Top 7 Best Lawn Sprinklers for Your Backyard in 2021.

Properly watering your lawn when it is first getting established is probably one of the most important things to help you grow a healthy and beautiful lawn. Stop standing outside like a dud for half an hour every second day watering your lawn with a garden hose and get a lawn sprinkler. Sprinklers are very useful for ensuring that you get even and consistent coverage when watering. Today we’ll be going over the different types of lawn sprinklers and how to pick the best one for your landscape. We’ve also reviewed some of the most popular lawn sprinklers in the market and compiled our list of the top 7 best lawn sprinklers for your backyard in 2021.

Types of Lawn Sprinklers

Oscillating sprinklers

best backyard sprinkler
sprinkler

Oscillating sprinklers are one of the most popular sprinklers that are super easy to use and set up. Oscillating means that the sprinkler moves from one side to another or back and forth, spraying water in a set area that mimics how rain falls. Oscillating sprinklers are pretty good at covering a large area, considering they are stationary.

Rotary sprinklers

rotary sprinkler

A sprinkler with a rotating head with several sprinkler tips attached to it is called a rotary or rotating sprinkler. When the sprinkler receives pressure from turned on the water, it starts spinning the head and the arms pushing the water in all directions around itself. They are great at covering large circle-shaped areas. The higher pressure your hose can provide, the larger area it will cover.

Misting sprinklers

water mist

Misting sprinklers deliver water in a mist-like pattern and are perfect for greenhouses with seedlings or small or raised garden beds with flowers or delicate plants in general. The most significant disadvantages of misting sprinklers are evaporation and spray drift. If you live in an area with high winds or very hot days, the amount of water delivered from misting sprinklers will be much lower than more powerful water stream sprinklers.

Sprinkler hoses

Sprinkler hoses are garden hoses with many holes in them. A sprinkler hose can be used as a sprinkler if you point the holes upwards or as a soaker if they face the ground. Sprinkler hoses are great for watering garden beds or just seeded grass areas. They are great for occasional seasonal watering tasks as you can manually set them up in any pattern but don’t look very appealing on your landscape.

Fixed Pop-up sprinklers

A fixed spray pop-up sprinkler provides a constant circular fan-like flow of water for your garden and lawn. The most significant advantage is that when the watering is done, they automatically retract into the ground out of sight and don’t require any physical labor. Your grass and garden can be watered even when you’re on holiday. However, they do require some time and labor to install initially into your landscape.

Raised sprinklers

Raised fixed sprinklers are almost identical to pop-up sprinklers, but instead of popping up at a set time, they stay raised all the time. They are great to set up in smaller gardens close to your house, making them less visible but still providing water over plants and flowers to your grass.

Traveling sprinklers

The traveling sprinkler, as you can guess from the name, is one that can travel. These sprinklers are pretty new to the market but gaining popularity fast. A traveling sprinkler is moved by the water pressure and guided by the hose in a pattern that you can set up yourself. They have a rotating head on top to reach a larger area, but there are models with stationary spray heads too.

These sprinklers are great for larger landscapes that don’t have automatic or in-ground irrigation systems installed.

Impact sprinklers

Everyone knows the clacking sound some sprinklers make when they operate. These are the impact sprinklers, and the sound is created when a small paddle on the sprinkler hits the constant stream of water. Impact sprinklers can provide a lot more water at the same time compared to oscillating sprinklers. They can be adjusted at how far or wide the water stream will go.

What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Sprinkler

Lawn size

If you have a small backyard, you might be ok with just a simple oscillating sprinkler that you can relocate in a few spots to cover the whole area or install a couple of stationary raised fix-spray sprinklers.

If you have a large backyard with a lawn that needs constant watering, you something that doesn’t require a lot of manual labor like pop-up sprinklers, traveling sprinklers, or an impact sprinkler that can shoot the water stream very far. 

Materials and Construction

Most lawn sprinklers will either be made from plastic or some kind of metal. Plastic sprinklers will be cheaper than metal ones, but their construction will be weaker and won’t last as long. Metal sprinklers are more expensive and heavier but will last much longer because of their sturdy construction.

We would advise going for a metal construction sprinkler if you’ll be using it with high water pressure. Impact, traveling, or rotary sprinklers should have a sturdy build and construction to withstand constant water pressure.

Top 7 Best Lawn Sprinkler Reviews in 2021


Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler


We’re starting our list with Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo, the best oscillating sprinkler on our list for a budget price. It can cover up to 4,500 sq. ft. area and has adjustable spray width and length. This allows to set up the sprinkler in a position where one side can spray water far away while the other can water only a thin bed of flowers.

Melnor gets a lot of praise for their budget pricing while still having sturdy plastic construction to last way longer than other plastic sprinklers. The only weakness of the sprinkler is that the oscillation sometimes gets stuck, and you may need to wiggle it a little.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 4,500 sq. ft. area
  • 20 precision nozzles
  • High-quality build
  • Comfortable stream adjustment
  • The durable Infinity turbo motor
  • Nice exterior
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Sometimes the oscillation stops

Dramm 15075 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler


Dramm 15075 is a relatively heavy but sturdy spinning sprinkler that can cover up 38 ft. in diameter with a thin spinning water stream similar to a mist. It is perfect for low water pressure systems like wells as it only needs the PSI to be above 20. 

It is a very simple sprinkler with no adjustments. On the one hand, all you need to do is connect the fittings and let the water run, but on the other hand, you can’t adjust the radius or water stream. The only workaround would be to play with your water pressure, increasing or decreasing how far the water mist will go.

The downside of the Dramm sprinkler is that many parts are made from brass and might contain some lead making the sprinkler not a suitable option for organic lawn growing or organic edibles.

Key features:

  • Water stream goes up to 38 feet in diameter
  • Heavy-duty sturdy build
  • Powder-coated and rust-free
  • Very simple and easy to use
  • Great for low-pressure water systems

Weaknesses:

  • Brass parts are not fit for organic grass or plants
  • No adjustments

GrowGreen Sprinkler, Rotating Lawn Sprinkler


The GrowGreen sprinkler is made from ABS plastic and rust-proof polymer. The build does feel very sturdy and has connections on both sides for multiple sprinkler systems. 

The rotating heads spin at 360 degrees radius while the three hands shoot out water up to 32.8 ft. distance and can cover up to 3,600 sq. ft. area, making it great for smaller lawns or backyards.

We were impressed that the plastic construction feels pretty solid and should be more durable than your regular plastic sprinkler. The only weakness we saw was the plastic connection which didn’t feel as it tightened properly and did leak a bit on higher pressure. Other than that, it’s a cheap but high-quality rotating sprinkler designed for small lawns.

Key features:

  • 360 degrees rotation
  • 32.8 ft. spray distance
  • Covers up to 3,600 sq. ft. area
  • Lightweight
  • Great for small lawns
  • Low price
  • Can connect multiple sprinklers

Weaknesses:

  • Low-quality connection

GARDENA ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler


Garden ZoomMaxx is a modern oscillating sprinkler designed for small lawns as it covers up to a 2,300 sq. ft. area. It has a stable base, so even high pressure won’t flip over the sprinkler. This oscillating sprinkler’s most significant selling point is that you have a lot of water stream customization freedom, making it perfect for weirdly shaped areas. You can adjust the width and the length of the water spray and even control the flow rate to avoid hitting an overhead hanging roof.

The sprinkler does cover quite a small area; however, if your lawn and garden have complex compositions with regions that don’t need watering, a few ZoomMaxx oscillating sprinklers could be set up to only water the area you want.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 2,300 sq. ft. area
  • Lightweight sprinkler
  • Stable base
  • Easy to adjust the width and length of water spray
  • Variable flor rate
  • Compact
  • Perfect for irregular lawns or gardens

Weaknesses:

  • It covers only a small area
  • Expensive

Kadaon 360 Degree Garden Sprinkler


If you’re looking for a cheap option, Kadaon 360 sprinkler is the best budget lawn sprinkler on our list that is super lightweight and easy to set up. All you need to do is connect the sprinkler with your hose and stick it into the grass in the area you want to be watered. It covers only a 3,000 sq. ft. area, but you can connect multiple sprinklers for more extensive coverage. The flow rate of the sprinkler is not very strong, so it takes a bit of time to water an area. However, when you connect multiple Kadoan sprinklers, they don’t lose pressure and evenly saturate the whole area.

The build is plastic and doesn’t feel very durable but comes at a bargain price for people on a budget.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 3,000 sq. ft area
  • Easy to set up
  • Very cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Not very durable
  • Small area coverage

Melnor 65067-AMZ Pulsating Sprinkler


This is another excellent product from lawn and watering products supplier Melnor. The 65067-AMZ Pulsating Sprinkler can shoot water streams up to 85 ft. in length, which is ideal for large landscapes. You can easily adjust the spray distance, coverage radius, and water diffusion. If needed, you can take out the radius adjustment pin, and the sprinkler will turn in circles covering 360 degrees area.

We love that the spray head and the base are made from metal, making it much heavier. Impact sprinklers operate at a higher water pressure to shoot out water further away. A heavier base allows the sprinkler to be much more stable. The only disadvantage of the build is that the head sometimes gets stuck at one side of the cycle and doesn’t get back. Increasing the water pressure seemed to fix the issues. 

Other than that, it’s the best impact sprinkler on our list suitable for a large lawn and won’t leave your pockets empty.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 5,600 sq. ft area
  • Shoots water up to 85′
  • It can be adjusted to cover 360 degrees radius
  • Durable metal sprinkler head
  • Sturdy metal base for stability
  • Easy to adjust distance, radius, and diffusion
  • Seven-year limited warranty
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Sometimes gets stuck at one end of the rotation cycle.

Orbit 58322 Traveling Sprinkler


Last on our list is Orbit 58322 traveling sprinkler. This is the best traveling sprinkler on our list and most likely on the market overall. Orbit tractor-shaped sprinkler is guided by the hose and pushed by water pressure. You can set up the hose in a pattern you want the sprinkler to go and position the little ramp at a point you want the sprinkler to stop. This allows you to turn on your sprinkler and leave as it will stop when it finishes its route. 

Orbit traveling sprinkler has a very sturdy and durable cast-iron construction. It will be hard to knock over with a ball or by pets, but it is quite hard to carry around. However, unlike any plastic sprinklers, Orbit is a wise investment that might serve you for decades.

If you have a large lawn, this sprinkler is great because you can create any path you like by laying your hose where the sprinkler needs to go. You can also adjust the spray diameter and traveling speed for various water output needs. 

Key features:

  • Can cover up to 13,500 sq. ft. along a 200 ft. hose
  • Three speeds
  • Extremely durable cast-iron construction
  • 15-50 ft. adjustable spray coverage diameter
  • Great for large lawns
  • Can leave unattended

Weaknesses:

  • Quite bulky and heavy

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to water my lawn?

If you live in a very dry area where grass would usually not grow, then we advise watering your lawn 2-3 times a week to get 1-1½ inches of water into your lawn per week. It’s better to heavily water a couple of times instead of daily to allow the water to get deep into the soil. If you live in an area where grass grows naturally, you won’t need to water once your lawn is established and continued, frequent watering may even be harmful to your lawn’s root developement.

When is the best time of the day to water my lawn?

It is best to water your lawn early in the morning as it reduces water evaporation allowing you to water your lawn faster and use less water. You could also water early evening when it’s warm as long as there is enough time for the plants and soil to soak up the water.

 

 best garden hose article link

interlink with best garden hoses article

Top 7 Best Lawn Edgers and Trenchers in 2021

Having neat and tidy lawn edges is probably the second most important softscaping task after proper lawn mowing if you want to have a beautiful and healthy landscape. A well-cut edge will give you a crisp, tight, and clean separation from your turf and sidewalks or garden beds. A lawn edger or trencher is a tool specifically designed to create these sharp and defined edges. Today we’ll introduce you to various types of lawn edgers and trenchers, talk about which type is best for various landscapes and lawn types, and give a few tips on what to consider when buying a lawn edger or trencher. Finally, we’ll share our picks for the top 7 best lawn edgers and trenchers in 2021.

Types of Lawn Edgers and Trenchers

There are three main types of lawn edgers and trenchers: manual, gas, and electric ones. Here are some of their advantages and reasons to pick one over the other. 

Manual Edgers

As it’s clear from the name, this type of edgers and trenchers don’t need gas or electricity. You’ll have to put your hands and feet to work to edge your turf. They are still a common pick for smaller landscapes as they are convenient, don’t take much space, and are very compact and portable. Manual edgers require very little maintenance since there are no motors, bearings, or electricity involved, but best of all, it makes no noise! All you need to do is clean it up after use and store it away. Finally, manual trenchers and edgers are quite cheap and budget-friendly.

 One of the most popular manual trenchers is a roller edger that requires you to step and push the tool with your foot to cut the edges of your grass. Then there’s also a half-moon edger that looks like a spade or a shovel. You use it by pushing it into the ground and rocking back and forth to cut the grass.

Gas Powered Edgers

Gas-powered edgers and trenchers are the most powerful type of lawn edgers. Their power rating usually ranges from 20 to up to 160 cubic meters depending on the size. These larger lawn edgers are perfect for bigger yards and provide very consistent and clean cuts due to their sheer power. All gas-powered trenchers and edgers are on wheels, so you barely need any manual power. However, they are pretty noisy and cost a bit more than manual or electric edgers.

Electricity Powered Edgers

Electric-powered edgers can be corded or battery-powered and are very lightweight. Similar to handheld electric saws, battery-powered edgers have more portability over corded ones but need to be charged quite often. People prefer electric edgers over gas-powered ones since they produce no exhaust, aren’t as loud, and don’t require much storage space.

What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Edger and Trencher

Lawn size and shape

It’s pretty important to think about how big your lawn edging task will be. If you have a huge yard, using a manual edger will take a lot of your time and, most importantly, a lot of physical power, so it’s wiser to use a gas-powered edger for quick and effortless edging unless you’re really keen on a good workout!

Additionally, suppose your lawn has many tight edges or awkward-shaped flower beds close to the wall, bushes, or on a tight slope. In that case, the gas edger might be too bulky, so an electric or manual one will be easier to maneuver and work around tight spaces.

Power

The more power your edger has, the easier it is to achieve a clean, sharp, and consistent edge on your lawn without much physical effort. A powerful gas edger is best for a clean and effortless cut if you have a long lawn with straight edges. Electric edgers aren’t as powerful but are much more maneuverable and lightweight. 

Blade type

Rectangular blade with a straight edge

This is the most simple and basic type of blade found on an edger. They are more than enough for small and straightforward lawn edging. Best suited for lawns connecting with same height driveways, walkways, or short flower beds. Rectangular blades should be used on gas and electric edgers only because you won’t be able to turn the rectangle shape blade with a manual edger.

Rectangular blade with scoop-cut ends

A rectangular blade with scoop-cut ends works best for garden, flower, and tree bed edging that has soil covered in mulch or other material. The unique shape of the blade allows for a delicate and precise cut without throwing weeds all over your flower bed.

Star-shaped blades

This type of blade can be used on gas, electric, and manual edgers. A star-shaped blade has many sharp points and can handle bushes, shrubs, small tree branches, and other dead greenery much more efficiently than rectangular blades. 

 If you’re using a manual edger with a star-shaped blade, it can also be used as a lawn aerator. Just make sure not to put too much pressure, and the blade will provide small punctures into the soil.

Safety features

When buying a non-manual lawn edger, make sure to consider safety features like trigger lock, debris guard, and padded grips.

Debris guards 

As the name suggests, a debris guard prevents debris from flying out the back of the edger into your feet and torso. Hard dirt and rocks can hurt you, while grass debris can stain your clothes.

Trigger lock

A trigger lock is the most common safety feature on any powered landscape equipment. It prevents users from accidentally starting the edger when picking it up or storing it. In order to start, the edger trigger lock needs to be pressed, held, and only then can you fire up the edger.

Padded grips and straps

Powered edgers and trenchers produce vibration, so having padded grips and over-the-shoulder straps allows for a much more ergonomic edger handling. Even if you’re working around short lawn edges or garden beds, padded grips make a huge difference.

Additional features or accessories

Adjustable blade position and angle

To deal with different types and shapes of flower beds and lawns, you might want to be able to adjust blade position and angle. Your lawn near a driveway might be close to the ground, while the garden bed will be deeper into the ground requiring different height edging.

Additional wheel

The additional wheel feature is helpful for heavier and bulkier gas-powered edgers. It can provide a lot of extra stability when on uneven surfaces and paved driveways or walkways. 

Cord length and battery size

When picking an electric lawn edger, make sure to check the length of the cord and battery size. If you have a large backyard, make sure the cord is long enough for your needs; otherwise, you’ll have to buy an extension cord. Cordless lawn edgers are not as powerful as corded ones and are best for smaller edging tasks. If you have a larger landscape and still want a lightweight and portable cordless edger, make sure to get on with a larger battery or one that has two batteries included to avoid having to recharge the battery in the middle of your chores.

Top 7 Best Lawn Edger and Trencher Reviews in 2021


Fiskars 38.5 Inch Long-handle Steel Edger


As we know, Fiskars produce excellent landscaping tools of great quality and price ratio. The Fiskars 38.5 inch steel edger is no exception. This lawn edger is one of the best manual edgers and trenchers if you’re on a budget. We love that this shovel-looking edger is perfect for creating and maintain garden and flower beds. It has a sharp and deep steel blade that allows you to create a garden bed by yourself easily.  

The Fiskars steel edger is cheap but really sturdy and should last you years. It is also ergonomic for a manual edger and trencher. The long shaft allows edging your lawn without bending too much, and the large foot platform helps to efficiently use your whole body weight to maximize force without using arm strength.

All in all, Fiskars long-handle steel edger is the best manual edger for lawn care and garden bed creation if you’re on a budget.

Key features:

  • Sharp steel blade
  • Ergonomic design
  • Great for garden bed creation
  • Durable build
  • Cheap
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to store

Weaknesses:

  • Requires a lot of manual labor for large area edging

Truper 32100 Tru Tough Rotary Lawn Edger


Here we have Truper 32100 rotary lawn edger, which is another lightweight manual lawn edger perfect for smaller territories, especially if you have little storage space. The 48-inch handle is made from American ash with a lacquer finish, while the bottom has a sharp star-shaped blade and a wheel to push on the sidewalk or by garden beds for a clean cut.

The Truper 32100 manual rotary lawn edger is very straightforward and easy to use. All you need to do is put the wheel on the pavement next to your lawn or garden bed and move the edger 2-3 times forward and backward to form an edge. 

Manual rotary lawn edgers are a great alternative to more expensive electric or gas-powered edgers. If you just want to freshen up your lawn a few times a year and don’t have a huge backyard, Truper 32100 might be the best rotary manual edger for you that won’t cost a fortune.

Key features:

  • Strong and durable 48-inch American ash handle
  • Lightweight
  • Simple and straightforward design
  • Cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Not fit for large landscapes

WORX WG896 12 Amp 7.5″ Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher


The WORX WG896 is one of the best lawn edgers and trenchers for regular homeowners and amateur landscapers. It has a cutting line indicator and three depth selections for various edging and garden trenching projects. It is lightweight for an electric edger, but the 14 lbs is heavy enough to hold it down while trenching more challenging soil.

This 12 Amp electric edger comes as one piece out of the box. All you have to do is pop in the shaft pieces, tighten the handle, put the wheels on, and you are ready to edge. 

This corded lawn edger has a 7.5-inch star-shaped blade that should easily deal with any grass and soil, considering the motor can spin it at 4700 RPMs. What makes it a versatile edger and trencher combination is the ability to choose between 3 depths of trenching. You can do regular edging around sidewalks and garden beds with the smallest depth selection and switch to trenching with the other two depth choices.

All in all, WORX WG896 is the best budget electric lawn edger and trencher combo on our list. It is a perfect landscaping tool for homeowners who don’t want to pay for professional landscaping services and would rather do these small chores themselves.

Key features:

  • Power: 12 Amp motor
  • 7.5-inch blade
  • Three depth adjustments
  • Cutting line indicator
  • Adjustable shaft
  • Very accurate and sharp cut
  • Lightweight for an electric edger

Weaknesses:

  • Corded

Greenworks Pro 80V 8 inch Brushless Edger


If you’re tired of dealing with oil changes and gas refills, then electric tools might be a significant relief for you. The Greenworks Pro 80V brushless edger is a very powerful landscaping tool that allows you to effortlessly move around your garden without being constrained by a cord or heavy gas engine. 

It comes 95% assembled; all you need to do is tighten the handle and put the battery in. In all honesty, the battery is the biggest weakness of this edger. No, it isn’t of bad quality; it’s just not included with edger! When bought additionally with the charger, it does add up to quite a hefty price tag.

This edger is very well built with an 8-inch steel blade, sturdy guard, and a flap to stop any debris from coming your way. It’s also nice to know that Greenworks provides a 3-year warranty for their products if anything breaks.

If your budget is not a concern, Greenworks Pro 80V lawn edger is the best cordless lawn edger on our list for comfort, portability, and ease of use.

Key features:

  • 8-inch steel blade
  • Multiple speeds
  • Adjustable handle
  • Comfortable grip
  • Curb wheel for easy edging
  • Relatively silent for an edger
  • No emission
  • Almost no assembly is required
  • 3-year warranty

Weaknesses:

  • Battery not included
  • Expensive when bought with battery and charger

Craftsman CMXGKAME30A 30cc 4-Cycle Gas Powered Grass Lawn Edger


If you need a powerful edger for larger landscapes, you should go with a gas-powered lawn edger. Cordless edgers can’t run for long periods without a battery switch, and corded tools constrain your movement. Craftsman CMXGKAME30A is a small but powerful lawn edger. The 30cc 4-cycle motor is powerful but not as loud or heavy as bigger gas lawn edgers.

The Craftsman lawn edger is easy to use even if you’re not experienced with landscaping tools. It’s easy to assemble, and the prime and pull start will get you going in seconds. A 9-inch heavy-duty steel blade is sharp enough for any lawn and soil, while the six different height positions will let you pick how deep you want your trenches to be. Finally, there are three premium quality wheels for extra stability and effortless pushing.

The build itself could be a bit more solid; however, it does come at a very low price point for a gas lawn edger. All in all, it’s one of the best budget gas lawn edgers for casual gardeners who want to keep their lawn sharp and clean all year long.

Key features:

  • 30cc 4-Cycle motor
  • Easy prime and pull start
  • 9-inch heavy-duty steel blade
  • 6 cutting positions up to a 1.75-inch depth
  • Three wheels for stability 

Weaknesses:

  • Not very sturdy

SOUTHLAND SWLE0799 79cc Walk Behind Gas Lawn Edger


SOUTHLAND SWLE0799 is the closes you can get to a professional lawn edger without paying a professional price tag. The 79cc four-stroke motor is a beast that can handle any type or height of grass growing on the toughest soils. 

Its 9-inch triangular blade can adjust +/- 15 degrees to produce natural-looking beveled edges around your flowerbeds. You also have five depth options ranging from 0 to 2.5-inches which is more than enough to create a garden bed or irrigation trenches.

There are three massive wheels that allow hopping on curbs, making lawn edging near driveways a very easy task. It is, however, a bit difficult to use on curved cuts. 

The SWLE0799 is a very powerful gas lawn edger and trencher perfect for homeowners with larger landscapes and maybe even landscapers just getting into the business. 

Key features:

  • 79cc 4 stroke motor
  • 0 to 2.5-inch depth positions
  • +/- 15 degrees blade angle adjustment
  • Can hop curbs
  • 9-inch blade

Weaknesses:

  • The handle could be more ergonomic
  • Not very agile on curves 

SANJIAN Cordless String Trimmer, Weed Wacker, Edger 

The last on our list is SANJIAN multipurpose tool for trimming, weed whacking, and lawn edging. This versatile cordless battery-powered landscaping tool is an excellent option for gardeners and homeowners who are on a budget and don’t want to store multiple gadgets for once-a-season landscaping chores.

There are three different blades to choose from. The plastic blades are for soft grass mowing and trimming. Stainless steel metal blades are great for lawn edging, weed whacking, and small shrub trimming. Finally, the manganese circular saw blade will deal with thicker shrub and branch pruning.

You’ll have two 21V lithium batteries included, which are not the most powerful ones, but you’ll be able to charge one while you use the other. 

In conclusion, the SANJIAN cordless trimmer is a great multipurpose tool for casual homeowners. Yes, the quality isn’t premium; however, the price is really low. If you need to deal with small landscaping quite often but don’t want to buy a bunch of expensive and bulky, this versatile cordless edger might be your best pick.

Key features:

  • Two 21V lithium batteries included
  • It comes with 3 blade types 
  • Very lightweight
  • Multipurpose landscaping tool
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Cheap build
  • Batteries don’t last long

Please keep in mind that no matter which type of lawn edger you choose, there is always the possibility that you may cut through electric cables or sprinkler lines, so always use caution and have lines marked before you begin.

Top 10 Lawn Care Tips

A lush, well-maintained lawn is the ideal green fill for our colorful herbaceous borders, a fantastic setting for summer picnics as well as a foraging area for native birds and animals. Keeping your lawn looking beautiful may be a problem sometimes, especially when you are new to gardening, but if you follow our Top 10 Lawn Care Tips you will have it under control in no time.

Once you’ve built your dream garden space and installed the area’s best soil and grass, how are you going to keep it looking its best? We’re going to teach you how to keep your yard looking good throughout the year. The ultimate goal is to create an environment that allows your lawn to take care of itself (other than mowing, of course).  To avoid getting a dull, weed plagued lawn, follow these easy measures.

Top 10 List

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

mow the lawn

It is best to cut just one-third of the length of the grass when mowing your lawn. The time of year and current weather conditions will decide how often you need to trim, but you will likely need to cut the grass in summer at least once a week and once every two weeks in spring and fall.  Regular trimming facilitates the spreading of the roots, which will help to fill spaces and obstruct weeds.

Never cut your lawn shorter than three inches.  Grass height of three inches keeps the ground shaded, the grass healthy, and the weeds down.  Cutting it shorter makes it harder on the grass and easier on the weeds. Make sure that the mower is well balanced and the blades are clean and sharp.

Don’t mow when it is wet, as this will cause more damage to the blades of grass.  Use the lightest mower that you can deal with.  The trend has been toward large, high-powered, zero-turn riding lawnmowers that compact the ground and tear out the grass at each turn.  If you Cn get away with a small mulching walk behind mower, do it. 

Always alternate your directions of cut so that you don’t wear the same pattern into the lawn week after week.  Always use a mulching mower and mulch leave right into the lawn.  Leaving the clippings in the lawn will make for a stronger lawn with better soil.

Edge Your Lawn

Edging a lawn is a fresh, trimmed lawn’s final touch. To delineate your lawn after each mowing, use a string trimmer turned on its side like the professionals, or you can do it by hand with any sort of shears.  Once a year, grab an edging shovel and re-cut the natural edge wherever the lawn is creeping into the beds.

Remove the Weeds

weed free lawn

Weeds can appear anywhere in your lawn and come from many different sources.  The exact type of weed is not as important as your response to it.  Your best weed defense is a healthy, tall lawn with deep roots.  Your second line of defense is using an organic fertilizer that contains corn gluten which helps discourage weed growth.  Your third line of defense is to pick the big weeds when you see them.  If you pick a handful every time you mow, you will stay on top of the problem.

Don’t use chemical weed killers as they destroy beneficial soil microbes and contaminate your groundwater.

Relieve Compacted Soil

meticulous lawn care
pretty front lawn

Compacted soil is the result of heavy equipment use, overwatering, and chemical fertilizer use.  Hard, compacted lawn soil will make it more difficult for your lawn to thrive and take care of itself.  To alleviate compacted soil, you have a couple of choices. 

If your soil is compacted, I’m guessing that you have been neglecting it and treating it poorly for a bit, so I’m going to suggest core aeration.  A core aerator is a motorized piece of equipment that rolls across the lawn and digs out cylindrical soil plugs.  You can rent these machines at most local rental places. 

If you don’t want to spend the money on the rental, but you have a digging fork, you can use that to loosen up the top couple of inches of soil.  The trick is to push the fork in, wiggle it a bit and pull it out.  You are not trying to pry out chunks of lawn and till the site.  This would be disturbing too many grass roots.  You are just loosening soil and leaving the root intact.

Once you have aerated, you will want to spread a thin layer of well-aged organic compost onto the lawn and water it deeply.  The aeration will allow the water to carry the soil amending compost down into the ground.  In time, with proper care, your lawn soil will loosen up and be rich and dark with nutrients.

Water Your Lawn

watering the lawn

The amount and frequency of irrigation in your area will depend on the type of soil and weather conditions. The goal is to have a healthy lawn that never needs watering, but if you are in a very arid region and want a lawn, you may need to water it.  It is best to water grass in the early morning before it gets hot to get the best results.

Always water new, young lawns, but once they get established, only water a few times a year during the driest time and always water slowly and deeply when you do.  Slow and deep watering encourages roots to grow deeply, which will produce a healthier lawn.  Sprinkler systems are unnecessary, expensive and create a lawn that is shallow-rooted and dependent on the sprinkler to survive. If you are in an area where there are no wild grass areas, and lawns shouldn’t grow because it is basically a desert, then you will need an irrigation system, but really, you might want to consider xeriscaping instead.

Feed Your Lawn

feed the lawn

If you have been applying weed and feed several times per year and irrigating every other day with an irrigation system, then you will need to ween your lawn off slowly.  But, if you have been organic for years, you should be able to take care of any fertilization by simply applying organic compost once or twice a year.  Remember, if we do this correctly, our lawn can practically take care of itself.  I haven’t watered or fertilized my lawn for many years, and it is green and lush each season because it is deep-rooted, organic, and diverse.

Fill Bare Lawn Patches

Over time, if you follow all of the recommendations above, you won’t have any bare patches to fill, but right now, if you are just starting out and you’ve just aerated and top-dressed with compost, this would be a great time to get a hardy mix of grass seed and fill in any thin or bare spots.  More grass equals fewer weeds, so keep that grass strong, tall, and thick.

Over-Seed Your Lawn

If your lawn has been abused for years and is really short and thin and seems almost hopeless, a good plan might be to over-seed the entire lawn.  In this case, you could over-aerate it to loosen it up, then spread compost over the lawn, but not so deep that you cover all of the grass.  Then sprinkle a hardy mix of grass seed over the entire lawn and rake it all smooth to ensure contact with the ground.  Water this lawn as if it were new, and you will have a nice thick lawn in no time.

When purchasing grass seed, don’t get the most expensive golf course mixes.  Golf courses love to have very select, fine grasses and then irrigate and fertilize continually.  You want to get the hardy grass mix #2 or whatever might be the favorite of the guys that seed the big expanses along the roads and large yards.  This seed can be purchased from the local feed mill, and it will be hardy and will grow well in your area.

Ignore the Pests

My advice is not to look for pests and ignore them if you do see them.  Lawn pests will not wipe out a robust, healthy lawn.  These creatures love the weak and pampered chemical lawns.  Your healthy organic lawn will take care of itself as long as you stick to the organic treatment.

Get Your Soil Tested?

I would always vote no.  Once again, if you follow the steps above, you should have no need to test your soil.  If you have other plants growing throughout your yard, the soil is fine.  Wean your lawn off of the chemicals and start dressing it with organic compost, and it will be fine.

Conclusion

Follow these suggestions to manage your lawn organically, and in a few years, you won’t believe how easy it is.  Below are a few more suggestions related to specific issues:

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a shady spot in my yard that just won’t grow grass.  What should I do?

If your grass just isn’t growing in a few spots because it is too shaded, either give up and plant a flower bed or cut down some trees to let in more sun.  That’s it.  Don’t bother with shade seed, etc.  Grass just doesn’t grow well in the shade.  This is a fact.

We are having a drought in my area; what should I do to save my lawn?

In a drought, even the strongest lawn will brownout.  Don’t sweat it; this is fine.  This is how grass reacts to severe drought.  It will jump right back when it starts raining again.  Unless, of course, you’re in a dust bowl type of drought that lasts for years.  In this case, forget grass altogether; it is the least of your worries.

I have an area in my lawn that is always wet, and it just won’t grow grass.  What should I do?

if you have wet areas in your lawn that just won’t grow grass, you have three choices.  You can re-grade the area to allow the water to drain out; you can install a French drain system to drain the water or give up and plant some plants there that like wet soil.  That is it, no other options.

What should I do if my soil is really sticky and clay-like and my grass doesn’t grow well?

If your soil is very stiff and sticky like clay, you can aerate more and top dress with a sand and compost mix.  Eventually, it will come around, but it may take several years.

What should I do if my lawn has a lot of thatch?

Thatch only occurs on pampered and chemically treated lawns.  A healthy organic lawn has enough bacteria and microbes in the soil to break down thatch, so it just isn’t a thing.  Treat your lawn organically as suggested above, and that will be a thing of the past.