Can an Edger Be Used as a Trencher?


As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website. If you make a purchase through links from this website, we may get a small share of the sale from Amazon and other similar affiliate programs.

When landscaping or digging a trench for other purposes, homeowners (especially those who already own edgers) are often tempted to use an edger as a trencher. The reasoning behind it is that since edgers and trenchers are closely related, it would be more economical to use an edger to dig trenches for small projects as opposed to renting or buying a trencher.

An edger can be used as a trencher, but you won’t get the best operational efficiency. Specifically, your depth will be very limited, and the whole project will take longer to complete. However, it’s possible to convert an old edger into a mini makeshift trencher.

In the rest of this article, we’ll discuss the few instances when you might be able to use an edger as a trencher and review the steps for converting an old edger into a makeshift trencher for small projects. Read on for details.

What Is an Edger Used For? 

Photo 20967427 | © Eag1e | Dreamstime.com

Whether motorized or manual, a lawn edger or an edge trimmer is used in landscaping to make neat, intricate boundaries between a lawn and adjacent ground surfaces such as walkways, streets, patios, or driveways.

Its purpose is purely aesthetic. By allowing landscapers and homeowners to make neat edges around lawns, an edger helps prevent grass (or any other type of ground cover used on the lawn) from overgrowing into nearby walkways or driveways.

Lawn edgers come in six main types that can be broadly categorized as either manual or motorized.  

Manual lawn edgers types include:

  • Spade based edgers
  • Hand shears
  • Roller based edgers

Motorized lawn edger types include:

  • Adaptable string trimmer
  • Single-wheel purpose-design 
  • Multi-wheel purpose-design

What Is a Trencher Used For?

Trenchers are components of earthmoving construction equipment that are used to dig trenches. Regardless of the type, trenchers typically use a metal chain with giant steel teeth to rip into the ground the same way a chainsaw does on a tree. 

Speaking of type, trenchers can be classified into the following categories:

  • Wheel trenchers
  • Chain trenchers
  • Micro trenchers
  • Portable trenchers
  • Tractor-mounted trenchers

Trenchers are mostly used in projects that require digging multiple trenches to help reduce the completion time by eliminating the need for digging trenches by hand. You can use trenchers for projects such as installing sprinklers, running electrical lines for things like outdoor lighting or pumps, snipping roots, and cutting pavements when landscaping.

Can You Use an Edger as a Trencher?

You can’t substitute a trencher with an edger without compromising operational efficiency because the two types of machines are built for different purposes. An edger is generally better suited to digging shallow trenches while a trencher is designed to dig deeper ones. Also, the depth is limited in each machine type, meaning you can only dig so deep even with motorized multi-blade edgers.

However, if operational efficiency isn’t a top priority, there are two instances when you might be able to use an edger as a trencher. Let’s discuss these below.

Using an Edger to Dig Trench Edges

Perhaps the one instance when you might be able to use an edger as a trencher would be when you want to create a trench edge.

Commonly, materials such as bricks, rocks, metal, or strips of polyvinyl landscape edging are used to define lawn edges. However, the problem with these kinds of edges is that grass and other vegetation types can easily escape through the gaps and overgrow into pavements, driveways, or any other lawn-adjacent surface. 

Because this can make your landscape look a bit messy, many homeowners choose to cut trenches with neat, straight lines to edge lawns and flowerbeds. Besides helping keep your landscape neat and organized, trench edges allow you to easily mow along the edge without rocks, bricks, or any other type of edging material damaging your lawnmower.

To create this kind of edge, you’d use a manual edger such as a half-moon edger to dig a shallow trench along the edges of your lawn. 

The Yard Butler (link to Amazon) would be perfect for this purpose because it comes with a unique long handheld design that centers weight squarely over the cutting edge for easier edging, cushioned grips for comfort, and a foot bar for extra leverage. If you don’t like the bulk of work involved with a manual edger, you can always use a single-blade motorized edger to dig a hairline trench with much more ease.

Regardless of the type you choose, this would technically be using an edger as a trencher: i.e., using a tool designed for edging to dig a trench. But even then, you’d still be using an edger to define your lawn’s edges, which isn’t too far off from their traditional use.

Using An Edger to Lay Down Electrical Lines

The other instance where you could use an edger as a trencher would be when you’re trying to lay down some electrical wires.

Since a manual edger would take too long (especially if you’re covering a large area), a motorized multi-blade edger would be the most likely choice because it’d dig a wider trench than a single-blade one. But even with a multi-blade edger, you’d have issues with the depth because you’ll want your wires to be about 4 inches (roughly 10cm) to 6 inches (about 15cm) deep, which won’t be easy to achieve with an edger.

To sum up, it’s possible to use an edger to dig a trench for laying down electricity wires or even drainage pipes. However, your depth will be very limited, and it won’t be the most efficient way to do it compared to using a trencher. Think of it this way: It’s like using a pipe wrench to drive down a nail. Sure, it might get the job done when you don’t have a hammer, but not in the most efficient way.

Can You Turn an Edger Into a Trencher?

If you have an old motorized edger, you can convert it into a mini trencher provided you know a thing or two about repairing garden equipment. All you need to do is replace the edger’s blade with that of a trencher using the following steps:

  1. Tilt your edger on its side to gain access to its cutting blade and wedge a piece of wood between the blade and the edger’s body.
  2. Using a wrench, turn the nut securing the blade anticlockwise to loosen it. Remove the nut and put it aside. Doing this should free up the pre-existing blade. Remove it, too.
  3. Place the new trencher blade onto the spindle and ensure that it’s facing the right direction. If you install it backward, the blade won’t work.
  4. Next, lower your edger and check the blade’s position. Ideally, only the blade’s carbide teeth should be touching the ground. If that’s the case, firmly secure the new blade onto the spindle by tightening the nut you set aside in step 2 above.
  5. Lastly, adjust the edger’s depth to the lowest setting and run it over the area you’re trying to dig a trench. 

In case things get too confusing, below is a detailed video tutorial on how to turn an edger into a trencher to help you know what goes where:

The Bottom Line

In case you missed some of the key points, he’s where we’ve landed regarding whether you can use an edger as trencher:

  • You might be able to use an edger as a trencher, but only to create a trench edge around your lawn or possibly lay down some electrical wires in your compound. Still, it wouldn’t be the most efficient way to dig a trench for the latter purpose.
  • With some DIY work, it’s possible to convert an old motorized edger into a mini trencher by switching the blade.
Are you a landscaping enthusiast and want to help me grow Landscapingplanet.com? I am looking for writers! Just send me an email at [email protected].

Lars

I am always happy to share all my knowledge about how to keep your garden in good condition and make it special.

Recent Posts