How to Choose the Best Lawn Edging Shears
If you want to elevate the appearance of your lawn after mowing, you may find that lawn edging shears are what you’ve been missing.
Even after mowing your lawn from top to bottom, the edges can still look a little wobbly and untidy.
Enter: lawn edging shears. Capable of taking your lawn from an 8 to a 10, they trim and neaten the grass at the edge of your lawn to produce a crisp finish.
Choosing the best lawn edging shears will depend on your height, budget and garden. The following information should help give you more of an idea what to look out for:
Standard Lawn Shears vs Lawn Edging Shears
There are several different types of shears that you can buy for the lawn. When it comes to long-handled shears, the two most popular types are lawn shears (for reducing the height of lawn grass) and lawn edging shears (for creating a crisp lawn border).
It’s easy to tell the different between the two: lawn shears have blades that protrude out to the front, at roughly a 120° angle to the handle. Lawn edging shears have blades that face sideways, to make it easier to cut along the edge.
If you’re looking to cut the tops of your grass, in places where perhaps the mower can’t reach, you’ll want lawn shears. If you want to sort out the edges of your lawn, go for lawn edging shears. You can’t easily use one type of tool for both tasks.
Handle Length
Lawn edging shears traditionally have long handles which allow them to be used from a standing position. However, if the handle is too short or too long, it could arguably be more uncomfortable than simply working kneeling down.
If the total handle length is over 100 cm, the shears will be more appropriate for taller users, those who are approximately 5’10” (178 cm) or above. It’s also possible to get shears with a telescopic handle, but don’t instantly presume that these will definitely be longer than standard shears. A lot of telescopic shears still only extend to around 100 cm. If you’re tall, and you want to avoid stooping, take some time to compare different shears on the market. This is the best way to make sure to find shears that are comfortable.
Most other shears have a handle length ranging from 80 – 100 cm and will be suitable for the majority of gardeners.
Remember that shears with long handles (which aren’t telescopic) will require more storage space.
Weight and Manageability
Long-handled edging shears can vary dramatically in terms of how much they weigh. In some cases, very light shears may not be very robust, though this isn’t always the case.
Anything over 2 kg will likely feel heavy to most gardeners after prolonged use. Although manageable, you may want to choose a lighter tool if you get tired easily, struggle with mobility, or don’t have a lot of upper-body strength. Shears that way over 2 kg probably aren’t the best choice for larger gardens.
Shears that weigh between 1.5 – 2 kg can still prove difficult to manage for a lot of gardeners. Naturally, they are slightly more manageable, but the weight will become noticeable after a while and more rests may be required than with lighter shears.
If you would prefer to have reasonably light shears, that are still robust, you should consider models that weight between 1 – 1.5 kg. There are also lighter shears available on the market, but they may not be as robust or durable.
What Type of Blade to Look Out For
Often, lawn edging shears have blades that have been hardened and tempered for added durability.
This is good to look out for. Whilst cheaper shears can be tempting, untreated metal blades made from poor quality steel won’t cut as fluidly. You may find you’re having to work harder than you would if the blades were better quality.
Some edging shears have self-sharpening blades. The angle at which the blades work produces a small amount of friction, which means the blades sharpen with every cut.
Longer blades, measuring 21 cm + are more suitable for bigger gardens because they allow more edge to be cut in one go. However, be aware that the bigger the blade, the more depth it needs to open fully. If your verge edges are quite shallow, you may find that longer blades often end up digging into the dirt when you open them.
Shorter blades, measuring between 17 – 21 cm are better for smaller gardens and getting into more intricate areas. If your garden has shallow verges, you may find it easier to work with smaller blades.
Lawn Edging Shears FAQs
How can I sharpen lawn edging shears?
Lawn edging shears are very low maintenance, but most will still require sharpening every once in a while. Before you begin, assess whether you are comfortable to sharpen the blades yourself. Shear blades are sharp and could cause serious injury if not treated correctly. If you have any doubts, take them to a professional.
With that said, it is possible to sharpen shear blades at home.
First, remove any rust from the blades with sandpaper, then clean them with warm soapy water.
To sharpen the blades, use a large single cut mill file. If you have a vice, put the shears in these to hold them still, otherwise brace them against a solid object. When sharpening, follow the angle of the blade’s edge – only sharpening the outside of the blades. Dragging the file up the blade towards you will damage the blade. Instead, it should be pushed away from you down towards the tip using a long smooth stroke. Returned to the top of the blade to start again.
Do this until the entire edge of the blade has been filed evenly, then move onto the second blade. Once finished, smooth the blades with sandpaper and oil.
How do I make sure my lawn edging shears stay sharp?
After each use, clean and oil the blades. Linseed oil is one type of oil that you can use. This will stop the blades from sticking or rusting, which may cause them to go blunt over time. Although it’s not much, this is an effective way to keep the blades sharp for as long as possible.
Make sure to store the shears somewhere safe, where the blades won’t come into contact with hard surfaces that will blunt them.
Avoid using the shears for tasks that they’re not designed for. It can be tempting to lop twigs from trees, or do a spot of pruning once you’ve got a lawn edger in your hand. However, using shears for these more heavy-duty tasks will quickly dull the blade.
What is the difference between shears, pruners and loppers?
Loppers are made for pruning small trees and shrubs. They are generally used for branches up to 3 cm in diameter. They aren’t used for large tasks such as cutting back hedges.
Pruners are used one handed, and have a spring mechanism. They cut through smaller twigs and branches, and are commonly used for rose bushes. Bypass pruners are better for pruning flowers, while anvil pruners can be used to cut thicker branches.
Shears are used for trimming hedges or grasses depending on the type.