How To Use A Weed Eater To Edge

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String trimmers, weed wackers, weed eaters — whatever you want to call them, they're certainly useful power tools for doing dissimilar types of lawn maintenance! One handy way you can utilise your string trimmer in your yard is as an edger. Use a weed wacker to edge the border of your lawn wherever it meets things similar garden beds, patios, pathways, and driveways. Just brand certain to take the right safety precautions and use the right techniques to avert accidents and become great results!

i
Mow your backyard earlier you border it. Mowing your lawn gives the grass a neat, uniform look. Then, all yous have to do is clean up the edges with your string trimmer to finish up the job!^[ane]
- If you don't mow your backyard correct before y'all edge the borders, the grass along the edges tin terminate upwards being shorter than the residual of the grass, then it won't look skillful.
2
Trim the surface of the grass along the edges with your string trimmer. About mowers don't trim the grass all the mode upwardly to the borders of the lawn, so you're probably going to be left with some longer grass forth the edges after mowing. Start at the left side of the edge and agree your weed wacker normally. Turn information technology on so the string starts cutting the longer blades of grass, and so slowly walk your manner to the right along the whole edge until you trim all the longer grass.^[2]
- If your mower does trim grass all the style up to the borders and information technology all looks uniform and peachy to you, go alee and skip this footstep.
- If your cord trimmer is shooting grass clippings into a garden bed or some other area you don't want them, walk the opposite direction and so information technology shoots them back into your k.
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3
Plan the path for edging. If it'south your first fourth dimension edging, mark the path out along the grass with tape, a hose, or rope. If the borders of your lawn are already edged, you tin can just follow the existing lines and clean them up. Where the grass meets hard surfaces similar sidewalks, driveways, and patios, just use the line of the physical to guide your cutting path.^[3]
- Generally, you lot want to edge your backyard where information technology meets garden beds and forth the perimeters.
- Check for buried hazards like wires, pipes, rocks, and glass shards along the path and remove or avert them while y'all edge.^[four]
- You can call 811 and find out about the utility lines and avoid damaging them.^[5]
- Be careful while working in the corners where you have the sprinkler heads.^[6]
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one
Agree the trimmer at a ninety-degree angle so the string spins top to lesser. ^[seven] Flip your trimmer so the top guard is facing you. Lower the spinner line as needed until it just barely comes into contact with the grass and soil along the edge of your backyard you want to edge. If you lot're edging forth a hard surface, like a driveway, agree the trimmer so the line is right where the grass meets the concrete.^[8]
- Before y'all start your trimmer, practice moving the caput along the edge and keeping it level. This helps yous become the motion down before you start actually cutting along the edge of the lawn, so yous get a nice fifty-fifty border.
- Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, gloves, and condom glasses or goggles to protect yourself from flying droppings and the spinning string on your trimmer.
- Don't border a backyard near children, pets, or bystanders. You might ship debris flying their way!
ii
Work in the opposite direction from the management the string spins in. That way, the cord trimmer throws the debris away from the cut path. Nearly string trimmers spin clockwise, so piece of work from left to correct. Still, if yours spins counterclockwise, work from right to left instead.^[ix]
- Y'all may want to switch which side of the lawn's border you stand on from time to time to avoid sending debris flying towards things like cars or the side of your home.
3
Hold the trimmer steady and level equally you slowly walk the edge. Turn your cord trimmer on and so it starts cut along the edge of the grass and into the soil. Slowly start walking forth the edge, keeping the string trimmer as level as possible to cut an even edge.^[x]
- Tucking the motor of the trimmer under your arm can help you hold it steady.
- Avoid swinging the string trimmer with your arms. Hold your artillery nonetheless and move the trimmer along as you walk.
4
Walk slowly and let the weight of the trimmer do about of the work. Keep your back towards the direction the trimmer is tossing the debris in. Walk forwards along the planned border while continuing to hold the trimmer steady and at an fifty-fifty level. If you're edging along a hard surface, it's easiest to stand on the concrete side. If you're edging along a garden bed or perimeter, it's best to stand up on the grass side.^[11]
- You tin can get back over areas if yous make uneven cuts or want to alter the edging line slightly.
five
Shovel up loose soil, turf, and other debris along the edges as you go. Dump information technology into a wheelbarrow and dispose of it properly. This lets you clearly see the edges while you work. It also reduces the amount of dirt and other debris that you tin can churn up and send flight while yous're edging.^[12]
- In most cases, all this debris can go in your yard waste bin. Nonetheless, make certain y'all know your local regulations earlier yous just dump everything in there.
vi
Blow clippings and loose dirt abroad from fresh edges with a foliage blower. This final step is optional, but it tin really make the edges of your backyard pop. Walk a small blower along all the edges you just cut to boom away loose dirt and grass clippings.^[13]
- This is also a swell fourth dimension to do another yard maintenance, such as trimming bushes and shrubs. Yous'll love the polished final look!
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E'er clothing closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and protective eyewear when you lot border with a cord trimmer.
Don't edge virtually children, pets, or bystanders.
Never first a gas string trimmer in a garage or another closed space. Carbon monoxide can build up to unsafe levels quickly.