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Megan Johnson is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She previously worked at the Boston Herald’s Inside Track. A full-time freelance writer since 2013, she now writes for publications like People, Architectural Digest, the Boston Globe, and Yoga Journal. Her content ranges from tackling mouse infestations to documenting a cabin rehab in the Catskills. Follow her on X.
Lawn edging is a landscaping practice that creates crisp lines and protects flower beds from weeds.
Edging involves cutting directly into the lawn to create a border around the grass.
Professional mowing and landscaping providers usually offer a la carte edging for $40–$70 per hour.
The scent of freshly cut grass says summer, but crisp edging is what gives your home true curb appeal. A straight edge around walkways and flower beds is pretty and makes lawn maintenance easier.
By establishing a barrier, you’re practicing weed control and protecting your flower beds from invasive weeds.
Tackling edging for the first time may seem intimidating, but this lawn care task is relatively simple to DIY, especially if you choose the right edging tool.
We turned to landscaping and lawn maintenance experts to share their tips and tricks to transform a ho-hum lawn into a park-like enclave. Here is everything you need to know about how to edge your lawn.
By clearly defining the perimeter of your lawn, you can create a clean separation between the grassy patches and garden beds, walkways and mulched areas.
“Lawn edging makes your landscaping look more professional,” said Linda Silich, owner and landscape designer at Groundworks Landscaping in East Hampton, New York. The delineation not only looks neat but helps keep the grass from creeping into the mulch.
“Lawn edging makes your landscaping look more professional.” Linda Silich
“Lawn edging makes your landscaping look more professional.”
Knowing how to edge a lawn is crucial to lawn maintenance because it establishes a natural barrier that can help with weed control.
The best way to get clean edges around your lawn is to invest in the right tools. These edging tools are available through Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s or your local hardware store.
Gas or battery-powered edging tools designed specifically for lawn edging. A power edger has a sharp blade that cuts a small trench between the lawn and other spaces, establishing a barrier.
Referred to as a weed trimmer, weed eater or weed wacker — this tool is designed for trimming areas of the lawn that the mower cannot get to and other hard-to-reach spots such as around pavers and foliage. It can be used for lawn edging as long as you know how to do it right, Silich noted.
A handheld tool that resembles a shovel but with a much shorter base. Often called a half-moon edger because of its rounded edge, edgers with rectangular-shaped bottoms are also popular. Manual edgers are used to cut and remove lawn edges by hand and foot. “[A manual edger is] more precise, more accurate and keeps a nice, deep, straight line,” said Ryan Connor, director of landscape maintenance at Groundworks Landscaping.
Think of lawn edging as an art project. You need to define your territory and then essentially “draw around it” with the edging tool of your choice.
Sara Bendrick, a landscape contractor and owner of Sarita Landscape Design in San Diego, recommended using a battery-powered edger that can run for a long time and requires little maintenance.
A manual edging tool will work as well but may take more time and effort.
Tackling the project on your own is “pretty easy,” Bendrick noted. “A professional is not needed unless you don’t want to do the work or have mobility issues,” she added.
Before you gather your lawn edger, clear the area of toys and debris and verify that you’re not about to dig into an irrigation system. Protect yourself with personal protection equipment, including safety glasses, pants, long sleeves, ear plugs and gloves.
Whether you’re using a cordless battery-powered or gas-powered option, check that you have the juice to keep it going. That means charging the battery or filling it with gas.
Plan the edging outline before you start. Our experts recommended using spray paint to mark the area you plan to work on.
Adjust the blade height to your preferred depth. Line up the blade in the grass on the edge of a sidewalk or along the desired area you want to trim. Guide the lawn edging tool along the line, allowing the weight of the edger to rest on the wheel.
For a manual tool, place the edger on the line and push it down into the soil at a 90-degree angle. This process will be easier if you start edging when the soil is moist. Avoid edging right after a big rain storm or you may be working in a mud bath.
Once you finish edging, clean up the area. This may entail using a leaf blower to remove grass blades from the sidewalk or manually picking up chunks of dirt that fall into the flower bed. A spade shovel is useful if you plan to dig a deeper trench.
Wipe off grass and dirt from your edger. For power-edgers, remove the battery and charge for next use.
The decision to call a professional lawn maintenance company to edge your lawn is based on how much time, energy and money you’re willing to spend.
“It’s really tough to give a ballpark price without talking to the client and seeing what they want for their property,” said Connor, noting that a “full edge” should be done two or three times each year.
Lawn edging service costs depend on the size and complexity of your yard. Clay is a very heavy type of soil and can be difficult to dig, said Conner, noting that he’s had homeowners reach out after they start, make a mess and now need assistance to complete the edging project.
Ask your lawn care provider if they offer edging as an a la carte service. If so, the hourly rate typically ranges from $40 to $70, according to data the Homefront team collected from lawn care professionals in March 2024.
Some lawn services include edging. Edging is almost always done when the lawn is mowed and is generally included in the lawn mowing price. A lawn mowing service costs can range from $48 to $85 per session and will cost you at least $1,200 for the spring and summer seasons (April to September), according to the lawn care pros we spoke with.
Landscaping maintenance services that include garden and pruning care may also include edging as part of maintenance.
Spring yard cleanup is a good time to start edging, but you need to keep up with it as part of lawn maintenance. While Bendrick recommended edging once a month, Conner said his regular landscaping clients request weekly touch-ups in the mowing service.
After you’ve sculpted the edge to your lawn and pushed all the debris into the plant bed, Connor recommended spreading up to two inches of cedar mulch, which deters pests and suppresses weeds. Placing weed fabric under the mulch will help keep the edges of your lawn prim longer.
String trimmers keep the grass in check so the blades don’t hang over the flower beds, Conner added.
Manual edging shears (think scissors with long handles) are good tools to use if you want to touch up lawns manually.
Edging is only one part of lawn maintenance. Once you edge, mow your lawn. That way the mower can pick up some of the clippings, Bendrick said.
To keep your lawn in top shape, fertilize it with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Spring is the best time to start but application throughout the season will keep your yard verdant.
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