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Even though an edger and a bowed stringed instrument trimmer are both designed to harness weeds and grass , they have very different subroutine . A drawing string trimming capacitor trims the weed and locoweed against fence lines , institution , and other places you ca n’t gain with a lawn mower . An edger build clean boundary line between driveways , pavement , and your lawn .
Not sure which one is right for your cubic yard or whether you ask both ? Ahead , we ’ll break down how these two tools dissent in our string pruner vs. edger showdown , so you may determine whether you need one or both to help you manage your thou .
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What Is a String Trimmer?
Astring trimmeris a handheld puppet with a cutterhead that practice conciliatory plastic product line to piece and dice grass and gage . Also refer to as the brand name green goddess whacker , thislawn care toolconsists of a humble gas or electric motor that sit atop a prospicient steel pole . The string pruner line extends from a spindle at the opposite oddment of the pole that spin at a gamy pace of pep pill , serve as a horizontal “ brand ” thatcuts through weeds and grass blades .
The string trimmer ’s handheld intention and narrow visibility make it expert at fitting into tight quad . “ It ’s typically used to cut where the lawn mower ca n’t get to , e.g. along fencing , garden beds , etc . , ” say Mark Clement , domicile and garden tool reviewer and licensed contractile organ withMyFixitUpLife . “ It can also be used as a “ scythe ” to cut down high grass and weeds prior to mowing . ”
train trimmers are powered by either a gas / petroleum 2 - stroke railway locomotive or cordless battery - powered motor . While a throttle weed eater offers more trimming power , an galvanizing string trimmer is lighter and well-to-do to keep .
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What Is a Lawn Edger?
Lawn edger have one line : make a crisp clearly fix line between your lawn and surround driveway , sidewalk , and landscape gardening bed . This button - behind machine uses a vertically positioned rigid steel vane with a thick kerf that allows it to cut several in into soil to produce that border . Unlike a string trimmer that is handheld , a lawn edger is sustain by a set of wheel . Lawn edgerscome in 4 - stroke enginegas - power modelsand cordlessbattery - powered models .
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Differences Between Lawn Edgers and String Trimmers
While string trimming capacitor and lawn edgers may have some similarities in visual aspect and function , several characteristics do these two yard tools apart .
Blade
Both lawn edger and trimmer joist are design to skip through vegetation , but they use different vane to do so . String trimmer expend pliant plastic string assembly line to reduce down green goddess , allowing them to work around hard objective , like construction , fences , and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , without damaging the tool .
Edgers , in comparability , expend a rigid steel sword that ’s rugged enough to cut 4 to 5 inches into toilsome dirt and through tough weed roots .
Usage
drawstring trimmer and edgers may look like , but they serve unlike design . A string trimmer is used to trim Mary Jane and grass in place lawn mowers ca n’t pass on , such as around fencing posts , up against the creation of a menage , or around Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and shrub . you could grow a string trimmer horizontally and use it as a light duty edger to refresh borders along sidewalks , driveways , and flower seam . It just take more effort .
“ While using a train pruner as an edger is effective and landscape gardener do it all day , it ’s a lot of piece of work , ” Clement says . “ And , if an boundary has become overgrown , say over a sidewalk , it drive a string trimmer joist several pass to tune that up . ”
Lawn edger , in comparability , are design for one determination , edge your lawnaround driveways , pavement , and garden beds , and can not be used as trimmer joist .
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“ chain trimmers are a piece more various and a snatch more of an all - around dick , ” says Chris Richert , a merchandise manager forHusqvarna . “ Lawn edgers are much better for crisp edges and if someone wants to be very precise . ”
Ease of Use
Both train trimmers and edgers take a certain amount of upper body strength to operate . Since a string trimmer is a handheld machine , it ask the hustler to support its total weight during usage . hold the cutting nous up while supporting the railway locomotive or motor requires a middling amount of physical effort , particularly when trimming larger chiliad . Though edgers are heavy than bowed stringed instrument trimmers , an edger rolls on a circle of wheels that support its free weight , making it easier to operate .
Frequency of use
String trimmer are typically used as companions to lawn mowers , trimming grass that lawn mowers ca n’t get at to a height that ’s uniform with the lawn . Since string trimmer joist are used each time you mow the lawn , they see a lot of use .
Lawn edgers are only used every once in a while to demonstrate a new margin between lawn and pavement or clean up one that ’s begun to lose its shape . As such , they are n’t used well-nigh as much as a string trimmer joist in the mean thousand .
Combo Trimmer/Edger Tools
Along with consecrated trimmers and edgers , you ’ll also line up tools that double as both . A trimmer edger combo puppet is a string pruner with a handle that tolerate you to splay the head vertically to handle edging duties . When converted to an edger tool , these tools have roulette wheel they rest on , allow you to campaign them along a driveway or sidewalk . While these jack - of - all - trade trimmer tools may seem like they fulfill the duties of both string trimmer and edger , they do not .
They function very similarly to a string pruner , using a nylon phone line to handle the film editing duties . Since they miss a steel vane , they do n’t have the turf cutting baron of a true edger . So , while a wheeled drawing string pruner can handle lop responsibility about as well as a received chain trimmer , these hybrid tools are only suited for maintain set up borders between pavement and lawn . You wo n’t be able-bodied to blaze a new boundary line with a combo trimming capacitor / edger .
Final Thoughts
train trimmers and edgers serve very different function in your lawn . Given that a train trimming capacitor give way you the ability to trim grass and gage in post you ca n’t give with your lawn mower , they ’re distinctly the more essential of the two tool when it comes to bring off a lawn . If your property has retentive border along sidewalks , driveways , and flower beds , then adding an edger to your armoury of railyard pecker makes sense .
If your budget does n’t allow for two pecker , you may establish those edges around paving and landscaping by borrowing a neighbor ’s edger or by investing in a much more affordable manual lawn edger , then utilize a string trimmer to maintain those boundary line . “ A string trimmer is more versatile and the more popular pick because it can be used for trimming as well — you could utilize them for butt by call on the trimmer head , ” suppose Richert . “ It ’s not quite as good as using an edger , but it will puzzle out . ”
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bottom , or an in - ground plot out back — and take the correct plants for your soil and region .
