rectangular blades and plain edges are suitable for basic edging jobs. They can be used in situations where the lawn is level with the adjacent hard surface – for example a patio or driveway.

Complete with a round, ergonomic handle, designed to be comfortable and reliable, this lawn edger also provides 4 x the grip of traditional D-handle tools. Manual – A manual lawn edger has a long wooden or metal shaft, usually with a T- or D-grip handle. In general, these edgers have a semi-circular head with a rounded bottom, although some look like angled spade heads. The bottom will have a sharp edge and there will be a small foothold at the top that you step on to apply pressure. FYI – The product details in the specification table above have been calculated with the Wolf Garten handle included. If you often struggle to find tools with a shaft which is long enough for you, buying tool heads separately can allow you to fit them onto a longer shaft. You don’t get lumbered with the shaft which is already attached to the lawn edger.

Gas – There are also edging machines available that are powered by gas, but these are generally used by professional landscapers.

We were particularly impressed with the tread plate here, which is deep and large enough to support bigger feet. And we also liked the fact that you can use any handle from the range with the edger, meaning you could choose the telescopic handle with an adjustable height range. However, the most suitable handle is probably the D-ring version, although we don’t think this is as easy to exert pressure on as the more traditional T handle. But, fortunately, this is where the humble lawn edger comes into its own! A lawn edger will give your lawn that well-polished finish; creating a clean line between the grass and flowerbed or patio. If you’ve got very small, circular flower beds, you may need to consider a particularly narrow lawn edger under 20cm . However, the majority of scoop-cut edgers offer a good balance between size – for covering larger distances – and manoeuvrability – for managing curves. The plastic release button on the handle does feel a little bit flimsy, but the “heft” of the actual edger should easily be sufficient to achieve sharp edges without exerting too much pressure on the handle. Rectangular blades with scoop-cut edges are perfect if your lawn meets with more delicate areas such as flower beds. These parts of the garden are easy to disturb if you cut too roughly or with a flat blade.We think the Wilkinson Sword lawn edger is particularly suited to tough clay and chalk soils, where you should be able to get precision results on your lawns and flowerbeds. There’s also a slightly cheaper version available with a carbon steel blade. Materials – If you’ve decided on a manual edger then look for one with a stainless or carbon steel blade for strength. Electric/gas edgers normally have blades made from hardened steel. Cordless lawn edgers are convenient because you’re not limited on where you can use them, and they’re more lightweight than cordless petrol models. The downside is that the battery will need regular recharging and may not last for more than 30 minutes As a result, if you have a very large lawn that you need to edge, a battery-powered model may not be the most practical. Construction – Whether a manual or electric lawn edger, you’ll want to choose one that feels solid and well constructed. Make sure it isn’t flimsy or wobbly and, if it requires assembly before use, read the instructions carefully when putting it together.

Petrol lawn edgers are effective and powerful machines. Plus, there’s no cord to worry about getting tangled up in or accidentally cutting through! Bear in mind that comfort doesn’t only depend on the ergonomics of the handle, but also the weight of the machine. Petrol edgers can be heavy which may make them harder to use for prolonged periods. However, petrol powered lawn edgers can be both heavy and noisy, and they’ll also need regular maintenance. The reason it’s so light is that the tubular shaft is made from steel, cutting out the weight that other solid-wood shafts bring. The carbon steel head doesn’t add much weight, whilst still cutting firmly into soft ground to create neat edges.For something a little different, there’s the Wolf Garten Lawn Edger. It’s especially useful for those gardeners who already own other Wolf Garten products, because this lawn edger head can be fitted onto Wolf Garten’s ‘Multi Change Range’ shaft. What’s more, you’ll have to refuel them – frequency of refuelling depends on the capacity of their fuel tank. Due to their industrial-level power, petrol lawn edgers are best suited to large plots of land. Electric Lawn Edgers Thanks to this edger’s lightweight design, it’s pretty comfortable to use for extended periods, and the wooden handle provides good grip even in the rain. It doesn’t have a padded handle, and nor is it ergonomically shaped, so you may find it’s more comfortable to use with gloves over extended periods.

There’s nothing worse than having a perfectly mown lawn which is being visually hampered by a jagged and uneven lawn edge. For domestic gardens, I recommend manual lawn edger tools. Although it’s possible to get petrol-powered and electric lawn edgers, they’re usually more than you’ll need at home. It digs through lawn edges and roots with ease thanks to its sharpened cutting blade and root-cutting teeth, staying sharp for an impressively long time too. The tactic is to lift the edger up vertically, and then bring it down with force, saying goodbye to any medium-sized roots as you go.

The edger is made with a traditional half-moon-shaped blade, with a tread plate for your foot to rest on. However, this foot rest isn’t the biggest we’ve seen, so you might find it a bit small if you have larger feet. They have an end that rotates as the user walks, and they are very precise. However, being manually powered, they are of course harder work than other options – although you could say this makes them more rewarding! Petrol Powered Lawn Edgers Key details – Size: Overall length 90cm, tool head width 21.5cm; Materials: Stainless steel blade, ash handle; Weight: 0.76kg Turning to the blade itself, the half-moon shape makes it easy to cut a straight, sharp line into the lawn and the self-sharpening blade is refreshingly low maintenance.