Do you mow or edge first? Its a good question. There is no clear answer to the age-old question of whether to edge or mow your lawn first when it comes to lawn care. Some swear by edging first, arguing that it sets a tidy boundary for the rest of the lawn. Some people think that mowing first is best because it keeps you from having to trim your grass again in places you might have missed. So, which is the better approach?.
As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to each strategy. This article will look at the pros and cons of both methods so you can choose the one that works best for your lawn care needs.
No matter how experienced you are or how green your thumb is, you won’t want to miss this debate.
So, sit back, relax, and lets dive into the great debate: should you mow or edge first?
As a lawn care enthusiast, one of the most common questions I get asked is “Do you edge or mow first?” This debate has been going on for ages in the lawn care community. Both sides have good points to consider when deciding the optimal order for lawn maintenance In this article, I’ll break down the pros and cons so you can determine the best approach for your lawn.
Why Order Matters in Lawn Care
Getting your lawn care steps in the right order can make a big difference in the final results. Rushing through maintenance haphazardly can lead to a subpar lawn that requires more work down the road. Planning out an intentional strategy helps ensure you don’t miss any important tasks and achieve a polished, healthy lawn.
The order you choose to edge and mow impacts
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Efficiency – The right sequence can save time and avoid repeat work.
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neatness – Careful order prevents debris from piling up and maintains tidy edges.
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Thoroughness – Methodical steps prevent missing patches and inconsistencies.
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Plant health – Proper order distributes clippings evenly to nourish the grass.
So which should come first—edging or mowing? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each approach.
The Case for Edging First
Edging involves neatly trimming along the borders and perimeters of your lawn using an edger or trimmer. Here are some benefits to edging before you mow:
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Establishes defined lawn perimeter before mowing inside the borders.
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Avoids spraying debris onto sidewalks or driveway that you just edged.
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Edge lines stay crisp since they aren’t crossed by the mower.
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Prevents mower from flinging grass onto freshly edged borders.
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Allows you to easily see any missed patches to edge; grass height doesn’t hide edge lines.
Many landscaping professionals recommend edging first for these reasons. It provides an initial tidy border to contain the rest of the mowing job. Edging first is especially helpful if your lawn has complex landscaping features and borders.
However, there are some downsides to consider with edging first.
Potential Drawbacks of Edging First
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Time-consuming for larger lawns since edging takes longer than mowing
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Can scalp lawn edges with edger if grass is overgrown
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Still need to clean up debris that’s thrown into the lawn area while edging
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Edge lines may expand as mower trims lawn away from borders
For most lawn care pros, the extra time needed to edge first is worth the clean results. But for larger lawns, edging everything first can be tiring and time-consuming.
Why Mowing First Can Be Beneficial
Mowing your lawn entails running a lawn mower over the entire grass surface to cut it to an even height. Here are some of the advantages to mowing before edging:
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Quickly covers large lawn area compared to slow edging
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Mulches clippings into lawn instead of possibly onto edged borders
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Crisp edge lines since grass is already trimmed short
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Avoids scalping already short grass by edging after mowing
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Can get maintenance done faster by quickly mowing then edging
Mowing first is often the choice when dealing with a very overgrown lawn or when time is limited. It gets the bulk of the area trimmed down efficiently.
Some potential issues can come up with mowing first though.
Drawbacks of Mowing Before Edging
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Edge lines may get choppy if crossed repeatedly by mower
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Grass clippings can gather on the lawn perimeter or sidewalks
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May accidentally fling debris and rocks onto freshly edged borders
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Edge lines can be obscured by long grass, so sections may be missed
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Need to thoroughly blow or sweep debris off borders once done
As you can see, both edging first and mowing first have their merits. So how do you decide what’s right for your lawn?
Tips for Deciding Lawn Care Order
Here are some tips to help determine if edging or mowing first works best for your situation:
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Assess your lawn’s current state – If overgrown, mow first. If tidy, edge first.
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Consider lawn size – Edge first for small lawns, mow first for very large lawns.
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Evaluate lawn shape – Edge first for intricate shapes. Mow first for simple rectangles.
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Allow enough time – Edge first if you have ample time. Mow first if rushed.
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Use proper equipment – Quality edger and mower make either order effective.
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Alternate order – Switching it up occasionally can work too.
Many lawn care pros suggest edging first, then mowing for average home lawns. But remain flexible and switch up your order when needed. The most important thing is to use proper equipment and techniques.
Lawn Care Order Tips
Here are some additional tips for achieving a beautifully manicured lawn, regardless of which order you choose:
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Always safety check your equipment before use.
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Mow when the grass is slightly damp to prevent clumps.
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Change mowing direction each time to prevent ruts.
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Sharpen mower blades regularly for clean cuts.
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Overlap edger and mower passes for full coverage.
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Sweep or blow clippings and debris off borders when done.
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Stick to the 1/3 rule – never cut more than 1/3 of blade height.
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Schedule maintenance during optimal growing seasons.
The lawn care debate over “do you edge or mow first” has been going on for ages. While edging first is commonly recommended, starting with mowing also has its place. Evaluate your specific lawn conditions and needs to decide which order works best for you. Or try alternating between edging first and mowing first.
What is Edging, and What is Mowing?
Before I dive into the debate, its important to understand what I mean by edging and mowing. Mowing is the act of cutting grass with a lawnmower. The grass is usually cut to a uniform height by a blade that spins.
Edging involves cutting the grass along the edges of the lawn. It creates a clear boundary between the grass and any sidewalks, driveways, or other landscaping features. Edging is usually done with a trimmer or edger, which can be electric or gas-powered.
Cutting the grass and edging the edges are both important parts of lawn care, but the order in which you do them can make a big difference.
Pros of Edging First
Edging first makes a clean line for the rest of the lawn, which is one of the main reasons to do it. You can make sure that the rest of the lawn is cut to the right length and shape by setting the edges first. This can help to prevent overgrown or uneven areas, which can be unsightly and difficult to maintain. Edging first can help to prevent damage to your landscaping features, such as sidewalks or driveways. They can be accidentally nicked by a lawnmower if not properly edged first.
If your grass is short and neat, you should probably start by edging it. It will give you a crisp boundary.
Edge or Mow First?
Should You Mow first or edge first?
If you don’t want a huge clean-up at the end of the day, it might be better to edge first as this will mean that the clippings end up on the lawn and can be mostly picked up by the mower. In contrast, if you quite enjoy sweeping – and some people do, then you would be free to mow first and enjoy a lengthy clean-up when both jobs are done.
Should You Mow or edge your lawn?
You should always mow before you edge your lawn. By mowing first, you will know how short to cut or trim the grass along the edges of your lawn, and you will be less likely to leave weedy or bare patches. On average, most lawns only need to be edged once per year.
Should a lawn mower be edging or mowing first?
Here are my thoughts on it. You should edge your lawn first, then use a trimmer, then mow. By edging the lawn first, you create less work for yourself and make it easier to maneuver the mower in the yard, ensuring a uniform cut.
Should you cut or Mow Your Lawn first?
Mowing the lawn first cleans up the lawn and makes the edges of the lawn more visible. When it comes time to edge, you won’t have to guess where the lawn abuts the driveway, sidewalk, or walkway; you’ll be able to clearly see it since you cut down the bulk of the grass first (more on this later).
