Edger-cate Me! Explain Edgers to a Noob

[Hedgemaster]

As you may know, I'm a beginner in the lawn care business. The only experience I have with edgers is the one time I used one of those old, manual, "thought I would die" stick edgers, and the "twist 'n turn" type electric/cordless string trimmers that convert to an "edger". I've used one of those on my own property for many years, as I had no need for anything "more". Now I need the proper equipment to use on other people's property and I know essentially NOTHING about gas edgers, so I could really use your help. • I don't know if there are different "types" of edgers for different tasks, or if they all do the same thing. • Are they only used along sidewalks and driveways, or do you use them for cutting fresh edges along flowerbeds too? • Straight shaft? Curved shaft? • Engine power - is it a huge concern? I do have a Stihl FS90 straight shaft trimmer that accepts gearbox accessories. The edger attachment is $180. That's a LOT of money for a small chunk of metal, but it's half to a third of the cost of some of the dedicated edgers I've seen, so I'm going to have to wait to learn a bit more before I decide whether I get that attachment or just buy an edger. Any info you care to share will be helpful! Thanks in advance!

[950thomas]

Lawn care business tips

I run all redmax stick edges. I do not use those split shaft combo units those are fine if it is just u but if u are running multiple crews get a dedicated unit

[Hedgemaster]

It's just me. No crew.

I'm like the Lone Ranger - without Tonto even.





Also, price is going to be a factor. I'm coming off a "no income" winter with no money to waste. There are probably other items I should purchase that would make me more money (like a pole/extension hedge trimmer), but I'm guessing I'll need at least a "basic" edger.

I'm working with a push mower, so keep that in mind. This isn't a large operation that services huge homes - I don't even know how much I'll need an edger at this point.

[Hedgemaster]

Anyone?????

[Bob E]

A few years ago I bought one of those 3hp units from H*** D****. It was about $225ish. It's worked well, but showing signs of age now. I, too, am now a solo act. Used to have a Little Wonder double belt unit (about $450 years ago) it was like the Cadillac of edgers. Nice, precise edges. If you can find a decent used one, I would grab it. Don't know your operation vehicle, but if I was working with a push mower (like I did 31 yrs ago), I would have one of those hitch platforms on the back of my car or truck so I could easily load & unload my mower & edger.

If you go with the changeable edger, you will waste time at every job changing between the powerheads. What a Pain!

[Liberty Landscaping LLC]

I am a one man band myself. I have one of those 3 hp edgers. It is a push behind. I use it at the start of the season to make the first edge cuts. Other then that it's overkill the stick edgers work great for week to week. After the first cut of the season I have a Echo 225vp I think is the model. It has interchangable heads. I LOVE it. It works great in one neighborhood I have 6 lawns I do on one street. I do all the edging. Switch the head do all the waching. Switch the head and do the hedges (normally bi weekly) then. I use the mower with a bagger. Do all the front lawn. The bagger sucks up the hedge clippings and left overs from the edging/waching and the dirt I use the blower for. Go to the next house and do the same process. I use a 52 in Sentar Sport. for the fronts. When thats done I grab my 36 in Sentar Sport with my back pack blower and do all the back yards. Then blow everything down. It saves me a lot of time not running back and forth for tools and I have 3 tools in one. I normally bang out the 6 houses in an hour that way sometimes more if its hot and I get lazy. I include edging in my fee because it takes like 3 min to edge all the sidewalks after the first one of the season. Do you guys charge seperate for it?

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

Originally Posted by 950thomas

I run all redmax stick edges. I do not use those split shaft combo units those are fine if it is just u but if u are running multiple crews get a dedicated unit

Not that it matters but they arent split shaft. They are gear box attachments witch of coarse go on the gear box not in the middle of the shaft where its weaker.

Hedgemaster I think it really come down to how often you are going to use it. I don't know how time involved switching the gear box attachments are but it must be more than just plug and play like the split shaft kinds are(I have same model as you). If you are doing once a month or more I think the time savings alone would pay for the dedicated unit.

Our situation is a little different: We don't do much of it out here so when the time comes I would like to get another FS 90 and buy the edger, hedge trimmer and weed eater heads that way I have a back up and only use the head needed for the current use for it.

[Hedgemaster]

Awww... maaaaannn... nobody wants to answer any of my questions?

Are you guys really going to make me resort to going to Home Depot to get "answers"?

[Shark1611]

Originally Posted by 950thomas

I run all redmax stick edges. I do not use those split shaft combo units those are fine if it is just u but if u are running multiple crews get a dedicated unit

Same here. I have two of them. To bad thing is the blades do not last long at all!

[jymie]

For the initial cut in the spring I use a McLean walk behind edger, from Ace hardware. After that, I use a ECHO stick edger to maintain the edge the rest of the season.