Edging Advice?

[recycledsole]

Hey guys
just got my first edger. i got it from the ideas id seen on this site. it looked helpful for cutting / maintaining flower beds and of course for edging the sidewalk/ driveway etc..

i got a nice stihl one and when i used it it doesnt cut all the way through the grass roots all the time. it is just not deep enough. I wanted to just edge it and shovel the excess turf off. but at different places i really have to fight it with the shovel. i am considering returning it because i think i can just do what i need with a string trimmer.
let me know what your experience is
thanks alot

[cpllawncare]

you need a walk behind edger for what you're trying to do IE establish a new edge. a stick edger is just for maintaining, not powerful enough for establishing a new edge in most cases. We have a mclaine 801 walk behind for new edging it cuts in a new edge with ease.

[Dave does lawns]

Originally Posted by cpllawncare

you need a walk behind edger for what you're trying to do IE establish a new edge. a stick edger is just for maintaining, not powerful enough for establishing a new edge in most cases. We have a mclaine 801 walk behind for new edging it cuts in a new edge with ease.

I agree, either get a walk behind or start doing the initial edge by had.

[peachtree landscapes]

I have a Stihl stick edger as well. What works for me on tough edges the first time is if you work in 3-4 ft sections and walk forward, then pull the edger back on the same line. Essentially it's a double cut and can be messy, but also be CAREFUL! It cleans things up pretty nice and then I take a backpack blower and blow the edge line to clean it up real nice. Sometimes I'll take a hook I've put on the end of an old broomstick to clean the edge up a little also if it doesn't cut all of the turf.

[daniel1132]

This year I started doing a lot of edging and upgraded from my husqvarna stick edger to a mclane 801. the difference is incredible! I make the initial cut with the mclane, and then clean up any stragglers with the stick. there can also be spots near steps or other obstacles that the mclane can't quite reach, a 2-3 foot section that I use the stick for. I used to spend more than 2x the time fighting inches of sod growing over the edge. keep the stihl, and buy a walkbehind.

[Pressedun]

Originally Posted by peachtree landscapes

I have a Stihl stick edger as well. What works for me on tough edges the first time is if you work in 3-4 ft sections and walk forward, then pull the edger back on the same line. Essentially it's a double cut and can be messy, but also be CAREFUL! It cleans things up pretty nice and then I take a backpack blower and blow the edge line to clean it up real nice. Sometimes I'll take a hook I've put on the end of an old broomstick to clean the edge up a little also if it doesn't cut all of the turf.

Yup, I do the same, go forward a bit then pull back over it again, I'll clean up all the edging excess and run the edger on it again and sometimes even a 3rd time. Using the blower in between each time.

[STIHL GUY]

i edge all my sidewalks with my weedwacker...once you get it looking nice its easy to maintain

[Kkane97]

I establish new beds with my walk behind edger MTD but it works great. I edge all properties with the trimmer, I can edge just as good as any one can with a stick edger on a sidewalk ect

[recycledsole]

do you all get a ton of dirt with the edger?

[Kkane97]

Do you mean while edging? then yea If I wear shorts while edging my legs will be cut like a SOB by the end of the day, wear pants and safety glasses!