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Survey: 175 homeowners share whether they edge before or after mowing
Many homeowners strive for green lawns and always want to maximize their lawn care efforts. So, naturally, one of the things they wonder about is whether they should edge before or after mowing.
It's a simple question. Some swear by edging first (which we occasionally lump in with trimming for the purpose of this post). They claim that it looks cleaner. Others prefer mowing first, believing that this affords opportunities to touch up, trim more precisely, and work more efficiently.
The truth: it makes little difference. Still, there are pros and cons to each. It's a question worth considering. We asked 175 homeowners whether they edge before or after mowing.
We'll take a look at why homeowners choose the order they do when mowing, edging, and blowing — weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each practice; we'll look at expert tips on how to make the most of each practice by best combining and timing mowing with edging and throwing in blowing.
Key Results
# 94 homeowners believe that edging before mowing is the best way to go |
# The majority of those who edge first (38 votes) say they like how it sets up a clear boundary for mowing |
# 81 homeowners think that mowing before edging is better |
# 35 respondents — the majority — noted that mowing first helps them know how high to trim and reduces the risk of scalping |
Pros of Mowing First
In lawn care, mowing represents one of the most important tasks of caring for a lawn. Doing it well is vital. Homeowners who choose to mow first cited several advantages of mowing first:
Mowing first lets you focus on the most critical task of cutting grass. Once the grass has been cut, you can trim or edge even more accurately around the perimeter, and you know exactly where the line lies to create a pristine and neat edge.
Mowing first also lets you concentrate on cutting the grass without having to dogleg around freshly edged borders.
Cons of Mowing First
One disadvantage of placing mowing at the top of the list is that the clippings will fall over the edges, which could mean that you may have to touch up edging and create a longer clean-up process.
Some homeowners noted that whether they should edge before or after mowing comes down to an added level of safety.
"The only reason I don't mow first is that I want to make sure I don't mow too close to my trees," one respondent noted.
Pros of Edging First
You'll hear some lawn care professionals and hobbyists make the case that trimming and edging your lawn around the perimeter first creates a more seamless process in tackling lawn care. Here's why their viewpoint may make some sense:
The edges allow you to mow right up to them, which clarifies the boundaries and sets your mower up to follow along easily. So, if you're edging first, your mowing path will be better defined.
Another benefit is that if you do the edges first, you can mow large areas of the lawn that are not hemmed in, and you can focus on the big picture. After you've mowed, you can do a better and more thorough job trimming the edges of the lawn if needed. Walkways, flower beds, and other obstacles at the boundary of the lawn often detract from a mowing job — taking care of them first during trimming and edging keeps the focus on mowing well.
Cons of Edging First
On the flip side, one of the drawbacks to edging and trimming first is that debris often ends up on the grass, necessitating further clean-up. Plus, getting the correct height is easier if you mow first. It could be an extra step of one of two – blowing or raking the trimmings before mowing, which might be time-consuming and add minutes to your lawn maintenance schedule.
Quick Overview
Aspect | Details |
Survey Results | - 94 homeowners edge before mowing - 81 homeowners mow before edging |
Reasons for Edging First | - Creates a clear boundary for mowing (38 votes) - Focus on large areas of the lawn after edges |
Reasons for Mowing First | - Know how high to trim (35 votes) - Avoids scalping and concentrates on cutting grass first |
Pros of Edging First | - Clear mowing path - Focus on boundaries before large areas |
Cons of Edging First | - Debris on grass needs clean-up - Difficult to get the correct height |
Pros of Mowing First | - Accurate trimming around perimeter - Avoids navigating freshly edged borders |
Cons of Mowing First | - Clippings fall over edges - May require touching up edging |
Whether you should edge before or after mowing can be a hot topic. We surveyed 175 homeowners to see what their preference is. The result? It's pretty darn close. We found that 94 homeowners prefer edging first to set a boundary before mowing; the other 81 respondents prefer mowing first to ensure they edge at the right height.
Those who mow first want to create a neat edge but may need to clean up fallen clippings. The edge-first camp wants to define clear paths for their mower, but they risk trimming at the wrong height and scalping their lawn. There's really no right or wrong way to order your lawn care (although there are best practices). Whether you edge before or after mowing comes down to preference and your lawn's setup and needs. 
