Mowing and edging are lawn care practices that, while often done together, have distinct purposes: mowing cuts the grass horizontally, while edging creates a vertical, clean line along borders and walkways. 

Here's a breakdown of each:

Mowing:

Purpose:
To cut the grass to a desired height, promoting healthy growth and a uniform appearance. 

Benefits:

• Reduces the amount of thatch (dead grass). 

• Makes it harder for weeds to establish themselves. 

• Improves air circulation to the grass roots. 

• Creates a more uniform and even appearance. 

Technique:
Use a lawn mower to cut the grass at a consistent height, ensuring not to remove more than the top third of the grass blade at a time. 

Edging:

Purpose:
To create a clean, defined edge along borders, walkways, and driveways, preventing grass from encroaching into other areas. 

Benefits:

• Enhances the overall appearance of the lawn. 

• Creates a neat and tidy look. 

• Prevents grass from growing into landscape beds and over pavement. 

Technique:
Use a string trimmer (flipped vertically) or a dedicated edger to cut a vertical line along the desired edge. 

Order of Operations:

• No definitive "right" way: Some people prefer to edge first, while others prefer to mow first. 

• Edging first: Can make mowing easier by providing a defined boundary for the mower to follow. 

• Mowing first: Can give you a better view of the yard's layout before edging. 

Tips for Edging:

Flip the trimmer:
When using a string trimmer for edging, flip the trimmer head 180 degrees so it's vertical.

Keep it level:
Maintain a level and consistent position as you trim to achieve a straight edge.

Move in the right direction:
Most trimmers spin string clockwise, so move left to right as you trim to eject trimmings away from walkways and beds.

Clean your trimmer:
Thoroughly clean the trimmer after use to prevent grass bits from drying and hardening.