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#1
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Recommendations for lawn edge tool
My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With
240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? --Spud Demon spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net |
#2
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"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With 240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? An edger? -- Toni South Florida USA Zone 10b http://ww.cearbhaill.com |
#3
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"Toni" writes in article dated Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:50:10 -0400:
"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With 240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? An edger? OK... followup question: What kind do you have, and is it any good? --Spud Demon spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net |
#4
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"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With 240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? I would also recommend getting a dedicated edger for that much work. I have an edger attachment for my trimmer. It is only adequate, but I have very little to edge. My mother has a gasoline powered Craftsman edger that does a great job. Unless you have a number of well positioned outlets, I would forget the electric model. While I like electric yard tools for a number of reasons, they aren't really suitable for large jobs. You will probably have to spend around $300 for a decent edger. If you are only planning to use it once or twice a year, you might check out the prices at rental centers. I would imagine that you could rent an edger for 4 hours for around $25. Renting would also give you a chance to try this type of equipment and see if it meets your needs. |
#5
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I have a Stihl string trimmer with an edging attachment. I find it
generally useful for keeping things fairly neat, although I'm not very good at making finish cuts with the string trimmer. I tend to use it on brush too much. I have an edging attachment for it. It's basically a blade which spins in a vertical plane and a couple of wheels to run it along the pavement (or mulch bed) so it digs in a uniform amount. Don't remember the total cost, probably $350-450 for both the trimmer and the edger attachment. The only thing I don't like about it is that it's a pain to switch attachments. The shaft has a small (~1/4") square drive that has to fit into a square socket in a recessed area of the trimmer or edger. The attachment then clamps to the shaft. After some debris builds up on the shaft, it's a bit difficult to slide on the attachment. It's doubly difficult when the square drive and socket have to line up to get it in properly. Other than that, it does a good job on light weeds (string trimmer) and edges (edger). I also have a solid blade for the trimmer that can take out 1/2" diameter brush easily and 1" brush with a little work. 2 cycle engine, takes gas/oil mix. Take a gas can and write gas/oil on it in permanent black marker. Mark your other gas can(s) "Regular Gas" (or whatever) so you don't mix them up. Use large type so you can read it from a distance. The markings require retouching every couple of years. Wear hearing protection (it's a noisy buzzy thing) and eye protection. I've tried a chainsaw helmet with a screen faceguard, but the trimmer can kick up sand, which can go through the screen. Use goggles and plan on replacing them every couple of years when they get too scratched up to see through. Vox Humana wrote: ...I would also recommend getting a dedicated edger for that much work. I have an edger attachment for my trimmer. It is only adequate, but I have very little to edge. My mother has a gasoline powered Craftsman edger that does a great job. Unless you have a number of well positioned outlets, I would forget the electric model. While I like electric yard tools for a number of reasons, they aren't really suitable for large jobs. You will probably have to spend around $300 for a decent edger. If you are only planning to use it once or twice a year, you might check out the prices at rental centers. I would imagine that you could rent an edger for 4 hours for around $25. Renting would also give you a chance to try this type of equipment and see if it meets your needs. |
#6
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"dps" wrote in message ... I have a Stihl string trimmer with an edging attachment. I find it generally useful for keeping things fairly neat, although I'm not very good at making finish cuts with the string trimmer. I tend to use it on brush too much. I have an edging attachment for it. It's basically a blade which spins in a vertical plane and a couple of wheels to run it along the pavement (or mulch bed) so it digs in a uniform amount. Don't remember the total cost, probably $350-450 for both the trimmer and the edger attachment. The only thing I don't like about it is that it's a pain to switch attachments. The shaft has a small (~1/4") square drive that has to fit into a square socket in a recessed area of the trimmer or edger. The attachment then clamps to the shaft. After some debris builds up on the shaft, it's a bit difficult to slide on the attachment. It's doubly difficult when the square drive and socket have to line up to get it in properly. Other than that, it does a good job on light weeds (string trimmer) and edges (edger). I also have a solid blade for the trimmer that can take out 1/2" diameter brush easily and 1" brush with a little work. 2 cycle engine, takes gas/oil mix. Take a gas can and write gas/oil on it in permanent black marker. Mark your other gas can(s) "Regular Gas" (or whatever) so you don't mix them up. Use large type so you can read it from a distance. The markings require retouching every couple of years. Wear hearing protection (it's a noisy buzzy thing) and eye protection. I've tried a chainsaw helmet with a screen faceguard, but the trimmer can kick up sand, which can go through the screen. Use goggles and plan on replacing them every couple of years when they get too scratched up to see through. I have the same set-up, different brand. It's OK for my small yard, but I wouldn't want to maintain 700+ feet of edging. I generally do my mother's property about once a year and I know that my small edger wouldn't cut it. It may be OK to maintain the area after it was done. I don't have much luck edging with the string trimmer. I always manage to mutilate the lawn and the string pelts me with all the debris that migrates to the edge |
#7
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I'd still spend a couple of hours with a sharpened spade.
It's really going to be the most pleasant method for the initial dirt and sod removal. Wear hard shoes and do about 100' at a time. |
#8
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Vox Humana wrote:
... I have the same set-up, different brand. It's OK for my small yard, but I wouldn't want to maintain 700+ feet of edging... I use it on garden row borders, around 2600 ft total (commercial cut flowers/herbs) at probably 2 or 3 week intervals. I run through a edger blade every year or so, but they only cost around $3 ...I don't have much luck edging with the string trimmer. I always manage to mutilate the lawn and the string pelts me with all the debris that migrates to the edge That's one reason I got the edger attachment. It's also the reason I recommended eye protection. |
#9
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"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... OK... followup question: What kind do you have, and is it any good? Ours is a 100 year old gas powered Briggs and Stratton that was given to us. A bit of blade sharpening was all it needed. Tried the string trimmer method and the result was not neat enough to suit my obsessive tendencies. Tried a string trimmer attachment edger and it eventually balked at my St. Augustine stolons. Tried a straight-edged shovel and the husband made trenches instead of a neat straight line. Tried on of those half moon "step on it" manual edgers which worked quite well until the handle rotted off. The dedicated gas edger is really the way to go if you have tough grass and want a perfectly neat, straight result. Which IMO is the whole point but other folks aren't always so particular. -- Toni South Florida USA Zone 10b http://ww.cearbhaill.com |
#10
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"dps" wrote in message ... Vox Humana wrote: ... I have the same set-up, different brand. It's OK for my small yard, but I wouldn't want to maintain 700+ feet of edging... I use it on garden row borders, around 2600 ft total (commercial cut flowers/herbs) at probably 2 or 3 week intervals. I run through a edger blade every year or so, but they only cost around $3 I'll have to try the edger attachment on my beds. I also have hundreds of feet of edging around beds that I do once a year with my Lee Valley sold lifter. |
#11
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"Vox Humana" writes in article dated Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:08:20 GMT:
"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With 240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? I would also recommend getting a dedicated edger for that much work. I have an edger attachment for my trimmer. It is only adequate, but I have very little to edge. My mother has a gasoline powered Craftsman edger that does a great job. Unless you have a number of well positioned outlets, I would forget the electric model. While I like electric yard tools for a number of reasons, they aren't really suitable for large jobs. You will probably have to spend around $300 for a decent edger. If you are only planning to use it once or twice a year, you might check out the prices at rental centers. I would imagine that you could rent an edger for 4 hours for around $25. Renting would also give you a chance to try this type of equipment and see if it meets your needs. Thanks to Vox and all others who replied! I probably wouldn't use it more than a couple of times a year, and there is a rental place nearby that probably has them, so maybe I will do that. On the other hand, there's something to be said for having the thing in my garage when I need it, and there are a couple of high(er)-power electric models: Black & Decker LE750 Edge Hog (2.5 HP, 11 Amp) Craftsman #79654 12 Amp landscape edger Anybody have comments on these? The Black & Decker seems to have mixed reviews depending on whether the motor burned out or not. If I do get one of these I will definitly ask for the extended warranty! Getting power to the sidewalk is no problem, I have two outlets and one 100' extension cord that will cover it. (It's not all straight sidewalk; I'm on a corner.) --Spud Demon spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net |
#12
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"Spud Demon" wrote in message ... "Vox Humana" writes in article dated Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:08:20 GMT: "Spud Demon" wrote in message ... My grass is growing sideways across my sidewalk and into the street. With 240' of sidewalk, this is 720' of "edge" that I have to trim (both sides of the sidewalk plus one side of the street). I have an electric string trimmer, but it will take me all day with that. There is thatch and dirt encroaching on the sidewalk. Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? I would also recommend getting a dedicated edger for that much work. I have an edger attachment for my trimmer. It is only adequate, but I have very little to edge. My mother has a gasoline powered Craftsman edger that does a great job. Unless you have a number of well positioned outlets, I would forget the electric model. While I like electric yard tools for a number of reasons, they aren't really suitable for large jobs. You will probably have to spend around $300 for a decent edger. If you are only planning to use it once or twice a year, you might check out the prices at rental centers. I would imagine that you could rent an edger for 4 hours for around $25. Renting would also give you a chance to try this type of equipment and see if it meets your needs. Thanks to Vox and all others who replied! I probably wouldn't use it more than a couple of times a year, and there is a rental place nearby that probably has them, so maybe I will do that. On the other hand, there's something to be said for having the thing in my garage when I need it, and there are a couple of high(er)-power electric models: Black & Decker LE750 Edge Hog (2.5 HP, 11 Amp) Craftsman #79654 12 Amp landscape edger Anybody have comments on these? The Black & Decker seems to have mixed reviews depending on whether the motor burned out or not. If I do get one of these I will definitly ask for the extended warranty! Getting power to the sidewalk is no problem, I have two outlets and one 100' extension cord that will cover it. (It's not all straight sidewalk; I'm on a corner.) Make sure the extension cord is adequate. A long, light-weight cord might shorten the life of the motor. |
#13
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#14
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"Spud Demon" wrote Any recommendations for a tool (gas or electric) to take care of this quickly? Have a really bad so shoulder so shy away from anything that you have to pull to start. Have been using a corded electric Ryobi (it uses an .080 line) for the last 6 or 7 years, it works as well (in some cases better) as any gas eater (in the .080 line class) that I have used in the past. RM~ PS, I like the Echo .080 hex line on it. |
#15
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"Rob Mills" wrote in message news:0o6Oe.455$P34.384@okepread07... Have been using a corded electric Ryobi Forgot to mention that they sell for $59 at Home Depot. RM~ |
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