Let’s dig into a comparison
If you’re planning a construction or landscaping project on your property that involves excavating the soil, you might wonder whether trenching or edging is the right method. Well, it all depends on how deep you need to dig. Trenching creates narrow yet deep channels that can go many feet into the soil, making it the go-to choice for adding pipes or wires to your property. But if you want a more shallow border for your lawn or garden, edging is the way to go.
Let’s see what we can dig up about trenching versus edging.
Both trenching and edging involve cutting or digging into the soil's surface. Choosing one or the other depends on how far down you’re digging and for what purpose. Take a look at some of the key differences between trenching and edging.
| Type of Difference | Trenching | Edging |
|---|---|---|
| Tool used | Trencher | Edger |
| Project | Construction | Landscaping |
| Depth | 1–18 feet | Shallow |
| Impact on landscape | Extensive | Minimal |
| Needs maintenance | Rarely | Regularly |
| DIY vs. hiring a pro | Consider hiring a pro | DIYable, but a pro can offer cleaner results |
Trenching often involves filling said trench with soil after you’ve completed your project. Once the job is complete, you may not even know there’s a trench there (after the grass grows back, that is). With edging, everyone will be able to see your beautifully manicured lawn with its smooth edges, and they can appreciate the time and effort that went into it.
You don’t need to be a professional excavator or even an advanced DIYer to understand the difference between trenching and edging. Trenching goes 1 foot or more into the ground, but edging goes only a couple of inches. Even a shallow trench goes deeper than edging.
Depending on the size and depth of the trench, you might need a manual tool or a heavy machine to do the work. If you want to dig a small hole, use a shovel. To dig a larger or deeper trench, you’ll need a trencher. Trenchers take a lot of skill to operate, so consider hiring an excavation pro near you if you need a large trench for your project.
Edging is too precise for a shovel, but you can get away with using a manual tool for the job. However, if your edging project is large or complex, consider using an electric edger or another type of automatic edger.
Trenching is used for extensive projects, including the installation of utility wires, drainage pipes, and irrigation systems that live several feet deep in the soil. Want to create neat borders for a walkway, lawn, or garden? Look into landscape edging. All types of landscape edging provide attractive, clearly defined perimeters for your yard.
Trenching requires extensive work, but the good news is that it won’t require upkeep. However, if something goes wrong in the future with the buried wires and pipes, you’ll need a pro to come dig them up and assess the issue.
Edging requires regular maintenance to keep everything looking neat and orderly. We recommend that you edge your lawn every two weeks. Since landscape edging requires only shallow digging, this is something a DIYer can easily handle.
Before starting any digging project, you must call 811, the national “call before you dig” hotline. After calling, a representative will come out to your property to mark the places where any utility wires or pipes run below the ground so that you can edge or dig trenches safely. You are liable for any damage to utilities and other systems beneath the ground on your property, and you could be seriously injured if you accidentally run into wires or utility lines.
Landscape edging is more DIYable than trenching. You can DIY your own digging projects, but proceed carefully and only with proper knowledge of the equipment and appropriate safety measures in place. Keep in mind the project's scope and estimate how long it will take you to do it on your own. While you can certainly save money by DIYing home improvement projects, you can’t exactly hide an unfinished—or worse, ruined— landscaping job from the neighbors. It’s always safer to call an excavation pro near you to get an estimate.
Some two-in-one tools and machines do both jobs, and those could be the right solution for smaller residential projects. However, the phrase “use the right tool for the job” definitely applies to digging. For the best results, get two separate tools for your trenching and landscape edging projects or call a pro to take care of everything for you.
