Edging a Driveway and Sidewalk
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The short answer
Cut vertically against the concrete about 1.5 to 2 inches deep on the first pass, remove the sod strip, then maintain it every two to three weeks at half that depth. A blade edger riding the slab gives a straighter line than a string trimmer and will not chip concrete if you keep the guide wheel on the pavement.
Worx WG896 Electric Lawn Edger
Three depth settings and a guide wheel that rides the slab — the straight-line tool for driveway seams.
A driveway edge fails for one of two reasons: the grass has crept over the slab and buried the seam, or the first cut was never deep enough to create a real trench. Both are fixed in one session, and then upkeep takes ten minutes.
Find the actual edge of the concrete first
Push a flat spade or a half-moon edger straight down where you think the slab ends. If it stops on concrete two inches in from the visible grass line, you have an overgrown lip that needs to be peeled back before any power tool touches it.
Depth settings that work
| Situation | Depth | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| First reclaim of a buried edge | 2 in | Once |
| Established edge, cool-season grass | 1 – 1.5 in | Every 3 weeks |
| Bermuda or zoysia (aggressive runners) | 1.5 – 2 in | Every 2 weeks |
| Along asphalt | 1 in max | Every 3 weeks |
Step by step
- 1Blow or sweep the slab clean so the guide wheel rides flat.
- 2Peel back any overgrown sod lip with a half-moon edger and pull the strip up by hand.
- 3Set the blade depth, start the machine on the pavement, and walk it slowly along the seam.
- 4Keep the wheel on the concrete the whole run — that is what makes the line straight.
- 5Sweep the soil crumbs off the slab before they get watered into a stain.
- 6Trim any surviving fringe with the trimmer held vertically.
Myth
An edger will chip your concrete.
The Fact
The blade rides in soil, not on the slab. Chipping comes from string trimmers whipping the slab face at full speed or from forcing a dull blade sideways into the seam.
Keeping the line for a whole season
- Re-edge on the same schedule as mowing, at a shallower depth — maintenance is much faster than a reclaim.
- Blow the trench clear so clippings do not fill it and re-seed the lip.
- Spot-treat runners on warm-season lawns; Bermuda will re-bridge a clean edge in about two weeks.
- Keep the blade sharp. A rounded blade pushes soil instead of slicing it and leaves a wavy line.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How deep should you edge a driveway?
- About 2 inches for the first reclaim cut and 1 to 1.5 inches for maintenance. Deeper risks irrigation and low-voltage cable buried along the slab.
- How often should I edge my sidewalk?
- Every two to three weeks in the growing season — every two for Bermuda and zoysia, every three for fescue and bluegrass.
- Can I edge a driveway with a string trimmer?
- Yes, but the line follows your hand, not the slab, so the border wanders. A wheeled blade edger riding the concrete gives a straighter, deeper cut with less effort.
The Gear We’d Buy
Everything referenced in this guide, in one place.
Worx WG896 Electric Lawn Edger
Top pickThree depth settings and a guide wheel that rides the slab — the straight-line tool for driveway seams.
Typically $100 - $130
Radius Garden Half-Moon Edger
Peels back an overgrown sod lip before the power tool touches it.
Typically $35 - $55
Replacement Edger Blades
A rounded blade wanders. Keep a spare and swap it once a season.
Typically $12 - $25
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Key Takeaways
- Reclaim buried edges by hand first, then go to power.
- 2 inches on the first cut, 1 to 1.5 inches for upkeep.
- Keep the guide wheel on the pavement for a straight line.
- Warm-season grass needs edging twice as often as fescue.
Reviewed by
The Lawn Tool Hub Test Bench
We buy, borrow and break lawn tools on our own yards — clay in the back, sand-cut Bermuda in the front — and write down what actually changed the result.
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Top pick
Worx WG896 Electric Lawn Edger