The UK’s 8 Best Edging Shears For Your Lawn – Chosen by a professional gardener

When it comes to lawn care, I’ve learnt a lot over the past 20 years of lawn maintenance as part of my family’s nursery in Manchester and my garden maintenance business I did until a couple of years ago. What I can tell you is that the perfect lawn starts with a decent lawn mower; maybe you even have a lawn scarifier to remove all that moss and thatch, and you’ve treated your lawn with a decent lawn feed with a little moss killer mixed. 

Typically, I recommend a cordless strimmer or even a petrol strimmer for larger lawns, but something often overlooked in a good pair of lawn edging shears. The best lawn edging shears are perfect for getting into places a strimmer sometimes can’t, this might be up to a raised bed, like in my case or against a fence or wall, they can even replace a strimmer altogether. For small gardens, I think there perfect.

As a professional gardener, I often use my Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears, which give a much better, more professional finish than my various strimmers. Some gardens, mainly an immaculate lawns with perfect edges, deserve that little extra attention. A good pair of lawn edging shears allows me to do that.

Even at home, I’ll often use my Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears to cut the edges of my lawn. It’s just as quick as doing it with my strimmer, giving a neater finish. Plus, I can get into those awkward spaces I mentioned earlier.

Before I get into the more detailed reviews for each model and the buyer’s guide, which may be helpful for some. I want to quickly go over some of my favourite lawn edging shears I currently use. Just a quick note, if looked after properly, which usually means oiling the blade and sharpening them occasionally with file, a good set of edging shears will easily last a good 15-20 years, if not longer. In reality, this doesn’t happen if for me. I recommend just spraying the blades with some WD40 after using them and rubbing the blade down with a rag. At the very least, do this at the end of the season before you store them for winter, and they will serve you well.

For most people, I recommend getting these Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears. I’ve only had them going on for 3 years, and they have been excellent. The blade is still sharp, the built quality is great with fibreglass handles and solid forged manganese steel head and socket, and they have a dial to adjust the blade tension, which is where many models fail. I’m 5.8ft, and my wife is slightly smaller, and she is happy with them too.

Overall, they’re perfect for personal use and affordable. If you’re over 6ft, then these Spear & Jackson 4870RS Razorsharp Edging Shears have longer handles and are a better choice and more comfortable to use. For anyway under 6ft, these Bulldog B613W shears are well worth considering. 

For professional gardeners, I recommend these Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears. We’ve used them for over 10 years now. These edging sheers are far superior to other models I have used. The quality is above and beyond what most gardeners expect. These garden shears have a drop forged, tempered and hardened blade. These blades are self-sharpening too. They also have excellent quality hardwood handles. They are heavier than most other models. However, the extra weight is not an issue because of how you use edging shears. The downside is the price. Expensive, but for professionals, they easily pay for themselves!

Below I get into the more detailed reviews and also have some other models I recommend for various reasons from having longer handles to being telescopic and easier to store. There are some good alternatives depending on what your looking for.

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My 8 best edging shears for your lawn:

1. Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears – MY BEST PICK – I now use these in my garden. Great quality, affordable and will last a lifetime if you look after them
2. Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears – BEST PROFESSIONAL PICK – I’ve used these professionally for over ten years now; they are expensive but worth it. The built quality is on a different level!
3. GARDENA Comfort Rotatable Grass Shears – Probably the best hand lawn shears on the market, not cheap but amazing quality if you prefer to get up close and personal
4. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp 4870RS Edging Shears – BEST FOR TALLER PEOPLE – The best choice for taller people, longer handles than most alternatives, great quality, made to last
5. Darlac Telescopic Edging Shears – Great if you have limited storage, ideal for taller or smaller gardeners
6. Bahco P75 Edging Shears – A good alternative to the Bulldog B613W Shears, slightly more expensive
7. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Edging Shears
8. WOLF-Garten RIGC Professional Single Hand Grass Shears

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My Top 8 Edging Shear Reviews

1. Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears

When it comes to the best lawn edging shears, these Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears are definitely up there within this category. They’re more affordable than the Spear & Jackson 4870RS Shears (also a good choice) by quite a few pounds and, in my opinion, just as good and even better value for money. However, I would recommend the Spear & Jackson 4870RS which I also review below, over these for taller people as they have taller handles of 915mm (36″); on these, they are 81cm (32″), so slightly smaller. 

For most people, these Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears are what I recommend first. I’m 5.8ft tall, my wife is slightly shorter, and these are very comfortable to use for both of us. I’ve used these Bulldog shears for around two years now. Actually going into my third season with them, and they have been amazing. Firstly, the built quality is excellent. Very sturdy thanks to the fibreglass handle that are also stiff and lightweight, and the solid forged managanese steel blades are super sharp. Overall, there just a joy to work with and reasonably lightweight.

One of the features I really do like is the turn dial to adjust the tension of the blades. This is a feature my more expensive Carl Kammerling G5051 Edging Shears also have. Now, I’ve used them professionally for years as part of my garden maintenance business, and they are amazing. However, these Bulldog B613W shears are much lighter and less than half the price. This is why I recommend them over the Carl Kammerling G5051 for most people. Honestly, for the price, the Bulldog B613W lawn shears are amazing!

Anyway, more about these Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears. I’ve now had them for two years and going into my third season with them now. Something to keep in mind is that I’ve used them at home, not professionally, so they’ve had average use (every couple of weeks over summer), but still, for most people, this is how they would use them anyway.

When it comes to the business end, the blade is almost 19cm (7.5 inches) long as shown in the picture above, which gives a decent clean cut to my lawn edges. What’s interesting is that the blade is wavy.

Apparently, this design ensures that whatever blades of grass you trap stay within the shear’s blades until they’re cut. I can say this gives a more natural finish to the grass rather than a straight crop, which may look unnatural. It’s hard to describe without seeing it, but it gives a nice finish if you have neat lawn edges.

Finally, I like the soft grip handles that make it easy on your hands and wrists, avoiding muscle fatigue.

Pros

• Very durable and strong and designed to last if looked after correctly
• Fibreglass shaft, which is not only strong but also lightweight
• Solid forged managanese steel head and socket
• Soft grip rubber handles for comfort when used on large lawns
• Turn the dial to adjust the blade’s pressure to get the cleanest cut with the least resistance on the blades
• Good blade length is 19cm (7.5 inches) long for optimal performance
• Dimensions: 91cm (3ft) (length); 81cm (32 inches) (handle)

My recommendation

These Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears offer excellent value for money for the price. I would honestly say they could add £10-20 to the price, and they would still be worth it. The sharp blade really does make short work of edging your lawn. Being able to adjust the blade pressure allows you to really be able to dial in that cut.

Overall for most people, I don’t think you can go wrong with a pair of these. If you are a professional gardener looking for a pair for daily use, consider spending the extra on the Carl Kammerling G5051. If you’re over 6ft, maybe consider the Spear & Jackson 4870RS Edging Shears with the longer handles instead; for everyone else, these will be more than up to the job and worth every penny.

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2. GARDENA Comfort Rotatable Grass Shears

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I’m a big fan of all things Gardena, as anyone who has read my automatic hose reel or hose spray gun guides will have noticed. Made in Germany instead of China, they make the best gardening products. I have several of their tools and accessories because of their innovative designs and fantastic build quality. You only got to pick them up, instantly feeling the quality of their tools, and you will see what I mean. They build gardening products which are made to last!

I’m not a big fan of getting on my knees to trim the lawn edges; I’d instead use a long-handled pair. Coming from a professional background where time is money, I’m somewhat biased. However, if you are, like my mum, happy to go around your lawn on your hands and knees, then these Gardena Comfort Rotatable Grass Shears are well worth considering. 

I recommend them over the WOLF-Garten RIGC Professional Single Hand Grass Shears I review further down. These are just more comfortable to use, better made and just, overall, a more premium tool. Plus, they have a 360-degree rotatable blade, which is a game-changer!

There are a couple of things to note; whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, you can easily use them (some models are only right handed). One of the best features I like is that the cutting blade rotates 360? in 90? increments. This means you can cut the edge of the lawn or the top, allowing you to get a neat close cut on the edge of your lawn.

When it comes to using them and comfort, your hand shouldn’t become cramped or blistered either. The handle has a proprietary ergonomic design that’s comfortable no matter which hand you hold it with. The components of the handle are made from soft plastic, so they are gentle to hold. Basically, there comfortable to use.

The blade is non-stick hardened steel and sharp and gives a very close neat cut. Something else worth mentioning, just like on my favourite shears by Bulldog, the blade actually has a serrated edge that gives a more natural look to the cut grass. The grass blades won’t be all at the same height but still mm similar, so it looks perfectly straight, which it still is. It also traps all the grass blades in the shear’s blades until you cut them.

Skids around the blade ensure that you position it at an even height all along the grass so you won’t have noticeable up and down levels of cut grass. Finally, the blade is also self-sharpening; no more finding out that it’s blunt by tearing the edge of grass instead of cutting it cleanly.

Pros

• One-handed grass shears are perfect for cutting the edge of your lawn to get a perfectly cut and level lawn edge.
• Blades rotate 360? in 90? increments so you can cut horizontally or vertically(top and sides of lawn edges).
• Works with either the right or the left hand.
• Ergonomic handle with a soft grip from a proprietary design means they are very comfortable to use.
• The cutting blade is non-stick and has a serrated edge.
• The blade is self-sharpening.
• Runner skids allow an even cutting height.
• Impressive 25-year warranty for full peace of mind.

My recommendation

These GARDENA Rotatable Comfort Grass Shears have an advantage over my other one-handed shears, the WOLF-Garten RIGC Professional Grass Shears. I really like that the Gardena shears allow you to rotate the blade 360 degrees. This feature, alone makes them a much more versatile pair of lawn edgers. Quality-wise, they’re amazing, but I would expect no less from Gardena; these should last a lifetime if you look after them.

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3. Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears

BEST PROFESSIONAL PICK

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These Carl Kammerling 5051 edging shears are on another level. The build quality is exceptional. If you’re a professional gardener like me, these will pay themselves off again and again. These shears have very sharp blades that are capable of handling heavy-duty work with very little effort. The blades have undergone several treatments to make them stronger and more durable than most other models, which is why they are so expensive.

The steel blades have been hardened, tempered and drop forged to get a premium cutting performance that lasts.

The blades on these CK 5051 shears are also hollow ground, and these types of blades are usually found on very sharp, expensive knives. That is what makes them so expensive to buy, and often why most manufacturers don’t use this type of blade. Hollow blades weigh less, can be easily manoeuvred, and are super sharp. However, these are still fairly heavy compared to most other models, but it’s not really an issue on edging shears like it is on hedging shears you often hold out at arm’s length.

The blades have also been plated with amour chrome coating as a protective feature. The blades will be under constant exposure to different textures and conditions. The rain is an enemy for most gardening tools when left overexposed. When working, sometimes you need different tension to cut through different plant materials, and you will find you enjoy the adjustment settings on these edging shears. You can easily set the amount of tension you need.

The handles are made of hardwood that is durable and can withstand a few bumps and bruises, as well as being very strong, unlike some plastic handles.

As already mentioned, these edging shears weigh a bit more than the rest, but it is worth the trade-off when you take into account the exceptionally high quality and cutting performance. This may be due to the fact that these edging shears are on the heavier side and are more capable of handling tough work, making them ideal for professional gardeners who use their tools a lot and want to invest in the highest quality garden equipment.

Pros

• ‘Drop forged’, tempered and hardened blade.
• Amor coat chrome plating included.
• Self-sharpening.
• Hollow ground blades that are super sharp.
• Blade tension adjuster.
• Hardwood handles.
• Weight: 2.2 kg.
• Total height – 95cm.

My recommendation

The price of the C.K 5051 Edging Shears will make your eyes widen a little bit, but they are worth every penny if they are within your budget.

These edging sheers are far superior to other models I have ever seen. The quality is above and beyond what most people would expect. If you are looking for premium edging shears and have a large budget, these are unbeatable and will probably be your last pair.

Overall, if you’re a professional gardener like me, these are worth the investment. As a casual gardener, you may want to consider the Bulldog shears I reviewed above or Spear & Jackson edging shears I review next unless you have a larger budget to play with and want only the best.

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4. Spear & Jackson 4870RS Razorsharp Edging Shears

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The sharp blades on these edging shears will excite you every time you go out to tend to your garden. As iterated before, sharper blades make for neater and more beautiful lawns. The blades on this product are made from carbon. Carbon is used as it gives off a light feel and will always be supple enough to withstand constant wear and tear. Now you can spend hours grooming your garden/lawn without feeling like you are completely exhausted. Your arms will thank you for this.

Because edging shears are used outdoors, it is crucial that they can survive the weather conditions pertaining to your area of residence. The Spear and Jackson razor-sharp edging shears have weather protection measures. They have been slathered with layers of polish and lacquer. The layers will deflect moisture that usually causes rust and eats away at the sharpness of the metal. You can be sure that your edging shears will last many years.

Whilst working you don’t want to have blisters on your hands. After a long day maintaining and grooming your lawn, you want to be able to use your hands still. These Spear and Jackson edging shears are designed to offer you a soft grip that won’t make your hands rough with blisters. The tubular handles have been created to offer more support whilst working and provide a comfortable fit. It is easy for your hand to go around the handle and move in any required direction.

Pros

• Razor-sharp blades.
• Tube shaped steel handles that are both lightweight and strong.
• Very strong carbon steel blades that are hardened and tempered.
• Lacquered PTFE coated and polished blades for extra protection against the elements and better cutting performance.
• Soft grip handles for extra comfort.
• Lightweight at only 1.4kg.
• An overall length of 915mm (36inch).

Cons

• May be more difficult to use for smaller gardeners.

My recommendation

For such an affordable price, you get yourself a pair of quality edging shears that really are hard to beat.

Overall they are brilliant, which is probably why they are one of the most popular pairs on Amazon. I really like them and have no problem recommending them.

Most gardeners, though, will appreciate them not being too short.

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5. Darlac Telescopic Edging Shear

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In general, I try to avoid most telescopic lawn edging or hedging shears, and thats for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the telescopic handles can be sub-standard and more flexible on many models than I would like. This makes them more awkward to use as the handles flex, mainly when fully extended. The actual part that locks is often flimsy and easily breaks. 

However, these Darlac Telescopic Edging Shears have done a decent job making a pair of edging shears that I would be happy to use and recommend. Firstly the handles are made from aluminium, and even when extended, they are pretty solid with very little give. Secondly, the clips system they use to lock the handles in place is also solid, not cheap clips that can easily break. 

The problem with most edging shears is that smaller people and taller people would probably buy different models. For example, a 6ft+ person would find the Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears maybe a little shorter than they would like, which is why I recommend the Spear & Jackson 4870RS Razorsharp Edging Shears for them. However, smaller people, say under 5ft, would find those same Spear & Jackson 4870RS shears a little too tall. That’s where these Darlac Telescopic Edging Shears are an ideal alturnative. This is great if your other half is much taller or smaller than you, and you both help with lawn maintenance.

Being made of aluminium makes the shears lightweight to carry and use as well. Let’s not forget they’re also easier to store as they take up less space once.

They extend from a usable length of 66cm to a maximum length of 108cm. You can lock them in position at any time as you extend them; the length doesn’t go up in steps. A red button on each handle releases the handle lock, and you pull the upper part of the handle up.

When it comes to the blades, these are made from stainless steel and are 19cm, thats fairly standard.

Pros

• Telescopic handles make them easy to use for smaller and taller gardeners and easy to store
• Lawn edging shears with extendable handles
• Extends from 66cm to 108cm
• Stainless steel super sharp 19cm blades
• Aluminium handles are oval in profile, making for strong handles
• Easy to operate Flip-Lock locking feature
• Lightweight at only 1.2kg

My recommendation

These Darlac Telescopic Edging Shears are perfect for those people who are short or tall or those who can’t seem to find lawn edging shears of the right height. I’ve always avoided telescopic edging shears, but these Darlic shears seem to have pulled it off. Great quality too.

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6. Bahco P75 Edging Shears

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The Bahco P75 Edging Shears can be a great help around the garden, and it’s a good alternative to the Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears. The blades are designed for the harder-to-reach areas. You can trim your edges neatly and stand proudly at the beauty of your lawn. The blades have been treated to withstand the abrasive conditions that the weather presents over time. The steel has been hardened and tempered; this is an assurance that the blades will perform under stress and not break. They are coated with the compound Xylan which acts as weather resistance and a form of lubrication that helps prevent jamming.

In addition to the sharp blades that can cut through things with ease, the Bahco P75 has an amazing locking mechanism. The nut and the buffers have a self-locking mechanism that prevents them from becoming loose, a problem commonly associated with cheaper models.

At 1.6kg, it is not too heavy to cause you physical distress while working, which is a bonus.

Pros

• Can access harder to reach places.
• Hardened and tempered blades.
• Coated to protect from rust and reduce friction.
• Self-locking mechanism to prevent blades becoming loose.
• Comfortable grip handles.
• Handle length of 90cm.
• Slightly longer cutting blade than most other models at 20cm.
• Incrediblyy lightweight at only 1.6kg.

My recommendation

The Bahco P75 Edging Shears are affordable edging shears that will provide you with good service if they are looked after correctly.

They are budget-friendly, but I think the Bulldog shears are a better pick. Overall, I really like this model, so we have included them in my best-edging shears list. 

I like that if the blades become loose, you can tighten them again using the self-locking retaining nut. You cannot do this with many other models, meaning once they are loose, they are loose with no option to tighten them, which seriously impacts their performance. This is why most of my top picks, and the ones I personally use, including both the Bulldog B613W Premier Edging Shears and the Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears, have an adjustable locking system for the blade tension.

Overall, a great pair of edging shears, it’s worth noting that Bahco is also well-known in the trade for their quality.

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7. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Edging Shears

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These are the only lawn edging shears in my review that are designed to cut the top of the lawn rather than the edges. Take note of the blade’s angle; this makes it perfect for cutting around trees and other obstacles. If you have an uneven lawn, maybe a few dips, these are also perfect to cut and trim a little more where the lawn mower may have missed.

Like most of the edging shears in this review, the blades have been made from the best material available on the market currently, which is hardened and tempered C50 carbon-steel and coated with PTFE which helps prevent rust and helps prevent jamming. The blades can also be easily sharpened and cleaned. It also ensures smooth cutting thanks to this coating too.

The Spear & Jackson edging shears have long handles, which is a very encouraging thing for people who are average or taller in height to hear. The handles are made of durable and high-quality material that can withstand consistent daily use. The handles are of tubular design just like most of the shears in this review. Something else worth noting is that the blade is 23cm (9 Inches), longer than most other lawn shears.

Pros

• Hardened and tempered carbon-steel blades.
• Weather resistant (PTFE coating).
• Long comfortable handles.
• Non-slippery grip.
• Weight:1.4kg.
• Overall length of 915 mm (36-inch).

My recommendation

These Spear & Jackson edging shears will suit those who have been looking for edging shears that are going to last longer than most other cheaper alternatives.

Taller people may appreciate the long handles that this model comes with, making use slightly easier and more comfortable to use. Overall another great pair of edging shears.

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8. WOLF-Garten RIGC Professional Single Hand Grass Shears

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The WOLF-Garten gardening shears features razor-sharp blades that can easily cut through lawn edges with ease. The blades are arranged in such a way that will optimise levelled cutting.

While cutting away, the design of the shears deflects the cut clippings away from the shears. This way, you have continuous and fluid motions without stalling or blockages.

These WOLF-Garten shears also have an impressive feature that let you cut grass regardless of the angle. The shears have a head that can rotate 180 degrees with ease just like on the GARDENA Comfort Rotatable Grass Shears. Those hard-to-reach areas don’t have to be a source of contention anymore. The blades are coated with a non-stick PTFE material to aid in smooth cuts allowing the cut grass to not stick to the blades. The non-stick material is very easy to clean and maintain. It gives your shears an extra layer of protection.

Whether for professional or personal uses, you have a 10-year guarantee if you purchase these shears.

Pros

• Sharp blades.
• Non-stick blades for easy cutting and less jamming.
• 180-degree rotating head for working at many angles.
• Has a deflector for flicking grass slipping back onto the lawn.
• Very lightweight at only 440g.
• Amazing 10 year guarantee for full peace of mind.

Our recommendation

They are inexpensive and sharp enough to do basic lawn edge trimming on your hands and knees. Personally, I would spend the extra and go for the Gardena Comfort Rotatable Grass Shears, as they are more premium. I think there worth the extra cost. However, these are perfect for small lawns, affordable and at the end of the day, they include a 10-year guarantee too.

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Edging Shears Buyer’s Guide

Below is a quick guide on what to look for in a good pair of lawn edging shears.

Consider the length of handles, or even telescopic handles

As humans, it is obvious that we vary in shape and size. When selecting your edging shears, consider your height and any health limitations. It is advised that you measure your estimated height and work out the possible length of shears that feels comfortable for you. Taller individuals tend to stoop when they are using garden shears that are too short. This can cause back problems in the long run and can make the job much more uncomfortable. There are brands on the market that offer telescopic shears to their customers. This telescopic feature is there to make sure that the handle is adjustable. An adjustable handle provides convenience when working around your garden. It means that anyone who comes into contact with these telescopic edging shears can use them because they are adjustable. They usually operate within the range of 640mm to 1.71m and are also easier to store.

Blade quality – carbon steel, stainless steel or steel

We all appreciate the look of a crisp cut lawn that sprawls for days. Getting this crisp cut means that the blades on your edging shears must be very sharp. A well-sharpened and maintained pair of edging shears do not need constant adjusting as the blades are made of the highest quality material. This way, the shears and the wear and tear that comes with climatic conditions can withstand constant use. Blades that guarantee to be hardened and tempered in most cases are of very good quality. This hardening and tempering process is meant to harden the metal but still make it malleable and supple enough to survive tension. Some blades being marketed feature the ‘self-sharpening’ mechanism.

The secret to these edging shears is that the blades are designed to be positioned at an angle. Whenever the shears are in use, the blades rub against each other and cast out any imperfections that may cause the blades to become blunt. Look out for the length of the blade because shorter blades are known to weigh less than the longer blades. On the flip side, however, these long, heavier set blades are excellent at handling longer grass. Longer blades have the added advantage of coverage so you get to finish your work sooner.

Weight

The material that fashions the edging shears you are after should be light. Why? Because you do not want to get exhausted before the work is fully completed. Although heavier set edging shears provide support and sturdiness while working, they can damage your back and cause you to stoop. Aluminium edging shears are known to be lighter. Materials such as wood and steel are generally more damage resistant but weigh considerably more.

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Final Conclusion

All of the edging shears in my review have their advantages, which you choose will depend on your needs and budget.

My top pick for most people, and the ones I currently use myself, are the Bulldog Edging Shears which are probably the best choice for most gardeners as it offers both quality and great cutting performance without spending a fortune. I think they offer excellent value for money.

For professional gardeners, I think the Carl Kammerling G5051 Legend Heavy Duty Edging Shears are worth paying extra for. They’re made for daily professional use, and the quality is simply unmatched.

As a professional gardener, you may choose to go with a more robust and heavy-duty pair that will stand the test of time and pay for themselves again and again.

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Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API