If you think you can go without edging your lawn, you may want to rethink your stance. There are a few excellent reasons to edge to your lawn that go beyond having a neat, manicured appearance.
First, if you have flower beds, edging provides a barrier against invasive lawn grasses. Plus, it saves trimming time and can even add some curb appeal.
If you have a small lawn and don’t want to spend a ton of money on powered edgers, there are a number of manual edgers you can use to add clean edges to your lawn.
To help you choose the best one, we have put together a guide of the eight best manual lawn trimmers on the market today.
At a Glance – Our Top Picks.
Garden Weasel Edge Chopper
First on our list is a manual edger made by Garden Weasel, which has a reputation for innovative designs that lawn care enthusiasts love. The Edge Chopper doesn’t disappoint.
Why We Like It
- Less expensive than rolling wheel models
- Ergonomic design helps prevent back pain
- Carbon steel blade is weather resistant
Specs
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Height: 38 inches
- Blade: Carbon steel
- Handle: Welded steel
Our Verdict
We love this manual edger because of its ergonomic design that really does work to protect your back from strain and pain. The wide footplate provides better leverage and control as well.
Editor Rating: 5/5
Truper 32100 Tru Tough Rotary Lawn Edger
If you want a rolling edger to add clean, crisp lines to your lawn and flower beds, then you should take a look at the Truper 32100.
Why We Like It
- Easy to clean and maintain
- 10-year free replacement warranty
- Good for edging along sidewalks and driveways
Specs
- Weight: 3.8 pounds
- Height: 48 inches
- Blade: Coated steel
- Handle: Lacquered American Ash Tree
Our Verdict
We like this manual edger for edging along concrete sidewalks and driveways because it provides a crisp line you just can’t get with a spade-like edger. However, it doesn’t work well with edging along flower beds or between other soft barriers.
Editor Rating: 4/5
Radius Garden 22611 Root Slayer Edger
Next is another spade-like edger from Radius that we highly recommend because of its unique handle design.
Why We Like It
- O-handle provides more grip
- The V-shaped cutting tip tears through roots
- Lifetime manufacturer guarantee (U.S. only)
Specs
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Height: 48 inches
- Blade: Powder-coated carbon steel
- Handle: Resin-encased carbon steel
Our Verdict
When Radius gave this edger the name “root slayer,” they weren’t kidding! The V-shape cuts through roots, where half-moon edgers tend to bounce off of them. You will not be disappointed!
And the O-shaped handle gives you more surface area for a better grip and leverage, reducing strain on your arms and back.
Editor Rating: 5/5
Bully Tools 92251 Round Lawn Edger
If you’re looking for a no-frills manual edger, then this will do the trick. It’s a basic design, but it gets the job done.
Why We Like It
- Made in the USA
- All-steel design
- Durability
Specs
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
- Height: 38.375 inches
- Blade: 12-gauge steel
- Handle: Steel
Our Verdict
Bully has a reputation for taking old-school, traditional lawn care tool designs and making them more efficient. The blade on this edger is super sharp and cuts through almost anything you need it to. We recommend it for edging along flower beds and other soft barriers.
Editor Rating: 4.5/5
AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger
AMES took saw teeth and added them to a manual edger blade for a highly effective moon-shaped edging tool.
Why We Like It
- Serrated edge cuts through sod and roots with ease
- Wide footplate
- It’s extremely affordable
Specs
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
- Height: 39.25 inches
- Blade: 14-gauge steel
- Handle: Steel
Our Verdict
The serrated edge really does give you an edge (pun intended) over some of the other standard moon-shaped blades. Users claim that they were surprised that such an affordable edger could do the job of a more expensive one.
Editor Rating: 5/5
KWIK EDGE Tool
If you need a tool strictly meant for maintaining edges you have already cut around your flower beds, then the KWIK EDGE tool is for you.
Why We Like It
- Unique design redirects soil back into flower beds
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
Specs
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Height: 57.75 inches
- Blade: A36 mild, powder-coated steel
- Handle: Toon wood
Our Verdict
While at first glance it doesn’t look like an edger, it is effective as a maintenance and soil conditioning tool for areas you have already edged.
The vertical/horizontal blade slices through grassroots, while the slightly curved away blade on the backside pushes the soil back into the flower bed.
Editor Rating:4/5
Fiskars 38.5 Inch Long-handle Steel Edger
In terms of a basic manual edger, the Fiskars Long-Handle Steel Edger will help you get nice edges at an affordable price.
Why We Like It
- Long handle reduces back strain
- Lifetime warranty
- Extra-wide platform allows for extra force
Specs
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Height: 38.6 inches
- Blade: 14-Gauge hardened steel
- Handle: Steel and plastic
Our Verdict
You probably have heard the name Fiskars before, but likely associated with super sharp scissors. They took their steel blade know-how and applied it to creating an excellent manual edger.
The one main complaint is the handle, but with a lifetime warranty, you can always replace it if it breaks.
Editor Rating: 4/5
Radius Garden 25602 Pro-Lite Ergonomic Carbon Steel Edger
If you need a standard moon-shaped edger, we recommend this version of the Radius edger. There is no v-shaped blade, but it still is super effective at cutting through sod and grass.
Why We Like It
- O-ring handle design provides great leverage
- Extra-wide, elevated step blade
- Lifetime warranty
Specs
- Weight: 3.65 pounds
- Height: 40.25 inches
- Blade: Heat-treated carbon steel
- Handle: Fiberglass shaft, molded plastic with thermoplastic grip
Our Verdict
Radius really hit a home run with the O-ring handle design. It does what it says and gives you extra leverage by providing four-times the gripping surface than D-shaped handles. Combined with the high-quality blade, this tool will make edging seem easy.
Editor Rating: 5/5
Buyer’s Guide Questions
Why You Should Choose Manual Over Powered Edgers
If you have a standard-sized residential lawn with minimal edging requirements, you don’t necessarily need to spend a ton of money on a powered edger.
Thanks to advances in technology, we now have stronger steel and innovative industrial designs that outperform edgers of the past in every way.
Powered edgers are either gas or electric, which means maintenance and added headaches as a result. Who enjoys getting tangled up in cords? Or how annoying would it be to run out of gas when it’s time to edge? Also, there are no emissions that add pollution to the air making them environmentally friendly.
Plus, maintenance is easy. You can rinse off your manual edger with a hose when you are finished.
Different Types of Manual Edgers
There are two main types of manual edgers, rotary edgers that you push forward, and standard edgers that you have to push into the soil, pick up and then repeat the steps to complete the edging process.
Rotary Edger
These usually have a wheel on one side, and a rotary blade on the other. The wheel helps you guide the edger along and make adjustments as you go. They are best suited for working along edges of sidewalks, driveways, and patios.
These have three different types of blades. There’s the flat, rectangular blade with sharp edges on opposite sides, which are suitable for edging alongside a sidewalk. The flat blade with a scoop cut is ideal for working in and around flower beds because they are more precise.
And then there is the star-shape blade, which is the most common. Not only are they good for edging, but they also work well for aeration and digging drainage channels around raised garden beds.
Standard Edgers
Most of the edgers in this article are standard edgers. We prefer them over rotary edgers because they are more versatile. They can edge along driveways as well as flower beds, unlike rotary edgers.
And on standard edgers, you’ll find two different blade styles, half-moon shaped, and v-shaped blades. As previously mentioned, v-shaped blades are better for cutting through roots than half-moon shaped ones.
Given manual edgers are affordable, it might be worth it to have both styles on hand if you happen to stumble upon a large number of roots with your half-moon shaped blade.
In terms of materials, all blades are made from steel, some with carbon steel, and others with 12- or 14-Gauge steel. We don’t really have a preference, so this choice will be up to you.
How to Edge Your Yard Using a Manual Lawn Edger
So now that you’ve decided on a manual lawn edger to buy, you may need a primer on how to use an edger. Here are a few tips and tricks to getting the most out of your manual edger.
First, you will want to find a sturdy pair of shoes, because unless you bought the push-style edger, you will need to use your feet to push it into the earth. Sandals and flip-flops are not advised.
Next, make sure the soil is damp. Dry soil is much harder to penetrate and cut through, no matter how good your manual edger is.
If you’re planning on edging next to a sidewalk or driveway, a good trick to get started is first to loosen the soil along the edge with a spade. Then, take the edger, push it into the ground, press down on it with your foot, and rock it back and forth.
Once you are satisfied with the first attempt, pick up your edger, and move on down the line as you repeat the process. When finished, take a minute to admire your hard work!
How to Maintain Your Manual Edger
Yes, we mentioned that all you need to do is rinse your edger off and let it dry. However, if you find it’s becoming harder to cut through the soil, take your edger to any lawn care or hardware store and have them sharpen the blade for you.
Top Pick
In terms of price, versatility, and effectiveness, we have to go with the Garden Weasel Edge Chopper. The blade design cuts through roots like butter, but it also works as a standard edging tool.
Premium Choice
Made to deal specifically with roots, the Radius Garden 22611 Root Slayer Edger is our choice for a high-end edger. It is a little more expensive, but because it’s made to cut through roots, you know it’s extremely durable.
Great Value
If you’re on a tight budget, the AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger is your best bet. The serrated edges on this half-moon shaped blade and strong, durable steel handle will make easy work when it comes to edging your lawn and garden by hand.
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