Hi all, I absolutely hate doing anykind of yard work but I do like the appearance of a well edged lawn. I remember, when I could still see, that a well-edged lawn always made a property look so much cleaner and appealing. Has anyone ever used a gas-powered lawn edger with any real success? Is there anykind of a technique one can use to edge along a sidewalk or driveway without damaging the edger by coming too close to the concrete or tar? Any help greatly appreciated.
Take care, Ed At 03:29 PM 2/26/2007, you wrote: >Hi All >Lawn Edgers Are Put to the Test > >A well-groomed, head-turning lawn calls for more than just freshly mowed >grass. Attention to detail goes a long way toward a lawn achieving a >"great" look >over a "good" look. Using an edger to clean up a lawn's perimeter >enhances its overall appeal and neatness, resulting in garden edges and >footpaths with >a crisp and clean appearance. > >An edger is a different tool than a trimmer, although many >modern units do feature interchangeable trimming and edging attachments. >Whereas >a trimmer's cutting ability relies on a rapidly rotating string >positioned at the end of a shaft, edgers typically use a rigid rotating >blade to ensure >a straight, uniform cut. Although a trimmer can be used for edging >applications, the edges tend to look rather scruffy, whereas a dedicated >edging blade >is designed specifically to achieve a beautiful, immaculate appearance. > >The first step to edging is thorough inspection of the area >to be edged, removing all sticks, stones, wires or other foreign >objects. Depending >on the edger model, blade height may then need to be adjusted. > >Operating an edger is very similar to operating a trimmer. Generally >speaking, position the edger upright and perpendicular to the ground >and, while the >engine is running, pull the throttle trigger to activate blade rotation. >Allow the edger blades to reach maximum speed before lowering the >cutting head >into the lawn. This may take a second or two but will help ensure you >begin with a clean, smooth cut. With the blade at full speed, ease the >cutting head >downward. As the cutting action begins, push the unit slowly forward so >the blade cuts as you walk forward. If the blade jams or stops in the >ground, retract >the blade and begin again. > >If cutting on a concrete edge such as a sidewalk or driveway, rest the >guide wheel of the cutting head on the hard edge of the surface you are >cutting against. >The guide wheel, a common feature of most dedicated edgers, helps guide >the edger along the sidewalk, assisting with directional control. As the >edger >is pushed with a slow walk forward, cut a swath that lines the edge of >the sidewalk. If grass growing over the concrete prevents seeing the >edge of the >sidewalk, tilt the edger slightly sideways so the blade tilts and kisses >the concrete edge, acting as a guide. > >While edging, many models tend to kick back dirt and grass. A great deal >of this debris often hits the operator's feet and ankles, so it's >advisable to >wear some tough work boots while edging. > >A variety of new edgers on the market offer a slew of new >bells and whistles. Some manufacturers offer multiple-use units with the >ability to >operate as both trimmer and edger, or even other lawn tools. In the >past, the drawbacks of some multi-use units have included increased tool >weight and >problems with balancing the edger perpendicular to the ground during >use. If a lot of edging is to be done, it may be wise to invest in a >single-use dedicated >edger for easier handling. > >Nevertheless, new edger designs hit the market every year >featuring enhanced maneuverability, greater design efficiency and more. > From the small >end of the equipment spectrum to the heavy-duty end, today's edgers come >in many models to meet an array of needs. > >The YardStick > >American Gardener's lightweight and compact YardStick cordless electric >trimmer/edger offers 24 volts of rechargeable power. The unit comes with >a wall-mount >charge rack to re-juice between jobs, comfortable grips and an >adjustable handle. As a trimmer the YardStick offers surprisingly >effective cutting power >for an electric tool, efficiently chopping away freestanding grass and >weeds. > >This two-in-one system's edging action comes in the form of a tilted >string-trimmer head that doubles as the unit's plastic guide wheel. As >an edger, the >user twists the motor housing, which positions the cutting head >perpendicular to the earth rather than horizontal for trimming. Place >the guide wheel, >which is constructed into the plastic spindle head of the trimmer, along >the edge of a sidewalk and work the cutting string along the edge. For >edging, >this system's use of a string rather than a rigid blade may not be the >most clean-cutting method, but should suffice for small yards and garden > >needs. Unlike most edgers, the design of the YardStick >requires the user to stand to the side of the edging path and move the >unit along laterally, >making directional control slightly more challenging than using a >traditional, dedicated edger. > >Xtra Edger > >For more heavy-duty tasks, Little Wonder's Xtra Edger offers a patented >cross-blade system that rips through thick overgrown grass quickly and >neatly. The >Xtra Edger is powered by a two-stroke, air-cooled engine that requires a >fuel mixture of gasoline and two-cycle oil. And the power from the >engine is more >than adequate; hold on tightly to the handles, because with a squeeze of >the throttle the edger pulls forward eagerly. Little Wonder's optional >Crack Cleaner >attachment also allows the edger to scrape clean cracks in concrete >sidewalks. > >Plus, the dual handles offer exceptional balance and maneuverability. >Thanks to the weight of the edger being supported by the large guide >wheel, and not >the operator, the unit is easy to use with minimal fatigue. Equipped >with a cover-mounted grass shield to reduce flyback of stones and dirt, >the Xtra Edger >is a solid choice for demanding edging work. > >Expand-It Edger > >Homelite offers a new line of attachments for the company's gas-powered, >split-boom trimmers. The Expand-It line of attachments includes a >blower, pruner, >tiller, dual-line trimmer and edger (shown at top of article). Homelite >designed the attachments for a "universal tool fit" so they can be used >with most >major gas-powered brands to convert a single-use trimmer into an outdoor >tool. > >Homelite's Expand-It edger attachment can be used any time >of the year to remove debris from sidewalks and driveways. The 9-inch >steel edger >attachment can also be used to dig shallow trenches for low-voltage >lighting, invisible fences and around flowerbeds. The attachment >features adjustable >height and a rubber debris shield. > >Husqvarna's model 326Ex is a high-power, low-weight edger. The front >handle can be adjusted quickly using a single wing nut. A wear plate >beneath the engine >and a reinforced spark-plug guard protect against impact and shocks. The >large support wheel allows great cutting precision and access and can be >quickly >set to different edging depths. Other highlights include soft, >comfortable handles, an air-purge device designed for easy starting, and >a transparent fuel >tank for checking the fuel level. > >HomeScaper Edgers > >In addition to a line of high-capacity professional-grade edgers, Stihl >offers the FC55 HomeScaper models designed specifically for homeowners. >The lightweight >FC55 features a heavy-duty skid plate and an adjustable-depth wheel. The >primer bulb and starting throttle lock are designed for fast, reliable >starts, >and protective glasses are supplied with the edger. > >Supplementing its edger line, Stihl offers the KombiSystem >trimmers with a variety of lawn-care attachments for homeowners (KM 55) >and professionals >(KM 85). Available attachments include hedge trimmers, a pole saw, power >scythe, cultivator and edger. > >So the choices are out there. With a variety of sizes and >options, there's sure to be an edger to fit virtually any lawn-care >need, big or small. >And with the right tool and a little practice, these tools can achieve a >just-manicured look on many a lush, green lawn. > >For more information on the latest in lawn-edging equipment, visit these >companies on the Web: > >American Gardener, >www.powerexperts.com > >Little Wonder, >www.littlewonder.com > >Homelite, >www.homelite.com > >Husqvarna, >www.husqvarna.com > >Stihl, >www.stihlusa.com > >********************************************************************** >This message and its attachments may contain legally >privileged or confidential information. If you are not the >intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the >information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail >in error, please notify the sender immediately by return >e-mail and delete the e-mail. > >Any content of this message and its attachments which >does not relate to the official business of Eraring Energy >must be taken not to have been sent or endorsed by >Eraring Energy. No warranty is made that the e-mail or >attachment(s) are free from computer virus or other defect. >********************************************************************** > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Groups gets a make over. 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