how do you get a clean edge

[eftob]

how do you get a clean edge

[General Grounds]

:blob3: where? sidewalks, beds????

[trimmer]

The cleanest edge comes from a trimmer. That is how I do most of my acounts. If I have multiple properties together I just use my edger. If you keep the blade new it will cut almost as pretty as my trimmer. Now if it is bahia forget the edger it is just not course enough to cut you will have to use the trimmer. I guess it just depends on the type of grass. I still use the trimmer around flower beds, the edger will never produce the edge I can get around the beds with the trimmer.

[KDJ]

Originally posted by eftob

how do you get a clean edge


Steel blade ???

[lasher66]

When you say you use your trimmer to edge, Do you mean your weedwacker? You can do sidewalk edging better with a weedwacker then an edger? Thats pretty good. What is your technique? Do you hold the trimmer upside down? Do you still get the dirt that starts to overlap the sidewalk? Thanks for your help

Lasher66

[Scotlawncare]

edger to put a groove and trimmer to widen it and weekly maint. if dirt builds up on side walk i just run the trimmer on the concrete just like i was cutting weeds to remove dirt. holding trimmer is personal pref. i hold it upside down right hand controls gass walking from right to left actually walking backwards.

i use a stihl weedeater most of the time running at half throttle or lower. to clean dirt full to 3/4 throttle after i have just edged with edger before i clean up the edge with weedeater.

scot

[summitgroundskeeping]

Clean an edge...
Well, I have a few customers that would perfer me to use soap in a bucket w/a wash cloth, but I prefer a stick edger

[Grasshog]

Stick edger by far. Nobody can hold a trimmer still enough to cut like a robin steel blade edger.
trimmer is faster but not better

[Runner]

I use a wheeled edger to do the initial edge, then use a stick edger to clean it thoroughly. I use a stick edger every time after that, but occasionally just use a trimmer to quickly go down the groove. This takes practice, though, so be careful. Also, I always make sure that the edge is blown out thoroughly. This helps the edge stay a little longer, and looks better.

[HOMER]

Stick edger, I can tell in a second who doesn't have one!:rolleyes:

When I'm done I go back over all my curbs and walkways with the trimmer and feather the edge of the grass, kind of square it off........I'm a curb freak........then always, and I mean always, BLOW OUT THE CRACK!

[HLC]

I do exactly what Homer said.

[ADMowing]

We edge with stick edger, walk behind edger and I agree with Homer, blow out the crack!!! It just doesn't look like fresh and finished if we don't.

When we have tried to use trimmer, it didn't look finished and we went back to trailer and got edger anyway. We've tried it, but don't like the results. Maybe we're not holding our trimmer right.

[gusbuster]

You will never beet the look of an edge done by a steel blade, whether an edger on 4 or 3 wheels or the "stick" edger. Is it faster, no way.

The line trimmer is what I use all the time except for 2 to 3 runs a year. Then I use either type edgers to clean up the edges and get the edges straight and clean. Then, back to the line trimmers.

Also, if you know what you're doing with a line trimmer, it's going to be faster, cleaner than a metal edger. I see people set the metal edger too deep of a setting all the time.

John

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I guess I do not understand how a trimmer could be faster. I walk as fast as I can with my stick edger. Almost a jog and unless you can walk faster than me (i can walk pretty fast) then how can it be faster? I would like to see some pics of trimmer edged walks. I have asked before and no one can produce them. I posted some last year of my stick edger walks and will again if I can see some trimmer edged walks.

[Grasshog]

ok let me explain how a trimmer can be faster.
With the trimmer you can complete one area of the lawn in one trip compared to two.

One less trip back to the truck.
One less trip accross the lawn.

After a 20 lawn day it adds up.

[Tony Harrell]

I use a stick edger to cut the groove and then maintain it with the trimmer. I only have to use the edger about once every 3-4 weeks depending on rain, which will fill in the groove somewhat. And always blow out the groove, it's just not finished unless you do it.

[Dennis E.]

You save a trip back to the trailer and re-walking the property all over again. Multiply by X number of properties. Saves time.
We go by the "book" on our commercial properties though. Way too much to edge with the trimmer.
On the residentials,if you use the stick edger at first,you can maintain a pretty nice edge with the trimmer. Even the beds can be done this way. Every so often hit it again with the stick to "freshen" it up a little. Works great for us. Customers are happy.

[65hoss]

99% of the time all curbs, walks and drives get stick edged. I use the trimmer to edge back patios. Occasionally I use the trimmer to handle some small edging job or to really clean up the edge. I started using the trimmer as my edger for many many lawns so I'm pretty good at it. But the stick edger is faster. The Stihl will do it as fast as I can walk. If your really good with a trimmer the edges will look very nice and sharp.

Using a trimmer is an art that takes many years to perfect. Even now I still notice I get better with it every year.

[ronslawncare]

edge every 1st of the month than after line trim it.nothing beats a steel blade though .but a weedeater its definately faster in my opion.as long as you have that innitial edge thats all you need...

[TLS]

The problem I find is that the string trimmer makes the groove too W I D E ! The edger is always perfect, and I can edge as fast as I can walk. I "CAN" come pretty close to an "edged" edge with the string trimmer, but like I said, it widens the groove, then next week, the edger kinda "floats" in that big groove, and doesn't catch all the grass.

When I'm talking about edging, I'm talking about edging walks, I mean approx 400 linear feet per lawn which is 1200 linear feet total (either side of sidewalk, and curb 3x's 400' = 1200') Now, some of my lawns are 2, 3, or 4 houses in a row. Thats a LOT of edging, not something i'd even think of using a string trimmer on! I stick edge EVERY single time. I know, I'm anal, but it always looks consistantly PERFECT!

[Parrothead]

i have never seen an edger able to produce near the clean edge a trimmer will, if you know how to do it with a trimmer. Don't see hardly any stick edgers around here on any crew.

[LawnPro in NC]

You gotta have a edgit or edgeit not sure of the spelling. quick and the trimmer has dual purpose. Great for the beginner. Look it up on the net. www. edgit.com LOVE MINE

[Pacific Nursery]

I got an edgeit this year and love its results. It's a little heavy but to me the results are worth it. I think my trimming even looks better using it.

[Mark]

I use a stick edger onece every two months, I can get a edge holding a trimmer upsidedown and walking forward as clean as a edger, it took along time to get it down but i swear they look perfect. I use a smaller line for edgeing with a trimmer, .60 or .80 it leaves a very neat and thin edge. Marks Mowing Service

[GreenQuest Lawn]

LE-260 (stick edger) edged lawn






Bring it on trimmer boys!:D :D

[Trauma]

I like my EDGIT also. It is a bit heavy, true, but it does make the edges look much nicer and straighter. Having said that, I do have an FS85 that hits all my edges at least once a month, to clean it up and give it that GROOVE! Nothin like a little groove now and again.

Doug

[brucec32]

Originally posted by Grasshog
Stick edger by far. Nobody can hold a trimmer still enough to cut like a robin steel blade edger.
trimmer is faster but not better

You're just wrong. It takes practice, but it is a clean straight edge. And your bladed edger won't get any grass that has crept into voids and imperfections in curbs or drives, either, meaning you have to come back again with a trimmer to get that. Poorly done, it's not clean at all, but I've seen some butchered edging done with stick edgers, too. 11 years and not a single complaint about edging with my string trimmer. I'd say it edges straight enough.

[brucec32]

Originally posted by GreenQuest Lawn
LE-260 (stick edger) edged lawn






Bring it on trimmer boys!:D :D

Ha, nice edge. But you forget, not everybody is mowing dense horizontal growth habit grass! Stringy floppy drought stressed Tall fescue will not edge as cleanly with a stick edger.

[GraZZmaZter]

This is an easy one. Make sure you have a good blade on it. The more it wears down the more it "jumps" out of the curb. Wheeled or stick edger will both get the same effect with a dull blade. Also, make sure you have extras on the truck!

[Organix]

I don't see how anything can be faster than an power edger as far as doing the actual edging. Possibly, you could save time having to go back to the truck and start it up etc. But if you have a lot of edging to do on concrete, the power edger is going to be faster and cause less fatigue.

When I worked on a crew I was designated edger for a time for very large properties so it is just second nature. I use the trimmer on lawns where there has not been much growth and I have other trimming to do.

The Edgit looks cool, too bad they don't have one for Husky.
Stick edger, hmm, they must have better one's than I have ever used if so many people find them productive. Just get a push mower and broom and you can sell totally green service :D

[Bluesteel]

I've tried it both ways. I "can" make a good clean edge with a trimmer, but its obviously tedious and slower than an edger. As far as making two trips, if you plan your route, you can start and stop edging close to your trailer. So for me its just taking the time to put the edger up and get the trimmer, but its always faster to use the edger. However, tearing up the edge of the concrete with an edger is just as sloppy and un-professional as a drunk with a trimmer. Actually, its worse cuz the concrete doesn't grow back.

[lawnboy11]

First you establish the edge with a steel blade edger for walksor a spade for beds. Then you maintain it weekly with a string trimmer/weed wacker. If anyone can't at least maintain an edge using a trimmer/weedwacker every week then they should just quit now and find another job. Why even bring an edger after spcu? Waste of time and space. Use a weedwacker. Much more efficient and I can (as can anyone worth their salt in this bus. ) keep a beautiful edge all year this way.

[G. Moose]

Use a stick edger. I don't care how good you are, an edger will always do a better job than a trimmer. And they are faster too. :D

[lawnboy11]

OK- everyone will have their own opinion. Try any method mentinoed above, they all work. Then, decide for yourself what you like the best considering appearance, ease, time, trailer space, etc to formulate your own system.

[MacLawnCo]

Originally posted by GreenQuest Lawn
I would like to see some pics of trimmer edged walks. I have asked before and no one can produce them. I posted some last year of my stick edger walks and will again if I can see some trimmer edged walks.

Todd, i realize that this thread is rather old, but here you are:

[MacLawnCo]

Todd, another trimmer edged walk:

[MacLawnCo]

Last one for you. BTW, these were done weekly with my trimmer and Edgit. Sorta gives me an unfair advantage, and thats why i use it. :)

[lawnboy11]

trimmer edged

[Fantasy Lawns]

http://fantasylawns.com/Dec_2002_011.jpg

Only an edger can get the grass n bed area clean .... edging black top n cement is a nightmare with a weed wacker (let alone with n edger)

We only weed eat edging on lawns which are like "cake" in the sidewalk areas .... but you get can't edge bed areas with a weed eater .... speciaily in the heat of summer .....

I also like to see the deep dark groove n edger produces n like Homer said .... blow out the crack (even thou he said bout 9 months ago)

It's all bout time .... n its fast with n edger .... ain't no way anyone can produce a clean complete edge faster

[lawnboy11]

You might be a scrub if......

you can't get a clean edge with a weedwacker/trimmer (after an ititial edge is established with a bladed edger)


just kidding, nothing scrubby about edging with an edger, but you're kidding yourself if you think it's faster overall. I can weedwack around trees, beds, etc as I edge the sidewalks and walk around the house. Once. No trip back to truck to get the edger/unload, blah blah blah.

PS Fantasy lawns- good quote on your sig. from lawnboy"the eleven" I still miss Jerry. Darn it.

[Ed Ryder]

I am the master when it comes to "edging."

I use a weedwacker only. My results are excellent. It really distinguishes my work from everyone else. My properties look manicured with my techniques.

But it took me a lot of practice to get this good. It takes control.

I got rid of the walk-behind edger a few years ago. I had rarely used it.

[Ricks Z28]

Dido with Justalawnguy. When it comes to edging I haven't found a better tool then the GT 2400 Curved shaft weed eater.

[coonman]

I can make a very good looking edge with a trimmer, but there is no way and I mean NO WAY you can be faster with a trimmer than the stick edger. On the long curved sidewalks you can walk as fast as you can walk or even jog with your stick edger. No way can you go that fast with your trimmer. Yes I might spend an extra 30-45 seconds going to the truck to grab the edger. It makes a perfect edge everytime. Most houses, sidewalks and driveways take about 2 minutes. I used to use my trimmer all the time to edge and got real good, once I tried the stick edger I could not believe how much faster and easier it was.

[brucec32]

I need to modify my post...on creeping grasses a string trimmer does good, because the groove won't get too big. Tall Fescue here in the summer can have some too-big grooves if you're not careful, though ironically it doesn't always edge easily with a stick edger.

Amen on blacktop...ouch.

I tried left handed today.....horrible.

Screw it, I'm getting a stick edger for bigger properties.

[kutnkru]

Have you ever tried to edge what they have down there in FL??

I have. Theres no way you can establish an edge with a line trimmer there like we can here in NY -LOL!!

Simply not going to happen, unless it was just done the week before. Best thing you could hope for is that you could possibly get away with a LT every other week -- but I highly doubt thats going to be adventagious.

[lawnboy11]

Yeah kut, I guess it might be different down there, but what about if you edge it every week? It's still not possible with just a string trimmer? I string trim all edges every week (unless I can get away with out it at times when it's dry on a non-irrigated lawn in the summer or fall. I know that the grasses down there are a lot coarser in general and it's like trying to trim a nasty crabgrass lawn in the summer which is hard. Lucky for us though! I actually watched a guy in Fla. trim the grounds at a resort with a stick edger and he was pretty good and quick. Both ways work, but in our situation, I think just a weed wacker is faster most of the time. BTW-where upstate are you? I went to school in Geneseo for a while. I love it up there. Which reminds me-most of the sidewalks were overgrown and edging wasn't too common there at all. I'd move upstate, it's beautiful, but I don't want to start all over again (and it's friggin freezin!).

[Paradise Yard Service]

Shin. T-27/270 w. 095. Turn upsidedown, stand on grass/face the sidewalk, walk backwards. Dirt flys away from you. Edges are flawless with any grass variety. Speed will increase as you master. I do this first time through (takes little longer) and maint... Benefits...happy customer, one tool for the job, other LCOs will be awestruck at your skill. Practice Bruddah!

Aloha,

P.Y.S.