NEW YORK — Edging a lawn is a springtime rite of passage for many homeowners. When winter has come and gone, many lawns are left in need of some serious maintenance, including edging. Well-defined edges around the yard make the yard look more organized and better maintained.
And edging is relatively easy, especially for those homeowners with a smaller yard. Edging can be time-consuming for those with more property, but when done properly, edging is definitely worth the effort.
Remove debris from the areas you plan to edge. Before you even begin to edge, be sure to remove any debris from those areas that need edging.
Debris, including rocks, twigs or the kids’ toys, left lying around can be kicked up when you’re edging, potentially causing injury to you or someone standing nearby.
Purchase safety goggles
Even if you have removed all visible debris, there still may be some items hidden in the grass. These items can be kicked up and hit you in the eye, so purchase some safety goggles and be sure to wear them whenever you’re edging.
As an added precaution, keep kids and others away from any areas you’re edging so they aren’t injured by any unseen debris that gets kicked up while you’re working.
Check your tools
Edging can be done by using a gas-powered edger or a string trimmer. Before you begin to edge, inspect these tools to ensure they’re capable of handling the task at hand.
Inspect the blades on a gas-powered edger to make sure they haven’t dulled since their most recent use. If they are dull, sharpen them before you start to edge.
When using a string trimmer, make sure you have enough string on hand to complete the project. String trimmers use a particular kind of string, so visit your local lawn care or hardware store if you don’t feel like you have enough.
Position your edger properly
Once you have given your tools the green light, it’s time to start edging. When you begin, make sure the edger is between the sidewalk or driveway and the edge of the lawn, placing the wheel of the edger on the sidewalk or driveway and then pushing and pulling the edger until you have created a clear edge.
