Edgers vs. Shovel?

[yardatwork]

Has anyone used the Echo BRD-280? I have a condo development with 50 homes that we edge and mulch every other year. Well, this is the year for the edging and mulching. One year I used a cheap gas edger...haha...only lasted the two days we spent edging with it. Couldn't get the thing to restart so I returned it. Ever since...shovels! I personally think the shovel does the nicest job, but it just take too long on jobs like this. I've noticed the ad that runs on here featuring the Echo edger...well...any suggestions? I don't want to dump a lot of money into a walk behind unit since 85% of my business is mowing or the jobs are single homes with the typical beds around the house (that we'll use a shovel on).

[larryinalabama]

Try the TRENCHBLADE

[Runner]

Or rent a bed edger. You will thank yourself.

[lawnpro724]

If your going to be doing a lot of edging or offering edging service to all of your customers I would spend the extra money and get Tanaka's TLE 600 it will save you a bunch of time and will be money well spent.

[ooo]

I would do as Runner said, and rent a bed shaper. They are much easier and quicker. Any rental store or Home Depot type place will have them.

[foxlawn]

Rent a bed shaper, they work very well

[DLAWNS]

I agree to try the trenchblade. It works great. You just buy them and slap them on your edger and they're reasonably priced. They are a sponsor on here.

[afg]

Brown Redefiner, it redefines great, but can also be used to cut new bed lines in the right soil conditions. More than double what the Echo is, but well worth it, plus the replacement blade from Echo is through the roof, like 150+.

[Runner]

Yeah,..this price for this thing is just in outer space. I have NO idea what they are thinking..except for the fact that this thing is new,...and there is always going to be those first jump the gun guinea pigs that will purchase. Give it a few years...the price of this thing will plummet...Especially when you have Stihl making one (I'm sure they will), Shindaiwa, and other companies doing the same. Trust me, there will be other manufacturers out there who will probably end up just making an aftermarket blade setup for this type of application. I know we already have the one curved blade guy on here, but I mean a larger box type unit. It could be designed to bolt up right through the center with a hub type assembly.

[LB1234]

Rent a bedshaper. I prefer the EZ-trench bedshaper myself if you have curves.

Curius how you charge for 50 homes with edging.