Usually when I get home there isn't a lot of time for lawn care over the
growing season, so I want a gas edger to make quick work of our sidewalk and
driveaway, and also one that I can use to maintain manual spade edging
around a long swath of (relatively straight) mulched garden beds that border
our lawn.

Some of you probably prefer to use trimmers, and some have time to do manual
edging, but I do not.... Therefore, this is a question for those of you who
a) prefer a gas edger and b) have used BOTH walk-behind (i.e. 4-wheel)
edgers and stick edgers: Which do you prefer, the stick edger or the
walk-behind? It seems like stick edgers are more maneuverable (which would
be good for bed maintenance), but walk-behinds are much easier to use to get
a straight cut and they have more power. I've heard that lighter varieties
of walk-behinds can be picked up off their back wheels to do gradual
cornering, too.

I know I could go rent these and try them out, but I'm looking for opinions
from people who have more experience with them.

Thanks!

On Sun, 30 Mar 2003 20:13:23 GMT, "johannmon"
wrote:

Usually when I get home there isn't a lot of time for lawn care over the
growing season, so I want a gas edger to make quick work of our sidewalk and
driveaway, and also one that I can use to maintain manual spade edging
around a long swath of (relatively straight) mulched garden beds that border
our lawn.

Some of you probably prefer to use trimmers, and some have time to do manual
edging, but I do not.... Therefore, this is a question for those of you who
a) prefer a gas edger and b) have used BOTH walk-behind (i.e. 4-wheel)
edgers and stick edgers: Which do you prefer, the stick edger or the
walk-behind? It seems like stick edgers are more maneuverable (which would
be good for bed maintenance), but walk-behinds are much easier to use to get
a straight cut and they have more power. I've heard that lighter varieties
of walk-behinds can be picked up off their back wheels to do gradual
cornering, too.

I know I could go rent these and try them out, but I'm looking for opinions
from people who have more experience with them.

Thanks!



I've used both, and prefer the stick edger. Mine is a shindawa
commercial model. It is great for edging along concrete, but I still
end up using a string trimmer to edge along manual edged flower beds.
The problem trying to do this type of work with the edger is that it
does great along the concrete, but with the string trimmer you can
knock the top off the weeds off to the side of the line you're edging
- if that makes any sense.

The four wheel type does have some advantages. Like you said, you can
turn corners by lifting up on the rear wheel. You can also adhust the
angle of the blade all the way to horizontal. The biggest disavantage
to me is that I prefer to run the wheels along the concrete side, and
it's at a disadvatage to the stick edger along the curb. I've seen
some with an extra wheel that can ride along the street while you have
two wheels up on the curb, but think this is an optional piece and
have no idea how much you pay for it.
--
Steve Touchstone
email
home page http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html

Hi The walk behind edger is very good for sidewalks, driveways. The regular
edgers are great for beds. The secret to using a regular edger is to
sharpen it to a fine edge. Then you can work very fast and be done in a
short time.

Derryl


Usually when I get home there isn't a lot of time for lawn care over the
growing season, so I want a gas edger to make quick work of our sidewalk
and
driveaway, and also one that I can use to maintain manual spade edging
around a long swath of (relatively straight) mulched garden beds that
border
our lawn.

Some of you probably prefer to use trimmers, and some have time to do
manual
edging, but I do not.... Therefore, this is a question for those of you
who
a) prefer a gas edger and b) have used BOTH walk-behind (i.e. 4-wheel)
edgers and stick edgers: Which do you prefer, the stick edger or the
walk-behind? It seems like stick edgers are more maneuverable (which
would
be good for bed maintenance), but walk-behinds are much easier to use to
get
a straight cut and they have more power. I've heard that lighter
varieties
of walk-behinds can be picked up off their back wheels to do gradual
cornering, too.

I know I could go rent these and try them out, but I'm looking for
opinions
from people who have more experience with them.

Thanks!

I have both, and favor the walk behind for most edging. My present model is
the McLane which has the blade rotating in the direction of cutting. this
allows for effortless cutting as the machine 'pulls' itself along. My
problem with the stick is the blade guard is that it seems to catch on the
grass and does not allow a smooth cut without backing up and re-cutting. I
allow the wheel to ride the concrete etc, I am usually ticked off by the
time I am done. It does work good for cuting around small bushes etc.


"Derryl Killan" wrote in message
. ca...
Hi The walk behind edger is very good for sidewalks, driveways. The
regular
edgers are great for beds. The secret to using a regular edger is to
sharpen it to a fine edge. Then you can work very fast and be done in a
short time.

Derryl


Usually when I get home there isn't a lot of time for lawn care over the
growing season, so I want a gas edger to make quick work of our sidewalk
and
driveaway, and also one that I can use to maintain manual spade edging
around a long swath of (relatively straight) mulched garden beds that
border
our lawn.

Some of you probably prefer to use trimmers, and some have time to do
manual
edging, but I do not.... Therefore, this is a question for those of you
who
a) prefer a gas edger and b) have used BOTH walk-behind (i.e. 4-wheel)
edgers and stick edgers: Which do you prefer, the stick edger or the
walk-behind? It seems like stick edgers are more maneuverable (which
would
be good for bed maintenance), but walk-behinds are much easier to use to
get
a straight cut and they have more power. I've heard that lighter
varieties
of walk-behinds can be picked up off their back wheels to do gradual
cornering, too.

I know I could go rent these and try them out, but I'm looking for
opinions
from people who have more experience with them.

Thanks!