Best Manual Lawn Edgers: 7 Tools for a Neater Yard

Keep your lawn well-manicured and out of the pathway with a manual lawn edger. But you can only achieve that when you are working with the best products.

We made things easier for you by providing you with the list of the best manual lawn edgers on the market.

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Best Manual Lawn Edgers –
At A Glance List

Name	Height	Rating
#1 Radius Garden Root Slayer Edger >>> BEST FOR: ♦ Best Buy ♦	39.35”	97%	Read Review
#2 AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger >>> BEST FOR: Precision	39.27”	95%	Read Review
#3 Garden Weasel Edge Chopper >>> BEST FOR: Durability	38”	95%	Read Review
#4 Radius Garden Pro-Lite Edger >>> BEST FOR: Taller individuals	45”	94%	Read Review
#5 Bully Tools 9225 Round Lawn Edger >>> BEST FOR: Flower beds	39.25”	92%	Read Review
#6 Yard Butler Steel Edger >>> BEST FOR: Comfortable grip	37”	90%	Read Review
#7 Fiskars Long-Handle Steel Edger >>> BEST FOR: Light tasks	38.6”	89%	Read Review

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What Is a Lawn Edger?

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This is a garden tool that trims or cuts the grass on the edges of the lawn. The goal is to provide a clear-cut boundary between the lawn and whatever it is beside the lawn that you want to distinctly separate.

Here are some of the things you want to provide delineations for:

1. Driveway
2. Pathway / walkway
3. Garden bed
4. Street
5. Patio

Surely you’ve seen this:

Unruly grass just invading the covered walkway that people have to walk on. It’s not the end of the world, but it definitely looks untidy. 

Or maybe the lawn is taking over the street, too, with its really long grass blades. It’s going to give OCD people a headache. 

Actually

It should also give you a headache. 

The lawn edger can help you attain neat edges for the lawn. This type of garden tool has a blade that will cut through the space between the lawn and the area you want to emphasize. 

The edger technically provides a line between the lawn and the area you want to separate. 

For example

You want to create a beautiful and neat boundary for your gorgeous flower garden, then you use the edger for it. 

It’s the same for the pathway. If you want to showcase the fine-looking stepping stones used in a walkway, then you have to trim grass that surrounds the area. 

Here’s the deal:

The edger is mainly a tool for aesthetics. A disorderly cut grass could mar the overall look of your home. 

It could do the same for your garden. 

So, while the lawn edger is not the most important garden tool for your home, it can pave the way for a more beautiful yard. 

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Types of Lawn Edgers

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There are different types of lawn edgers. First, let’s talk about its difference from a lawn trimmer. 

Lawn edger vs. lawn trimmer

People usually confuse these two things. They are similar after all. Both are used to make the lawn, or the garden as a whole, look better and neater. 

They also cut the grass area that is quite difficult for the lawn mower to reach. 

Here’s where the difference lies: The trimmer basically just trims the grass, it’s the edger that provides a defined border or edge. 

Types of lawn edgers

There are three basic types of lawn edgers: manual, electric, and gas-powered. Here are the differences:

1. Manual lawn edger

This type of lawn edger is more popularly used for flower beds. If there is an existing flower bed, the edger will help define the border or area. 

If you want to create a flower bed, then a manual lawn ledger would be very helpful in that manner. 

Further

There are also two types of manual lawn edgers:

• Half-moon
• Rotary

The manual lawn edger is the most popular type of lawn edger–whether you prefer the one with the half-moon blade or the rotary kind. 

It’s just very simple to use. It’s cheaper, too. 

2. Electric lawn edger

This type of lawn edger would lessen the physical power you need to use when edging your lawn or garden bed. 

There are also two types of electric lawn edger:

• Corded
• Cordless

The difference between the two is pretty self-explanatory. The cordless one operaties through a battery. 

3. Gas-powered lawn edger

If you have a large lawn, then you might want to use something large as well like the gas-powered lawn edger. 

This is the most powerful type of edger and is powered by gasoline. It is also more expensive and really heavy. 

Although

The weight isn’t such a big deal since you just need to push this piece of equipment, which has its own set of wheels. 

This type of mower is also quite noisy. 

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The Advantages of a Manual Lawn Edger

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Yes, the gas-powered lawn edger is the most powerful of the bunch. However, there are times when such power is not necessary. 

In a lot of ways, the manual lawn edger actually edges the electric- and gas-powered lawn edgers. 

Here are its advantages:

Simple

The manual lawn edger is so simple to use. There is no learning curve for the actual usage of the product. 

With the electric- and gas-powered edgers, you have to figure out how to turn them on as well as other operational elements. 

There is no switch for the manual lawn edger. 

Don’t get me wrong

You still need to learn how to use the manual lawn edger. Mostly, you have to learn the technique of how to properly use it in order to achieve the outcome that you want. 

That’s also something you will learn with the other types of edgers. 

At least, with the manual type, there are fewer things to learn. 

Durable

Since the manual lawn edger has fewer parts, there is less chance of the components breaking down. This leads to the durability of the tool. 

Convenient

This is a very convenient product. You just take it out of storage and use it. There is no maintenance necessary as the design is really quite basic. 

With the manual edger, you don’t have to contend with the cord, which could impede your edging task. 

On the other hand

When it comes to gas-powered equipment, it won’t function without gas. So, you need to have gas at all times. 

You also need to maintain this type of lawn edger. You need to change the oil and do some equipment-related maintenance tasks. 

Affordable

This is the most affordable type of lawn edger. That’s always a good thing and enough reason for a lot of people to choose the manual lawn edger. 

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How to Choose a Manual Lawn Edger

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Now that you know that the manual lawn edger is actually a great type, how do you choose the right one for you?

Type

The first thing you need to figure out is the type. We already mentioned that there are two manual lawn edgers. 

Half-moon edger – This is also called a step lawn edger since you have to step on it in order to edge the lawn. Your weight will allow the edger to push through or cut through the lawn to create the right edging. 

Rotary edger – You need to just push the edger forward and backward in order to cut through the lawn to create an “edging.”

So, the first thing you have to consider is which of these two do you prefer to use. 

Blade material

For the half-moon edger, the blade material is an important consideration. You want the material to be durable and sharp. 

Size

Look at the dimensions of the edger and consider the height and the weight. Is the product too heavy for your petite frame? Is it too short for your tall stature?

The best way is for you to actually handle it before actually buying. 

Of course, with the comfort that online shopping provides, you just have to look at dimensions and the weight. 

Price

The manual lawn edger may be the cheapest among the types of edgers. However, among the manual bunch, some are more expensive than others. 

Look at the price and assess the materials of the edger. The important thing is not the actual price but the quality. 

To know more about how to use the manual lawn edger, take a look at this:

The Best Manual Lawn Edgers

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#1 Radius Garden Root Slayer Edger

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BEST FOR…
Heavy-duty landscape work

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The Radius Garden Root Slayer Edger is in a league of its own. 

First off

It’s not really a half-moon edger. Technically, it is. But when you look at it, you’ll see that the middle of the blade is cut differently. 

The blade is not really a half-moon but that’s okay. There’s a reason for it. 

The inverted v-shaped cutting tip in the middle is meant to rip through dirt really easily. If there are roots that need to be cut, the uniquely-shaped blade could go through it easily as well. 

That’s not all!

The handle is also unique. This product has a circular handle as well. Although, to be perfectly honest, I don’t see the advantage. 

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the circular handle. However, there is no distinct advantage to it. 

The top part has non-latex material so that it would be easier to grip. 

Back to the cut

Lest you think that this edger cuts through tough soil and roots because of its shape, it’s also because of the material. 

The blade is powder-coated carbon steel with a resin-encased carbon steel shaft. 

That’s why you call this edger the tough root slayer because it can do heavy-duty work. 

Not only that

This 4.8-pound product is also really sturdy. That’s important if you have to cut through really tough soil and tough roots of trees. 

You can work smoothly without fear of destroying your tool especially if your soil has a lot of rocks. 

What’s the downside?

Not a lot, actually. For one, it’s quite expensive. However, you also have to consider how great this works. 

Also, there is a bit of a learning curve on how to use this product because of its unique shape. You need to figure out how to go about it. 

As long as you figure it out, though, you’ll be in for some really great edges.

What a product!

This is definitely a great mate for all your landscaping work. It will almost make you feel like a professional when you work on that walkway, driveway, or garden. Tough roots, be gone!

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MY RATING: 97%

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#2 AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger

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BEST FOR…
Precision

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The AMES Saw-Tooth Border Edger is excellent in providing straight edging. It’s so precise!

That’s mainly because of its serrated 15-gauge slices. 

It can easily slice through grass and turf when making lawn edges along driveways or walkways. 

By the way

Just because it’s amazing in creating straight edges doesn’t mean that it’s not good with curves. It’s excellent in that area too. 

This means that you’ll have a very even and beautiful landscape for your lawn and for your garden when you have this product. 

The tool also has a unique footplate, which provides consistent cutting depth. 

But more than that

It also works well for medium- to heavy-weight people. Don’t let its weight fool you, it can handle people who are over 250 pounds. 

The edger is pretty light at just three pounds. 

It has a steel handle and a T-shaped steel grip. The T-grip allows for better control while also being comfortable. 

Plus!

It’s very easy to use as well. There is no learning curve for this one. 

Unfortunately

This doesn’t quite do the work if you have sturdy plant roots or worse, tree roots. So, if you have those in the area where you want to do the edging, this might not be the tool for you. 

Moreover, it’s not really ideal for light individuals. It would have a hard time going through at first push if you are just a little over a hundred pounds. 

What’s the verdict?

If you just have grass and turf, the 15-gauge steel blade will cut through it nicely and quite precisely. It’s easy to use and the T-grip provides good control and comfort. 

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MY RATING: 95%

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#3 Garden Weasel Edge Chopper

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BEST FOR…
Durability

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Again, this is another product that belongs to the half-moon edger category but isn’t really shaped as a half-moon. 

The Garden Weasel Edge Chopper has a unique shape in the sense that the blade possesses more of a curving V-cut. 

The basics

This product has a steel-welded construction. The blade is carbon steel that is weather- and rust-resistant. 

These characteristics just add to the product’s durability, which is actually its best asset. 

It also works well at sculpting edges for garden beds as well as patios, driveways, and curbs. 

You know what else?

This tool can also be used for breaking ice during winter. In a way, it’s a really flexible edger. Actually, that’s why it’s called an edge chopper. 

This is also the reason for its unique shape. 

Moving on

This product has a wide footplate in order to increase your leverage when landscaping the edges. 

Using this thing is pretty straightforward. That’s always a plus! 

You just have to put your foot into the middle of the blade, which is where the footplate is. You step down and sidestep. That’s it!

On the other hand

This is quite short. At 38 inches, it’s not the best height for taller people. This might not be ideal if you are over 5’4”.

This would definitely give you back issues. 

Another thing

The design allows dirt to really cling on it. So, if you have been working the landscape edges for quite some time, there would be too much dirt on it. 

This means you have to scrape it down in order to be useful again. 

To conclude

This is a straightforward manual lawn edger that is durable to boot. Definitely a good garden tool to have as it would last a long time. 

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MY RATING: 95%

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#4 Radius Garden 25602 Pro-Lite Carbon Steel Edger

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BEST FOR…
Taller individuals

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For tall people looking for a product that won’t give them a back ache, the Radius Garden Pro-Lite Edger is definitely the right product. 

At 45 inches, it’s a great height that would accommodate almost all heights. It’s really not just for tall people but they are the most disadvantaged when it comes to garden tools. 

Next

This product has the typical Radius Garden mark–the circular handle. It’s different, although it doesn’t really have a distinct advantage. 

To be clear, it’s not a disadvantage either. 

What does provide an advantage is the extra wide forward step. This would give you more leverage when you use the edger. 

Plus

It provides great support for your balance. 

This Radius Garden model, as far as the blade is concerned, takes on a more conventional half-moon look. 

It provides a good and crisp slice when landscaping edges for a garden bed or pathway or driveway. 

Still on the issue

The blade is carbon steel. 

The tool has a fiberglass shaft that allows heavy-duty digging. It’s durable, so you won’t have a problem with really heavy work in the garden. 

This product is also lightweight. 

Now

Since it’s lightweight, if you have a really tough or hard ground to work with, soak it with water before you start digging. 

Unfortunately

The blade is not as sharp as I would have preferred it. This is yet another reason why you need to wet the ground before working on it. 

Either that or you could just sharpen the blade yourself. 

Obviously

This won’t work on rocky grounds and those with tree roots. 

All in all

If you are around 5’4” or taller, then this would be an ideal manual lawn edger. At 45”, it’s the perfect height to allow you to work with comfort and not bend too much. 

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MY RATING: 94%

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#5 Bully Tools 9225 Round Lawn Edger

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BEST FOR…
Flower beds

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This is one of the best lawn edgers for creating flower beds. 

The Bully Tools Round Lawn Edger is perfect for making the first edge. Then you could use it to cut up the parts into smaller pieces to make them more manageable for removal. 

The shape of the blade has a lot to do with that. 

It also helps

The blade is commercial grade: 12-gauge steel blade. It’s thick, too. 

The handle is made from reinforced fiberglass. 

The best part?

This is truly affordable. 

It’s also easy to use. It’s pretty straightforward. 

It’s versatile, too

I say that because this can actually be used for trenching as well. 

Remember that it provides a really good first cut for edging. It works almost the same when doing trenching. The shape allows it to double as a shovel.

Also

This tool is lightweight. That’s always good because it makes your tasks easier to handle especially if you have a large yard to work with. 

However

The handle isn’t too great. They’re quite small and it’s not comfortable when used for a long period of time. 

Also, it’s not ideal for really hard surfaces. In fact, you should wet the ground before using this tool. And if you have rocks and tree roots, this isn’t good enough. 

That’s why we suggest using this for flower beds. 

Conclusion:

This lightweight product would be a good tool for making flower beds or for creating garden edging. It’s also affordable, which is always a plus.  

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MY RATING: 92%

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#6 Yard Butler Steel Edger

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BEST FOR…
Comfortable grip

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The Yard Butler Steel Edger provides comfort while doing landscape edging. 

But how?

It’s seldom you see an edger with cushioned handles. That’s precisely what Yard Butler did with this particular edger. 

It’s really quite unique. But more than that, it is just comfortable to hold. You won’t get any callus with this particular edger. 

Here’s the deal

This tool is also really easy to use. You can easily make your lawn much tidier while also creating perfect edges for your driveway, pathway, or the street. 

You could do the same with your garden as well as patios. 

By the way

You could also use this product to install plastic edging. 

It weighs 4.5 pounds, which is not exactly light. But that just means there is already power in this tool. 

It’s durable, too

This is always a good characteristic as it allows you to save money. You know that you could have this product for a long time. 

This is great for heavy-duty work, too.

How about the disadvantages?

This edger is quite short. This would give even people of average height a back ache. So, beware!

Keep this in mind:

This is a good product for heavy-duty work. And even if the task is quite heavy, rest assured that your hands won’t tire and they will not be callused because of the cushioned handle on this product. 

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MY RATING: 90%

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#7 Fiskars Long-Handle Steel Edger

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BEST FOR…
Light tasks

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At just 2.2 pounds, the Fiskars Long-Handle Steel Edger is certainly light. 

You might be wondering, how is a lightweight tool an advantage for digging?

Here goes:

It makes your load lighter since creating an edge around the lawn or garden, driveway or pathway, would mean walking the entire path. 

At least, you won’t have to lug around a heavy tool while doing the edge of the entire space–whatever area you are working on. 

Besides

It’s your weight that actually makes the product truly work. You just need to put your weight on the edger. 

Good thing this product has a large foot platform to make it work so easily. 

The tool is also really straightforward. In essence, it’s really easy to use. 

Meanwhile

The top is a dual-handle design. The design makes for better control and also for comfort. 

As mentioned earlier

You would have to provide the weight for this thing to truly work. It’s not ideal, though, for skinny individuals. 

If you are just over 100 pounds or even around 110 pounds, this edger will not work so well. You might have to do some wiggling in order for it to penetrate deeper. 

Not too much though

The product doesn’t seem as sturdy as you want it to be considering how edgers work. 

Look

If you just want lighter work around the house like creating some flower beds or simple edging work along pathways and driveways, this tool will do okay. But you should at least be 120 pounds for this tool to really penetrate the ground. 

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MY RATING: 89%

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In Summary

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Why buy electric or gas-powered lawn edgers when the manual one works just fine? It’s actually easier to work with. Not to mention, it’s more affordable and better for the environment. 

If you are looking for something specific, check out these products:

Best Manual Lawn Edger for Heavy-Duty Work

The Radius Garden Root Slayer Edger will be amazing for heavy-duty landscape work. Whether you are digging the edge for the garden or driveway and over solid ground with rocks and tree roots, this works really fine. It’s really quite durable.

Best Manual Lawn Edger for Precision

If you want precision, you should get the AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger. It’s really great when you are trying to create the perfect straight edge. It works well on curves, too. 

Best Size for a Manual Lawn Edger

At a height of 45 inches, the Radius Garden Pro-Lite Carbon Steel Edger will lessen the possibility of back ache from too much bending while creating lawn or garden edge.

Best Manual Lawn Edger for Comfort

You don’t always see a garden tool with cushioned grips. But that’s exactly what Yard Butler Steel Edger has to ensure that your hands will not be callused after spending some time digging garden or lawn edging.

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