For domestic gardens, I recommend manual lawn edger tools. Although it’s possible to get petrol-powered and electric lawn edgers, they’re usually more than you’ll need at home. Lawn edgers with flat, rectangular blades and plain edges are suitable for basic edging jobs. They can be used in situations where the lawn is level with the adjacent hard surface – for example a patio or driveway. For something a little different, there’s the Wolf Garten Lawn Edger. It’s especially useful for those gardeners who already own other Wolf Garten products, because this lawn edger head can be fitted onto Wolf Garten’s ‘Multi Change Range’ shaft. But, fortunately, this is where the humble lawn edger comes into its own! A lawn edger will give your lawn that well-polished finish; creating a clean line between the grass and flowerbed or patio.

Bear in mind that comfort doesn’t only depend on the ergonomics of the handle, but also the weight of the machine. Petrol edgers can be heavy which may make them harder to use for prolonged periods. We think the Wilkinson Sword lawn edger is particularly suited to tough clay and chalk soils, where you should be able to get precision results on your lawns and flowerbeds. There’s also a slightly cheaper version available with a carbon steel blade. FYI – The product details in the specification table above have been calculated with the Wolf Garten handle included. This is certainly also a space-saving design, removing the necessity to have several full-size tools, creating a perfect scenario for those gardeners who are always struggling to find room for storage. Materials – If you’ve decided on a manual edger then look for one with a stainless or carbon steel blade for strength. Electric/gas edgers normally have blades made from hardened steel.Construction – Whether a manual or electric lawn edger, you’ll want to choose one that feels solid and well constructed. Make sure it isn’t flimsy or wobbly and, if it requires assembly before use, read the instructions carefully when putting it together. There are a couple of different blade shapes when it comes to lawn edgers. Rectangular blades are less common, but can be useful for specific jobs like edging a lawn that sits flush against a hard surface.

If you often struggle to find tools with a shaft which is long enough for you, buying tool heads separately can allow you to fit them onto a longer shaft. You don’t get lumbered with the shaft which is already attached to the lawn edger. The reason it’s so light is that the tubular shaft is made from steel, cutting out the weight that other solid-wood shafts bring. The carbon steel head doesn’t add much weight, whilst still cutting firmly into soft ground to create neat edges. Thanks to this edger’s lightweight design, it’s pretty comfortable to use for extended periods, and the wooden handle provides good grip even in the rain. It doesn’t have a padded handle, and nor is it ergonomically shaped, so you may find it’s more comfortable to use with gloves over extended periods. Now, that’s not to say that you don’t need to put in a bit of work, but the things that can be achieved with this Radius Garden Root Slayer, with a little bit of elbow grease, will leave you wondering how you ever lived without it.Gas – There are also edging machines available that are powered by gas, but these are generally used by professional landscapers. It digs through lawn edges and roots with ease thanks to its sharpened cutting blade and root-cutting teeth, staying sharp for an impressively long time too. The tactic is to lift the edger up vertically, and then bring it down with force, saying goodbye to any medium-sized roots as you go. Cordless lawn edgers are convenient because you’re not limited on where you can use them, and they’re more lightweight than cordless petrol models. The downside is that the battery will need regular recharging and may not last for more than 30 minutes As a result, if you have a very large lawn that you need to edge, a battery-powered model may not be the most practical.