Quick verdict
A 38 inch step edger with a powder-coated steel half-moon blade, saw teeth along the arc and a wide foot platform on a long shaft with a cushioned T-grip, for cutting a clean vertical edge along beds, paths and drives by standing on it rather than kneeling with shears. The saw teeth bite through turf and matted roots where a plain blade bounces, and the platform takes the whole boot so body weight does the work. It is quiet, needs no fuel or battery and makes the edge that a string trimmer never quite does.
Strengths
- Saw-tooth arc slices dense turf and roots cleanly
- Wide platform takes the boot; body weight does the cutting
- Thirty-eight inch shaft and T-grip; no bending or kneeling
- Powder-coated steel for years of edging
- Also cuts a trench for plastic edging
Weaknesses
- Manual; a long drive edge is a workout
- Teeth collect soil; scrape the blade
- Not for cutting through tree roots or stones
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Edge Is What Makes the Lawn
A lawn with a crisp vertical edge against the bed looks tended even when the grass is long, and a string trimmer leaves a ragged slope that creeps into the bed every week. A half moon edger cuts the vertical. Colwelt’s is a 38 inch step edger with a saw-tooth steel blade, a wide foot platform and a cushioned T-grip, used standing up at a walking pace.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how step edgers perform on turf generally. We have not used this edger ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Using It
Set the blade on the line, with a string line or a hose laid as a guide for a curve. Step on the platform to drive the arc into the turf, rock the handle back a touch to lift the sliver, pull it clear and move along a blade width. The rhythm is step, rock, lift, step. A bed edge is done in minutes and the slivers go on the compost.
Saw Teeth
Dry turf and a mat of couch grass roots stop a plain blade and bend the shaft. Teeth along the arc saw through on the rocking motion, so the cut goes to full depth every step and the line stays straight.
Ergonomics
Thirty-eight inches puts the T-grip at hip height for most people, so the work is a step down with the leg and a lean on the handle, not a bend. The wide platform takes a boot sole rather than the ball of the foot and the cushioned grip is kind on a long drive edge.
Beyond Edging
The same cut makes the slot for plastic or steel landscape edging, trims turf back from a path that the grass has crept over, and lifts a strip of sod for a new bed.
Build and Care
Powder-coated steel blade on a steel shaft that does not flex. Scrape the soil off the teeth after use and a wipe of oil keeps the edge. A file along the arc each spring restores the bite.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone who wants a proper edge rather than a trimmer slope.
- Gardeners installing landscape edging.
- People who prefer quiet tools with no battery.
Common Owner Complaints
Hard work on long edges and soil on the teeth. Do it in sections; scrape the blade.
Alternatives to Consider
A plain half moon for soft turf. A rotary wheel edger for long straight drives. A powered edger for a large property.
Verdict
For a clean vertical edge without kneeling, a saw-tooth step edger with a wide platform does it in a walking rhythm, and this one has the length and the grip to do it comfortably. Lay a guide, step and rock, and scrape the teeth when done.
Full specifications
Colwelt Saw-Tooth Half Moon Lawn Edger with T-Grip and Wide Foot Platform, 38 Inch FAQs
Stand the blade on the line of the edge, step on the platform to drive it in, rock it back slightly to lift the sod sliver, pull it out and move along a blade width. Walk the edge in a steady rhythm.
A plain half moon stops on a mat of roots or dry turf. Teeth saw through with the rocking motion and the cut stays straight.
A proper cut once or twice a season, then a string trimmer held vertical keeps it between cuts.
Yes. The same cut makes the slot for plastic or steel landscape edging, which drops in behind the blade.
