The Best Time to Edge Your Lawn for Healthier, Cleaner Grass, According to Pros Keep your landscape tidy with these tips and tricks. In This Article View All In This Article What It Is When to Do It How to Do It Close Credit: Getty Images Key Points Lawn edging keeps borders crisp and defined, instantly improving curb appeal. Edge in spring or during active growth periods—not winter—to avoid damaging dormant roots. For best results, edge after a light rain when soil is damp. The right time for edging your lawn isn’t marked on your calendar. Instead, it depends on the season, how your lawn looks, and the variety of grass you have. Since there's no set interval during which you should start this maintenance task, it can be tricky to know how and when to go about it. Here, we've done our best to demystify the process for you. Read on to learn exactly when to edge your lawn—plus, insights from experts about how to do it the right way. Steve Corcoran, lawn expert and CEO of Lawn Love David Barbera, gardening, plant, and outdoor design expert; president of Artificial Turf Supply When and How to Aerate Your Lawn for Thicker, Healthier Grass What It Is Lawn edging is how you get clean, crisp lines along the perimeter of your lawn. “Mowing cuts off grass blades down to your desired length, but edging keeps the borders clean and trimmed to create nice lines,” says Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love. Edging is primarily done to boost a front yard’s curb appeal and improve the look of the overall landscape. Edging will make your grass look newly laid—even when it's much older. “It’s a designer’s secret—an hour of edging can make a five-year-old garden appear new," adds David Barbera, president of Artificial Turf Supply. Don't Miss When and How to Aerate Your Lawn for Thicker, Healthier Grass Dethatching Is the Lawn Care Chore You Should Never Skip—Here's How to Do It When to Do It The winter, including the months of November and December, typically isn't the best time to edge your lawn, says Corcoran. However, ultimately the best time to edge really depends on where you live—and your grass type. Generally speaking, spring—when the earth softens and grass roots reawaken—is a good time to edge. “This is when edging marks will retain their shape beautifully," says Barbera. Like with mowing, edging should only be done when there’s active grass growth. Doing so in the winter when grass is dormant can damage the roots. "The exact time depends on your appearance preferences and how fast your grass grows," says Corcoran. "Some people do it weekly, others monthly." A fading border, for example, is a clear sign that it’s time to edge your lawn. “When your flower beds begin to blend into the grass or mulch starts creeping where it shouldn’t, then your garden is quietly asking for definition,” adds Barbera. Edge your lawn before installing new plants, new mulch, or a new garden path. The invisible line created through edging will help you better orient new landscape features. How to Do It Barbera recommends waiting until after a light rain to edge your lawn. This is when you can expect to make cleaner cuts, without digging up the roots and destroying the borders with loose dirt. Wait until the lawn is damp without being soggy—edging tools glide better when the grass is slightly wet. Before you start, mark your lawn’s borders. Use string or paint to make straight lines where you want the edging completed. Doing this helps you be more precise. Use a lawn edger or string trimmer—these tools will help you edge your lawn quickly and cleanly. “You can also use a shovel in some cases to do it manually,” says Corcoran. However, this method can mean much more work, and it isn’t as effective for trimming maintenance. Either way, work along the lawn line slowly and precisely for the best results. Explore more: Garden Landscaping