Edging And Trimming
The crisp lines along your walks and driveway that make a property read as cared for.
Why It Matters
Stand at the curb of any two houses, one with a lawn that was mowed and one with a property that is being maintained. From thirty feet they look the same. The difference is at the boundary: where the grass meets the walk, the drive, the beds. A crisp vertical edge says someone is paying attention. A soft, creeping edge says nobody has in a while. It is the first thing that goes when a crew is rushing, because it is the slowest part of the visit and the easiest to skip.
What Gets Edged and Trimmed
Walks, driveways, curb lines, and patio borders get a bladed edge. Fence lines, tree rings, bed borders, mailbox posts, and utility fixtures get string-trimmed to the same height as the cut. Sprinkler heads get cleared so the spray is never blocked, which the Contra Costa Water District specifically recommends for keeping coverage even and the water bill honest.
Beds Hold Their Shape
A defined bed edge is also the cheapest weed control there is. When the line between turf and bed is maintained, grass cannot creep in and weeds have nowhere to hide. When it is not, you end up paying to fix the border every season instead of maintaining it every visit.
Common Questions
What is the difference between edging and trimming?
Edging cuts a vertical line where turf meets a hard surface like a walk or driveway, using a blade. Trimming uses a string trimmer to bring grass down where the mower cannot reach: along fences, around trees, against beds and sprinkler heads.
How often does edging need to be done?
Every mowing visit. The edge grows over in one to two weeks in the growing season, and an overgrown edge is the first visible sign a property has slipped. It is included in every one of our mowing visits, never an add-on.
Will you trim around my sprinkler heads?
Yes, carefully, and it matters more than it sounds. Grass that grows over a head blocks the spray pattern, so parts of the lawn quietly stop getting water and brown out while the bill stays the same.