Maintaining a well-manicured lawn doesn’t end with mowing the lawn!
Surely, mowing does keep the vertical growth of grass in check. However, you also need a tool to keep the lawn from growing into sidewalks and the neighbor’s yard.
With that being said, make way for these handy manual lawn edgers, which shave off unkempt grass to give your lawn an edge over the others. Getting those polished borders with this eco-friendly machine may take time, but it is always worth it.
In fact, I even remember using manual mowers as a kid. Sure, it took hours. But what kept me going every time was the satisfaction of working hard to make my yard look pretty, and the smell of freshly cut grass instead of fumes.
Hi! My name is Stacy Smith, and I am here to help you find the best manual lawn edger on the market!
Top 5 Manual Lawn Edger Reviews
1. AMES 2917200
Whether you are working with straight or curved lines, this product from AMES always rises to the occasion. It is versatile, lightweight, easy to use and so much more. All in all, it’s a handy tool for everyone – especially seniors!
Product Highlights
This manual lawn edger has a tough and steely look, which is, perhaps, a precursor to its strong and vigorous performance. Standing tall at about 45 inches, including the 5-inch blade, this is a suitable option for those with a height of over 5 feet.
At one end of the product, you will find an arched serrated blade that is capable of digging 5-6 inches deep on the first try itself! Moreover, the footplate makes it safer and more convenient to stomp down on even the worst overgrowths. Needless to say, this is an easy solution for thick soil and stubborn grass that has been left unchecked for some time.
Moving on to the handle, it is made of sturdy steel that is less likely to break even with prolonged use. To top it all off, the lawn edger has a T-shaped handle for better grip and ease of use.
What's There To Like About It?
I traded my old, but trustworthy, lawn edger for this model after the handle broke. Even though AMES is a brand that has been around for decades, it was with a slight uncertainty that I placed my order for this product.
But my fears were unfounded because this tool is evidently made of durable steel that is lightweight at the same time. Moreover, the T-shape handle provides more control, leverage, and grip, especially when compared to the straight handle of my previous edger.
What's There Not To Like About It?
A few weeks ago, my neighbor came up to me and asked to borrow this lawn edger after seeing my front yard restoration project. Unfortunately, the lawn edger was too tall for her and could not provide her with the leverage to push it down. Bear in mind that she has a short stature, and is under 5 feet tall.
Pros and Cons of AMES 2917200
Pros
Cons
- LANDSCAPING EDGER: Cuts trenches and creates clean, finished lawn edges along driveways, lawns and sidewalks
- VERSATILE EDGER: Blade design cuts straight or curved edges
- SERRATED BLADE: Serrated steel blade easily cuts through grass and earth; Durable serrated 15-gauge steel blade slices through grass and turf in 1 step
2. Truper 32100
The Truper 32100 model is a rotary lawn edger that separates the driveway and lawn with the polished finish of grouted tiles. This is a tool that has blades that look like a ninja star, and it also cuts as finely as one.
Product Highlights
The Truper 32100 is a flagship tool that has maintained all the safety standards of manual lawn edgers, despite being so sharp. It is a 48-inch lawn edger that utilizes dual wheels and blades to cut your grass and weeds to perfection.
These wheels are spring-loaded and have been engineered to apply just the right amount of pressure to the blade against the cutting wheel. To understand it better, there are two blades in the machinery. The blade that has spokes is flat and can spin, whereas the triangular blade remains stationary.
The bypass action between these two blades is what cuts the grass. At the same time, the wheel makes it easy to navigate the way while also reducing the weight required to push the unit forward. All in all, the wheel feature is certainly a game-changer.
What’s more, the lawn edger handle is lacquered for optimum sturdiness. Not to mention how the clear-coated gray-steel finished heads only add to its visual appeal.
What's There To Like About It?
Needless to say, the rotary edging mechanism makes this tool a great addition to my lawncare arsenal. The movement of blades pushing against each other not only cuts through grass and sod, but also allows the unit to be self-sharpening of sorts.
Of course, the blades can be sharpened at the hardware store once in a while, but the unit is chiefly maintenance-free. And in the spirit of sustainability, sharp blades and longevity of products ensure that these tools are not thrown away at the first signs of aging!
What's There Not To Like About It?
Edging is never a fun job. In fact, it can become a proper workout session. The same holds true for this manual lawn edger, which requires some elbow grease and the occasional blister to establish the first signs of an edge. However, once the initial grooves are created, work becomes much smoother.
Pros and Cons of Truper 32100
Pros
Cons
- CLEAN LAWN EDGES FAST: Rotary blade action helps create crisp borders along sidewalks, driveways, and garden beds.
- DUAL-WHEEL CONTROL: Two-wheel design helps keep the edger stable for smoother, straighter edging lines.
- 48-INCH FIBERGLASS HANDLE: Long handle improves reach and leverage while staying lightweight and durable for outdoor use.
3. Fiskars 98936935
Fiskars is a household name known for making lawn tools that are well-received all over the US. It’s no wonder that their product made it to my search results for the best manual lawn edger!
Product Highlights
With a length of 38.5 inches, the Fiskars manual lawn edger has been built as a solution to back-breaking labor while edging and cutting grass. Needless to say, the design includes a large foot platform and a long shaft that does away with the need to kneel or bend when working on lawns.
In addition, the steel blade at the end of the shaft is sharp enough to cut through dense turf, minimizing the force required. The ergonomic design is complete with a T-shaped dual-handle that provides a strong grip and increased control.
To say the least, the appeal of this manual lawn edger is its ease of use, and possibly the brand name that has been pumping out useful landscaping tools for centuries.
What's There To Like About It?
One day I decided to start digging up an irrigation line for my raised flower bed, and an idea came to mind. Why not use this manual lawn edger as a trenching shovel?
Unsurprisingly, the sharp blades easily cut neat strips in the hard and dry ground, which I am now using as a working water line! My husband also ended up using this tool to dig a trench to bury the low-voltage wiring for the Christmas lights.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Generally, Fiskars lives up to its standards of quality with most of its tools and parts within this unit itself. However, it came as a surprise that the designers decided on adding a handle made of plastic. This undoubtedly feels flimsier than other materials like metal or steel.
Pros and Cons of Fiskars 98936935
Pros
Cons
- IDEAL GARDEN EDGER: Long-handled steel lawn edger with a steel pole and steel blade; Ideal for cutting through tough soil and breaking up ground without bending or stooping
- MAXIMUM POWER AND PRECISION: Large step provides secure platform for maximum digging power; Sharpened blade slices cleanly through dense turf; Long handle eliminates soreness from kneeling and bending
- LONG-LASTING AND RELIABLE: Welded, 14-gauge, hardened steel blade and 18-gauge steel handle provide excellent durability for lasting value; Fiskars lawn and garden tools are built to last
4. Yard Butler EDGE-180
Manual lawn mowers are intrinsically green alternatives to electrical and gas-powered edgers. Needless to say, this tool from Yard Butler is just one of the many in its range of sustainable solutions for those who love gardening and landscaping.
Product Highlights
This 37-inch tall lawn edger from Yard Butler comes in a steel gray; of course, it is made entirely of steel. With durability in mind, the steel is powder-coated to provide a protective layer against scratches, fading, and other signs of discoloration.
What’s more, the foot bar provides extra leverage, reducing the strain on your back – which is already eased by the long shaft. In addition, the handles are cushioned to keep blisters at bay.
Evidently, ergonomics was a priority when designing this solid yet sharp-looking piece of lawn equipment. The jagged end of the blades only adds to its tough look, while lending that much-needed impact when engaged in the laborious work of manual edging.
What's There To Like About It?
The highlight of this manual lawn edger is definitely the functionality and ease of use facilitated by its design. In fact, I used this tool to remove lines of crabgrass before installing 40 feet of pavers in its place. To my surprise, it took less than an hour to finish the entire project.
Apart from grass, this tool comes in handy while working on harder soil like red clay. And another time, I used the edger to move some zoysia sod so I can replace the area with rocks – the opportunities are truly endless!
What's There Not To Like About It?
With an ergonomic design and a sturdy foot platform, the lawn edger could cut through most kinds of grass and weed. However, it was not sharp enough to slice through hard soil at first. But there’s no reason to fret – simply edging or sharpening it before use made even the impossible possible.
Pros and Cons of Yard Butler EDGE-180
Pros
Cons
- Creates Clean, Professional Edges: The Yard Butler Step Edger is a foot operated lawn edger that delivers sharp lines along sidewalks and beds for a polished look
- Comfortable & Rust-Resistant Build: Built with comfortable cushioned handles and powder coated steel that resists rust and stands up to repeated use
- Designed for Safe, Easy Use: With a long handled design and sturdy foot bar, this manual step edger makes lawn edging easier without straining your back
5. True Temper 027997002299
This no-nonsense lawn edger is reminiscent of grandpa’s tool shed with tools inside that did their job well – nothing more, nothing less. In fact, the brand True Temper is under the same umbrella of old and trusted name brands like Vigoro and Ames.
Product Highlights
Cut through sod and soil with this manual lawn edger that has a simple and classic design. At first glance, it almost looks like any spade in the garden, but it surely does the job of a manual lawn edger.
Taking a closer look at the features, it has a long 48-inch handle fully made of hardwood. Attached at the end is a 9-inch wide “half-moon” shaped edger, which has a flat side that can be used as a foot bar to get leverage while working on sod or soil.
On the other end, a rubber cushion grip has been added to minimize any incidents of blisters, while improving control. The bright orange-colored handle, the light hardwood shaft, and the dark steel edger give this unit an appealing and streamlined look.
What's There To Like About It?
The makers at True Temper pride themselves on their products, and surely, the brand name has been derived from the hardiness of their tools. So, it comes as no surprise that this lawn edger comes with an astounding 15-year warranty.
What’s more, the simplicity in design is accompanied by a bargain price. So, in terms of risk, buying it posed as close to none!
What's There Not To Like About It?
Perhaps, the manufacturing has been moved elsewhere. I say this because the quality maintained by True Temper seems to have deteriorated since the last time I bought one of their products.
Although the lawn edger fulfilled its duties for a week or so, the steel edger started bending when used on stubborn soil just a month later.
Pros and Cons of True Temper 027997002299
Pros
Cons
- Power source type: Wood Pellet
Buyers Guide
Manual edgers are still in demand, even if they require more time and labor than electrical or gas-powered lawn edgers. Whatever the reasons may be for preferring it – there are surely a host of different manual edgers on the market. Most can definitely finish the job as well as their more advanced and expensive counterparts.
Needless to say, some are built to be more suited for you than others. So, here are a few things to look out for before choosing your next manual lawn edger.
1. Types Of Manual Edgers
Broadly speaking, there are two types of manual edgers – one being the straight standard design, and the other offering a rotary mechanism.
I) Standard Manual Edgers
Standard manual edgers usually consist of four parts – a handle, a long shaft, a footplate and a blade.
A. Shaft
The shaft can be made of steel or hardwood. Both of these materials are durable enough if they are made of high-quality material. However, choosing between them will come down to personal preference regarding aesthetics.
B. Handle
As for the handle, they can be a standard straight design or a T-shape that provides better grip and leverage. Sometimes, designers install rubber covers or foam padding to the handles to prevent blisters, or to increase grip. Either way, users will appreciate tiny details such as these when engaged in the labor-intensive job of edging manually.
C. Blade
Coming to the blade design, the most common designs are the “half-moon” blades and jagged teeth-like ends known as serrated blades. Assuming that they are sufficiently sharp, “half-moon” blades are better suited for working with sod and soil. On the other hand, the serrated blades can tackle grass more easily.
D. Footplates
Lastly, manual edgers may or may not come with foot plates meant to provide more leverage when pushing the edger through unwanted soil. Since edging manually relies mostly on body weight, the power of a wide footplate should not be underestimated. However, you may notice that some space-saving designs integrate a footrest into the blade by making the edger top flat and blunt.
II) Rotary Manual Lawn Edgers
Generally, rotary lawn edgers consist of a wheel that paves consistent paths, while the blades cut through soil and grass along the way. The most common form of blades with these types of edgers is star-shaped, perhaps because they are most efficient in drawing clean edges.
However, it is important to note that rotary edgers are well-loved for aeration and digging trenches. With that being said, using them for delicate jobs, such as creating edges around flower beds, may spell disaster.
2. Cost
The good news is that manual lawn edgers come at a fraction of what you would pay for any gas-powered or electric lawn edger. At the same time, manual edgers themselves vary in terms of cost – depending on the features and brand name.
For comparison, take a simple standard manual lawn edger that does not have a T-shaped handle or a footplate, and a rotary lawn edger. Assuming that they are both manufactured by trusted brands, the standard edger should cost slightly less than half of the rotary-style edger.
Needless to say, it is important to consider which features are more important to you and worth the extra money. After all, you don’t want to end up spending too much on unnecessary things, nor do you want to compromise on useful qualities just because of a few dollars.
3. Comfort
No doubt that edging a lawn manually is a test of patience and grit. Therefore, it becomes even more important that the unit gives plenty of leverage, control, and ease of use.
For this, it’s crucial to ensure that the height of the lawn edger is not so tall that you cannot even reach the handles. Generally, for a long 48-inch lawn edger, the user should be at least 5 feet tall.
Apart from reaching the top handles to push down the edger, it is also important to be able to rest your foot on the footplate without hassle. Ideally, you should be able to stomp and push the blades about 5-inches deep into the soil with your body weight.
Additionally, look out for cushioned handles to avoid any blisters on your hands. If everything looks fine on these ends and you still have trouble digging out soil, make sure the blades are sharp. Moreover, try edging your lawns after it rains, when the soil is still moist.
If all fails, it is probably because the best manual lawn edger is still out there waiting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before buying a manual lawn edger, it helps to know why these are a relevant choice even with other technologically advanced options around.
First of all, manual edgers are 100% human-powered; hence, it is safe to say that they are a green and sustainable alternative to gas-powered and electric lawn edgers. So, it comes as no surprise that manual tools reduce the risk of breathing in toxic fumes, while leaving no room for any short circuits. To top it all off, these are low-maintenance and easy on your wallet.
Some might even say that the labor-intensive projects of edging lawns are a great alternative to traditional workouts.
Patience is key – especially when you are working with a rotary lawn edger.
Understand that the first few times you use this equipment on tough soil, the edger might roll off course and not appear to do much. However, continue to give pressure downwards and try to create a sharp line by pushing the unit 3 feet forward and going back 2 feet.
Repeat this process until the soil starts breaking and visible edges appear. As the last step, sweep away any dirt and grass that falls in the path.
My Final Recommendation
Manual lawn care tools have been a great asset for all gardening enthusiasts who are on a mission to a greener lifestyle – no pun intended!
Perhaps the best thing about sticking to the basics is the availability of all these wonderful tools that have been time-tested. With that being said, my top recommendation would have to be the 2917200 model from the centuries-old trusted brand AMES.
While this one is a great standard manual lawn edger, the Truper 32100 model is an equally great choice if you are looking for a lawn edger on wheels. So go ahead, and take it out for a spin. Until next time!