How to Edge a Lawn in 5 Steps (Without Scalping It)
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The short answer
Edge after mowing, with the blade set 1–1.5 inches deep for maintenance passes. Walk at a steady pace, let the blade pull the machine, and make one slow pass instead of several fast ones. First-time edges on overgrown borders need a deeper 2–2.5 inch reset pass before the weekly shallow pass will hold.
EGO Power+ 15" Edger
Five marked depth stops make "1.5 inches" a setting, not a guess — the maintenance-pass machine.
The 5-step edging method
- 1Mow first. Edging after the mow lets you match the edge height to the cut height and see exactly where the turf ends.
- 2Mark the line. On curves and new beds, lay a garden hose or spray a paint line. Straight hardscape edges need nothing — the concrete is your guide.
- 3Set depth: 1 to 1.5 inches for weekly maintenance, 2 to 2.5 inches for a first-time reset on an overgrown border.
- 4Walk the pass at a steady pace. On a stick edger like the EGO Power+ 15" Edger, keep the guide wheel on the hard surface and let the blade do the cutting — pushing faster just makes a ragged trench.
- 5Clean up. Blow or sweep the cuttings off the pavement back into the lawn; the trench line reads twice as crisp when the hardscape is clean.
Choosing the tool for the border
Under 100 feet of border, a Radius Garden Half-Moon Edger is honestly faster — no battery, no cord, and the sharpened steel blade leaves a cleaner wall than a spinning string. Past that, a stick edger pays for itself in time. The Worx WG896 Corded Edger is the budget pick if every border sits within extension-cord range.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should you edge a lawn?
- Every second mow during peak growth is enough for most lawns. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda creep faster and may want a weekly pass; cool-season lawns can stretch to every two to three weeks in summer slowdown.
- Should you edge before or after mowing?
- After. The mow sets the finished height, and edging second lets you blend the border strip to match instead of leaving a tufted ridge.
- How deep should lawn edging be?
- 1 to 1.5 inches for routine maintenance. Only go to 2–2.5 inches when re-establishing a border that's grown over, then drop back to the shallow setting for the rest of the season.
- Can I edge wet grass?
- You can, but shouldn't. Wet soil gums the blade, the trench walls slump, and clippings stick to the pavement instead of blowing clean. Wait for a dry day.
The Gear We’d Buy
Everything referenced in this guide, in one place.
EGO Power+ 15" Edger
Top pickFive marked depth stops make "1.5 inches" a setting, not a guess — the maintenance-pass machine.
Typically $180 - $230 bare tool
Radius Garden Half-Moon Edger
Small-yard pickFor borders under 100 feet, this is faster than fetching a battery — and the cleanest cut here.
Typically $40 - $60
Worx WG896 Corded Edger
Best valueFull blade depth for half the money if your borders sit inside cord range.
Typically $90 - $120
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Key Takeaways
- Mow first, edge second — the border blends to the cut height.
- 1–1.5 inches deep for weekly passes; deeper only for a one-time reset.
- Short borders are faster with a half-moon edger than any powered tool.
- Clean the pavement after — the contrast is what makes the line pop.
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.
Keep reading
How to Edge a Lawn with a String Trimmer the Right Way
Flip-the-head string trimmer edging done properly: guard angle, walking direction and speed — plus the borders where only a blade edger will do.
How to Install Landscape Fabric So It Stays Put
Overlap, staple spacing and edge anchoring decide whether landscape fabric lasts a decade or lifts by August. Step-by-step spacing numbers inside.
Sharpening a Half-Moon Edger
The file angle, stroke direction and burr check that turn a dull manual edger back into a tool that slices sod instead of tearing it.
Top pick
EGO Power+ 15" Edger