Figuring out which tool you need for your yard can be tricky, especially when you’re just starting out. You might wonder, How to choose between string trimmer and lawn edger. They both trim grass, but they do slightly different jobs.
This guide will make it super simple. We’ll walk through it step by step so you can pick the right one for your lawn care needs. Let’s find out what works best for you and your yard!
Key Takeaways
- A string trimmer is best for general trimming and cutting overgrown areas.
- A lawn edger provides clean, crisp lines along sidewalks and driveways.
- Consider the size of your yard when deciding between the two tools.
- Power source (electric, battery, gas) affects usability and maintenance.
- Safety features and ease of use are important factors for beginners.
- Understanding the primary function of each tool helps make the right choice.
What is a String Trimmer and What Does It Do?
A string trimmer, often called a weed whacker or weed eater, is a garden tool that uses a rotating string to cut grass and weeds. It’s designed for trimming areas that a lawn mower can’t reach, like around trees, fences, and garden beds. Think of it as your go-to tool for tidying up those hard-to-get spots and keeping your lawn looking neat and uniform.
It’s great for tackling areas where the grass has gotten a bit long.
The main cutting mechanism is a spool of nylon string. When the trimmer is turned on, this string spins at a very high speed. The fast-moving string acts like a flexible blade, slicing through grass and weeds.
Most string trimmers have a power head, a shaft, and a handle. The power head contains the motor, which can be electric, battery-powered, or gas-powered. The shaft connects the power head to the cutting head, where the string is located.
The handle allows you to control the tool.
String trimmers are fantastic for a variety of tasks. They can clear overgrown brush, trim along the edges of your property, and even help shape hedges if you have the right attachment. Their flexibility means you can reach into corners and around obstacles that a mower can’t touch.
This makes them essential for maintaining a well-kept yard. For beginners, they offer an accessible way to achieve a polished look without needing a lot of experience.
How a String Trimmer Cuts
The magic behind a string trimmer is its rotating nylon line. This line is fed from a spool, and as it spins, it creates a powerful cutting surface. The speed at which the line rotates is crucial for its effectiveness.
Higher speeds mean cleaner cuts and the ability to tackle thicker vegetation. The line is typically made of nylon, a strong and flexible material that can withstand the constant friction and impact without breaking too easily.
When you operate a string trimmer, you guide the spinning line over the grass or weeds. The centrifugal force causes the line to extend outwards. The sheer speed of the rotation makes the line sharp enough to cut through grass blades and even smaller branches.
The string wears down over time as it hits obstacles and the ground. Most trimmers have an automatic or manual line feed system to advance more string from the spool as needed. This ensures you always have enough cutting length.
The type of string can also vary. Some are thicker for tougher jobs, while others are thinner for delicate trimming. The diameter of the string, along with the motor’s power, determines the trimmer’s cutting capacity.
For instance, a trimmer with a powerful gas engine and a thicker string can handle dense weeds and tall grass much better than a lightweight electric model with thin string.
Types of String Trimmer Power Sources
String trimmers come with different power sources, and each has its pros and cons. The choice of power source can significantly impact how you use the trimmer and how much maintenance it requires.
- Electric (Corded): These trimmers plug into a wall outlet. They are usually the lightest and most affordable. They offer unlimited run time as long as you have an extension cord and an outlet nearby. However, the cord can be a hassle to manage, limiting your reach and posing a tripping hazard. They are best for smaller yards or areas close to an outdoor power source.
- Battery-Powered: These trimmers run on rechargeable batteries. They offer more freedom of movement than corded models and are generally lighter and quieter than gas trimmers. The run time depends on the battery’s capacity and the trimmer’s power usage. Newer models often have interchangeable batteries with other cordless garden tools, which is a great convenience.
- Gas-Powered: Gas trimmers offer the most power and are ideal for larger yards, thick weeds, and demanding tasks. They provide complete freedom of movement. However, they are typically heavier, louder, and require more maintenance, such as refueling, oil changes, and spark plug replacements. They also produce exhaust fumes.
For beginners, battery-powered trimmers often strike a good balance between ease of use, power, and freedom. They are simple to start and require less upkeep than gas models. Electric corded trimmers are even simpler if your yard is small and has easy access to power.
Gas trimmers are best left for those who need serious power and don’t mind the extra work involved.
When to Use a String Trimmer
A string trimmer is your best friend when you need to tidy up edges, clear overgrown areas, or get into tight spots your lawnmower can’t reach. It’s perfect for trimming grass around flower beds, trees, fences, and along walls. If you have a section of your yard that’s become overgrown with weeds, a string trimmer can quickly bring it back under control.
It’s also useful for creating a clean, finished look on your lawn. After mowing, you can use a string trimmer to neaten up the edges of your lawn, making it look sharp and well-maintained. For very large lawns or properties with lots of obstacles, a string trimmer is almost indispensable for keeping everything looking its best.
It’s a versatile tool that helps achieve a professional finish.
Consider using a string trimmer after mowing if you notice any tall grass or weeds that the mower missed. It’s also a great tool to have on hand for quick touch-ups between mowing sessions. If you’re dealing with areas that are difficult to access with a mower, like steep slopes or uneven terrain, a string trimmer can do the job effectively.
What is a Lawn Edger and What Does It Do?
A lawn edger is a specialized tool designed to create clean, sharp lines along hard surfaces like sidewalks, driveways, and garden bed borders. Its primary purpose is to give your lawn a neat, manicured appearance by precisely cutting away any grass that has grown over the edge onto these surfaces. Unlike a string trimmer, which cuts grass at ground level, an edger typically uses a blade to make a clean vertical cut.
The result of using a lawn edger is a professional-looking finish. It’s the difference between a nicely trimmed lawn and a perfectly sculpted one. By defining the edges of your lawn with precision, an edger makes your entire landscape look more polished and intentional.
It’s a key tool for achieving that crisp, well-defined border that enhances curb appeal.
For beginners, understanding that an edger is for lines and a trimmer is for trimming is the first step. An edger isn’t meant to cut large areas of grass or weeds. Its strength lies in its ability to create straight, clean boundaries.
This distinction is important for selecting the right tool for the specific task at hand and avoiding frustration.
How a Lawn Edger Works
Lawn edgers typically use a rotating metal blade to cut through grass and soil. This blade is often circular and spins at a high speed. The operator guides the edger along the edge of a hard surface, such as a concrete sidewalk or a brick pathway.
The blade cuts vertically into the turf, removing any grass that has encroached onto the hardscape.
There are a few main types of edger blades. Some are straight, designed for making a clean cut along a straight line. Others are curved or hooked, which can help lift and remove the cut grass more effectively.
The depth at which the blade cuts into the ground is usually adjustable, allowing you to control how deep the edge is. This adjustability is important for achieving the desired aesthetic and for different types of turf.
The power source for an edger can also vary, similar to string trimmers. You’ll find electric (corded and battery-powered) and gas-powered models. Electric models are generally lighter and easier to handle for smaller edging tasks, while gas models offer more power for tackling tougher jobs or larger areas.
The precision of the cut is what sets an edger apart, making it an essential tool for achieving a very neat lawn.
Types of Lawn Edgers
Lawn edgers come in various forms, each suited for different needs and preferences. The main distinctions lie in their power source and their design.
- Electric Edgers (Corded and Battery): These are typically lighter and easier to maneuver, making them good choices for homeowners with smaller yards or those who prefer less maintenance. Corded electric edgers offer continuous power but limit your range. Battery-powered edgers provide freedom of movement without the hassle of cords or the fumes of gas engines, though their run time is limited by battery life.
- Gas-Powered Edgers: These are the most powerful option and are best for large properties, thick turf, or frequent edging. They offer unlimited run time but are heavier, louder, and require more maintenance (fueling, oil, tune-ups).
- Blade Edgers: These are the most common type, using a spinning metal blade to create the edge. They are highly effective for sharp, clean lines.
- Wheel Edgers: Some edgers have a wheel that follows the line of your sidewalk or driveway, making it easier to maintain a consistent depth and straight line.
When considering an edger, think about how much edging you’ll be doing and the size of your property. For most homeowners, a battery-powered blade edger offers a good blend of performance, convenience, and ease of use. If you have a very large property or very tough grass, a gas-powered model might be necessary.
When to Use a Lawn Edger
A lawn edger is used specifically for creating sharp, clean borders between your lawn and hard surfaces. This includes the edges of your driveway, sidewalks, patios, and pathways. It’s also great for defining the borders of raised garden beds or flower beds that are adjacent to a lawn area.
The goal of using an edger is to achieve a professional, manicured look. By precisely cutting away any grass that has grown over the edge, you create a crisp line that makes your entire landscape appear more tidy and well-kept. It’s a finishing touch that really elevates the appearance of your yard.
Think of it as adding the frame to a beautiful picture.
You would typically use a lawn edger after you have mowed your lawn. This ensures that you are working with the final grass height and can create the most accurate and clean edge. Using an edger regularly helps maintain these sharp lines and prevents grass from creeping onto your hardscapes, keeping your property looking its best.
How to Choose Between String Trimmer and Lawn Edger
Deciding between a string trimmer and a lawn edger comes down to understanding their core functions and your specific yard needs. If your main goal is to trim grass in areas your mower can’t reach, like around obstacles or in overgrown patches, a string trimmer is your tool. It’s versatile for general yard maintenance and tidying up.
If, however, you want those perfectly sharp, clean lines along your sidewalks and driveways that make a yard look professionally done, then a lawn edger is what you need.
Many homeowners find they benefit from having both. A string trimmer handles the broad trimming tasks, while an edger provides the precise finishing touches. However, if you have to pick just one, consider what bothers you most about your lawn’s appearance.
Are there too many overgrown areas, or are the edges looking messy? Your answer will point you toward the right tool.
For beginners, starting with a string trimmer might be more practical because it’s a more multi-purpose tool. It can do a decent job of edging in a pinch, even if it doesn’t produce the super-crisp lines of an edger. But if you’re aiming for that high-end look from the start, and your primary concern is the border of your lawn, then an edger is the more direct solution.
Understanding Your Yard’s Needs
To make the best choice, take a good look at your yard. Does it have a lot of curved garden beds and trees that require trimming around? Or is it mostly open lawn with straight edges that meet sidewalks and driveways?
The shape and features of your yard will heavily influence which tool you’ll use more often.
If you have a lot of tight corners, overgrown bushes, or areas where the grass just keeps growing too high, a string trimmer is essential. It can get into those nooks and crannies that a mower simply cannot. On the other hand, if your lawn is well-defined by hardscaping and you just want that super clean look along those borders, an edger will be your focus.
Consider the amount of time you want to spend on yard work. A string trimmer might take a bit longer to achieve a clean edge compared to a dedicated edger. However, it offers more flexibility for other trimming tasks.
An edger is faster and more effective for its specific job, but it can’t tackle the general trimming needs that a string trimmer can.
Comparing String Trimmers and Lawn Edgers
It’s helpful to see how these two tools stack up against each other for different tasks. They both cut grass, but in very different ways and for different purposes.
| Feature | String Trimmer | Lawn Edger |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Trimming grass in hard-to-reach areas, clearing overgrowth. | Creating sharp, clean lines along hardscapes. |
| Cutting Mechanism | Rotating nylon string. | Rotating metal blade. |
| Result | Neat but potentially uneven trimming. | Crisp, precise, professional-looking edges. |
| Best for | Around trees, fences, garden beds, overgrown areas. | Sidewalks, driveways, pathways, bed borders. |
| Versatility | High – can do some edging, trim hedges with attachments. | Low – specialized for edging only. |
As you can see, a string trimmer is a general-purpose tool, while a lawn edger is a specialist. If you’re a beginner with a modest yard, a good string trimmer might be enough to get by for both tasks, though the edging won’t be perfect. If precise edging is your top priority, an edger is necessary.
Making the Right Choice for Beginners
For those new to lawn care, the key is to start with the tool that addresses your most pressing need. If your grass is constantly growing wild in spots the mower can’t reach, a string trimmer is probably more useful initially. It will help you manage the overall appearance of your lawn more broadly.
If you have a smaller yard and your main aesthetic concern is those messy edges along your driveway, then an edger might be a better first purchase. It’s designed for one job, which can make it simpler to learn and master. Many electric or battery-powered edgers are quite lightweight and easy to handle, making them beginner-friendly.
Think about which problem you want to solve first. Do you want to tidy up all the overgrown bits and pieces, or do you want those perfectly straight lines? Often, a string trimmer can perform a passable edging job, especially if you’re careful.
An edger, however, can’t do much to trim tall grass in the middle of your yard.
Consider the power source as well. For beginners, battery-powered tools are often the easiest to manage. They are lighter, quieter, and require very little maintenance compared to gas engines.
They offer a good balance of power and user-friendliness, making them an excellent starting point for anyone new to yard tools.
When Both Tools Are Necessary
In many cases, to achieve a truly polished and professional-looking lawn, you’ll find that you need both a string trimmer and a lawn edger. They complement each other perfectly. The string trimmer takes care of the general trimming and tidying up, while the edger provides that sharp, clean finish along the hard edges of your property.
This combination ensures that every part of your lawn looks its best.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just mowed your entire lawn. Now, there’s grass that has grown slightly over the edge of your sidewalk. A string trimmer might knock it down, but it could leave a fuzzy or uneven line.
This is where the edger comes in. You run the edger along the sidewalk, and it carves out a perfect, straight line, creating a crisp visual separation between your lawn and the concrete. The result is a much more refined appearance.
Another example is around garden beds. A string trimmer can trim the grass close to the edge of the bed, but it might not create a sharp border. If the bed has a hard edge, like landscape timbers or stone, an edger can define that border precisely.
This prevents grass from encroaching into your flower beds and gives your garden a neat, intentional look. Without both tools, you might have to choose between tidying up the bulk of the lawn or getting those sharp edges just right.
The Synergy of Trimming and Edging
The real magic happens when these two tools work together. The string trimmer handles the bulk of the work in areas that are hard to reach with a mower. It can tackle tall weeds, trim around obstacles like trees and playground equipment, and generally neaten up the grass in less accessible parts of your yard.
This initial pass makes the entire yard look more orderly.
Once the general trimming is done, the lawn edger steps in to refine the boundaries. It creates those straight, clean lines along sidewalks, driveways, and patios that give your lawn a finished, professional appearance. This precise edging contrasts with the more general trimming done by the string trimmer, making the overall landscape look more deliberate and well-cared-for.
It’s the difference between a yard that’s just cut and a yard that’s groomed.
This combination is especially important for properties with a lot of landscaping features. For instance, if you have multiple garden beds, pathways, and borders, using both a trimmer and an edger ensures that all these elements look sharp and distinct. The string trimmer keeps the grass in check within the beds and around shrubs, while the edger creates clear lines where the lawn meets the hardscape or borders.
Sample Scenario: A Typical Weekend Yard Cleanup
Let’s walk through a typical Saturday yard cleanup to see how each tool plays its part.
- Start with Mowing: Mow your entire lawn at the desired height.
- Use the String Trimmer: After mowing, take out your string trimmer. Trim the grass around trees, fences, and any other obstacles the mower couldn’t get to. Clear out any tall weeds in garden beds or along the house foundation. This step tackles the “untidy” areas.
- Use the Lawn Edger: Once the general trimming is done, switch to your lawn edger. Carefully run the edger along the edge of your driveway and sidewalks, creating a sharp, clean line. Do the same along any pathways or garden bed borders that meet the lawn. This step creates the “polished” look.
- Final Touches: Blow away any clippings with a leaf blower. Step back and admire your neat, well-defined lawn.
This process highlights how the string trimmer addresses the need for general cutting and clearing, while the edger focuses on creating defined borders. Together, they deliver a high-quality finish that neither tool could achieve alone. This is the standard approach for homeowners aiming for a beautifully maintained yard.
When a String Trimmer Might Suffice
For some homeowners, especially those with simpler yards, a string trimmer might be sufficient for their needs. If your lawn doesn’t have many hard edges that require super-crisp lines, or if you’re not aiming for that extremely manicured look, a string trimmer can often do a passable job of edging.
With careful use, you can guide a string trimmer along a sidewalk or driveway to trim grass that has grown over the edge. It won’t be as sharp or as precise as a dedicated edger, but it can certainly neaten things up considerably. This is often the case for yards with more natural landscaping, where sharp, defined borders are less critical.
Also, if you’re on a tight budget or just starting out and want to invest in one primary tool, a string trimmer is generally more versatile. It can handle a wider range of tasks than an edger. You can trim overgrown areas, clear brush, and do basic edging.
If your primary concern is managing untamed grass and weeds, the string trimmer is the way to go. Many models also have attachments that can convert them into a basic edger or even a small tiller, further increasing their utility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I use a string trimmer to edge my lawn?
Answer: Yes, you can use a string trimmer to edge your lawn, but it won’t provide the same crisp, clean lines as a dedicated lawn edger. You’ll need to be very careful to guide it precisely along the edge for the best results.
Question: What is the main difference between a string trimmer and a lawn edger?
Answer: A string trimmer cuts grass and weeds with a spinning nylon string, primarily for trimming areas a mower can’t reach. A lawn edger uses a spinning metal blade to create precise, clean lines along sidewalks, driveways, and other hardscapes.
Question: Which tool is better for overgrown areas?
Answer: A string trimmer is much better for overgrown areas. Its cutting string can handle tall grass and weeds more effectively than the blade of a lawn edger, which is designed for cleaner, thinner cuts.
Question: Should I get a battery-powered or gas-powered tool?
Answer: Battery-powered tools are generally easier to use, lighter, and require less maintenance, making them great for beginners and smaller yards. Gas-powered tools offer more power and run time, which is better for large areas and tough jobs, but they require more upkeep.
Question: How do I maintain my string trimmer or lawn edger?
Answer: For electric and battery-powered tools, keep them clean and store them properly. For gas-powered tools, you’ll need to refuel, check oil levels, and replace spark plugs and air filters periodically. Always refer to your owner’s manual for specific maintenance instructions.
Conclusion
Choosing between a string trimmer and a lawn edger depends on what you want your yard to look like. A string trimmer tackles general trimming and overgrown spots. A lawn edger creates sharp, clean lines along hard edges.
For the neatest yard, using both is ideal. Start with the tool that solves your biggest yard problem first.
