How to Cut a Trench With an Edger

Gas-powered lawn edgers are power tools with a metal cutting blade that rotates vertically and features an adjustable blade depth. Landscapers and homeowners use edgers along the sides of grassy areas and flower beds to create a narrow trench. The trench prevents weeds from growing and also creates a visual divide between landscape areas. Operating an edger is fairly straightforward, but using them requires adequate safety gear for protection.

Eye protection
Earplugs
Work gloves
Closed-toed shoes
Long sleeved shirt and pants
Spray chalk

Instructions

- 1
  Put on the proper safety gear before proceeding, including eye protection, earplugs, work gloves, closed-toed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- 2
  Walk along the area where the trench will go and outline it with a can of spray chalk. If the area has a natural delimiter, such as yard mulch, a walkway or driveway, you can skip this step.
- 3
  Fill the edger with gas and ensure the safety guard is properly positioned.
- 4
  Push the edger to the end of the chalk line and set the blade depth regulator to the desired trench depth. It’s best to start with a shallow depth of 1 to 3 inches. Push the primer button two to three times then pull the starter cord to start the edger.
- 5
  Push the edger slowly across the length of the chalk line until you reach the other end.
- 6
  Move back to the starting location and increase the depth of the blade if you need a deeper trench. Push the edger along the path again to dig out the trench bottom.

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