Compact battery grass trimmer for trimming and clearing jobs in domestic outdoor spaces
$249.00
All about lawn-edge trimming
Lawn-edge finishing is not a strong point for your trusty mower. Get equipped with the right trimming tools for a completely neat lawn.
23.01.2025
Mowing + trimming = perfect results
As a proud gardener, you have a diligent lawn mowing routine and always want your garden to look its best. But if you have flowerbed borders or raised beds beside your lawn, you’ll know that the mower’s great results rarely extend to the very edge of your lawn. To achieve the perfect lawn edge you just need the right tool and a little guidance.
Trim first
Here’s a simple and practical tip: always do your lawn-edge trimming before you mow the lawn. This means that the cuttings from trimming will be collected easily by your lawn mower.
Living on the edge: lawn-edge trimming tools
Identifying the right tool is a matter of considering how much trimming your garden needs, and whether you want to trim the lawn edge manually or with some powered assistance. A powerful grass trimmer will help you tackle large plots quickly and conveniently. If you just have grass or other small plants such as dandelions at the edge of your lawn, a lightweight, easy-to-handle grass trimmer is an ideal choice. For larger plots, we recommend a more powerful brushcutter or similar tool, with petrol, electric and cordless brushcutters and grass trimmers available. Alternatively, if you don’t have too much lawn-edge trimming to deal with, you could opt for the STIHL HSA 26 cordless garden shears; they come with an attachment that is great for edge maintenance on your lawn.
How often do I need to trim my lawn edges?
We recommend making edge-trimming part of your lawn mowing routine: every time you plan to mow your lawn, start by trimming all around the grass edge. Doing it all in one go will give you more even results. If your lawn is growing fast in spring, you can mow up to twice a week; when the weather gets dry and warm, don’t cut the grass more than once a week. That’s a guideline, but remember that every lawn is different. A lawn grown from an ornamental grass seed mix is much more demanding than a simple recreational lawn, and will need more frequent mowing and trimming. If you have an ornamental lawn, you can expect to be doing lawn-edge trimming 30 to 60 times a year, while for a recreational lawn, 8 to 10 times a year should be enough.
Lawn-edge trimming techniques
If you’re using cordless garden shears for trimming your grass edging, the technique is quite intuitive: just move the tool smoothly at the level you are trimming to. We recommend you do all the trimming of your lawn edge in one go, for even results. If you are using a grass trimmer or brush cutter, there are a few extra points to consider.
Trimming lawn edges with a brushcutter or grass trimmer
If you need to trim the edge of a large lawn or very long grass, we recommend using a brushcutter or grass trimmer. The right technique and balance are important to making the edge-trimming process effortless. Adjust the tool to the right height for your body, and hold it as described in your operating instructions. When trimming at the edge of the lawn, hold the grass trimmer at the right height over the ground and make smooth sweeping motions with it. Don’t let the mowing head touch the ground as this will cause it to wear very quickly.
STIHL professional tip: If you have a trimming tool with a mowing line that you haven’t used for a while, we recommend that you soak the entire spool in water for a day or more before you start trimming with it. Soaking makes the line flexible and less brittle, so it lasts longer and performs better.
To achieve good results in the long term, read our tips on maintaining and properly storing your grass trimmer.
Lawn-edge trimming: the right posture
Make sure you adjust your brushcutter or grass trimmer to suit your height. You should stand up straight while trimming with your tool to prevent back pain; the cutting tool should be just touching the ground when you stand upright. Always hold the brushcutter or grass trimmer with both hands when cutting your lawn edge to ensure the best ergonomic configuration when using the tool.
Safety considerations when trimming your lawn edge
Make sure that people stay at least 15 m away when you’re trimming your lawn with a power tool. Grass trimmers can kick up small stones, sticks, or other debris on the ground, so when using them you should always wear safety glasses with appropriate face protection, and wear suitable work clothes. For petrol-powered tools you will also need ear protection. Your operating instructions will include more information on personal protective equipment.
Readjusting the mowing line on brushcutters and grass trimmers
If you have a brushcutter or grass trimmer with a STIHL AutoCut mowing head, it’s easy to extend the mowing line even while you’re at work on trimming the edge of your lawn: just tap the mowing head on the ground to release the line-holding mechanism, and it will rotate to release more mowing line. The length will then readjust automatically. If the mowing line is initially too long after adjustment, the mechanism may briefly become noisy because of the excess mowing line hitting the guard. There’s no need for concern if this happens, as the blade integrated into the guard will cut the line to the right length after two or three rotations.
You should regularly replace your grass trimmer wire and heads.
Summary: lawn-edge trimming
- Trim all around your lawn edge before you start mowing
- Include trimming as part of your routine every time you mow the lawn
- Use a brushcutter or grass trimmer for large areas and long grass, or cordless garden shears for details and smaller spaces
- Maintain a safety distance of 15m when trimming the edge of your lawn with a brushcutter or grass trimmer
