Reliable Lawn Care said:
I am with Trinity on this one, always have the edge looking sharp, usually only need the true edger maybe twice a season, spring and the last mowing if needed for the winter. The rest of the season is a cake walk with the trimmer. To edge leaves a lasting impression, and not for just the home owner.
There has been a lot of debate on this issue in the commercial forum. From what I gather, some people hate edging, some people use a string trimmer and call it edging, some clients /regions of the country don't care, some grasses don't really need it. People have different ideas of what edging means.
But, the bottom line is you have to figure out what works for you. I use a steel blade stick edger. In Florida, if you don't edge at least every other week it starts looking like crap. In the winter not so much, but in spring and summer forget it.
After the first few times (and you get good with the edger), you can edge almost as fast as you can powerwalk. Most of my 1/4 acre resi properties take 3-5 minutes to edge completely and look so much better for it. That is sidewalk and driveway. even with concrete beds ringing the house it is less than 10. I just build it into the price. Basic service mow, edge, line trim, blow. $85-130 per 1/4 acre prop monthly. Obviously your price will be different than mine, but I don't discount if the people don't want edging or don't want weekly edging. I say that is my basic package. Way to difficult for my guys to remember not to edge and my best advertising is your lawn looking its best. Polite way of saying pay up or move on.