Black & Decker 12 Amp 2-in-1 Landscape Edger and Trencher

I set out to tame a season’s worth of shaggy edges and cut a few shallow runs for low‑voltage cable with the LE750, a corded 12‑amp edger/trencher that aims to cover both jobs without fuss. After several weekends on sidewalks, driveway borders, and garden beds, I have a good feel for where it shines—and where it can frustrate.

Setup and first impressions

Assembly is genuinely straightforward. Out of the box, I had the handle attached and the guard in place in a few minutes without reaching for a tool. The chassis feels like a sensible mix of materials: enough metal where it matters (blade, shaft, fasteners) and plastic shrouding that keeps weight in check. At roughly 14 pounds, it’s light enough to maneuver but heavy enough to track a straight line.

The assist handle adjusts for right‑ or left‑hand grip and locks down firmly, which makes a bigger difference than you’d think when you’re guiding along a hard edge for 50–100 feet at a time. The cord retention clip is also worth calling out—simple, but it keeps the extension cord from popping loose when you pivot.

Power and cutting performance

The 12‑amp motor delivers solid torque. In typical suburban turf (mix of cool‑season grasses with the usual thatch), it cut a clean edge at a walking pace. I could feel the motor dig in over compacted patches and around exposed roots, but it didn’t stall. If you routinely deal with thick, woody roots or gravelly soil, expect to slow down and occasionally lift off to let the motor recover.

The 7.5‑inch blade is a good match for edging tasks and shallow trenching. Replacement blades are inexpensive and widely available, and the guard includes a small access door that makes clearing packed mud or swapping blades simple. I like the three‑position depth setting—it’s quick to change, and the range covers everything from a tidy cosmetic edge to a deeper cut for burying thin cable. For most edging, the middle position was my default; I went deeper at garden bed borders to help keep mulch from creeping over.

One quirk of the cutting action: the tool tends to throw debris forward. I got the cleanest results with a slow forward pass followed by a light pull‑back pass to square the edge and lift out loosened material. It adds a minute or two across a typical driveway but leaves a sharper line.

Edging along hard surfaces and beds

The pull‑up edge guide is the unsung hero here. It rides along the concrete and keeps the blade tracking parallel, which saves you from constantly correcting your line. On long, straight sidewalks, the LE750 feels steady and predictable. Around curves or where the turf bulges over the slab, I found it helpful to make a quick scoring pass at shallow depth, then come back deeper. That two‑stage approach reduces wandering and reduces stress on the motor.

In garden beds without a hard edge to follow, the tool is still manageable, but you rely more on your eye and hand. The balance is good enough that minor mid‑cut corrections don’t cause the blade to chatter out of the trench. Expect more cleanup in beds—edgers always kick out more soil when there’s no slab to contain the debris.

Trenching for cable and drip lines

Switching to trenching is quick and tool‑free. I reconfigured the guide and adjusted the depth in under a minute. For burying speaker and landscape lighting wire, the LE750 makes a narrow, consistent channel just wide enough to tuck the cable below the surface. It’s an ideal use case.

For irrigation, it’s best for drip lines and shallow emitters rather than main sprinkler runs. If you need 6–8 inches of depth for pipe, a dedicated trencher or spade still has the edge. I’d also recommend lightly watering very dry soil beforehand; on bone‑dry ground, the blade kicks up a surprising amount of dust and fines. On compacted clay after rain, it cut cleanly but flung heavier clods—wear eye protection in either case.

Handling, ergonomics, and noise

The long, straight handle gives good leverage, and the adjustable auxiliary handle helps you dial in a comfortable grip whether you’re tall or short. Vibration is present but not fatiguing; I could edge my front and side walks in one session without tingling fingers. As with most corded tools, the cord is your biggest handling limitation. Plan your route so the cord trails behind you, and loop it over your shoulder or under the handle’s retention clip to keep it off the blade path.

Noise is much lower than a gas edger, but I still wore hearing protection. The sound is more of a high‑pitched whir plus the rasp of blade on soil and concrete edge.

Controls and adjustments

The depth selector is a simple three‑position mechanism. It’s not the most refined control on the tool—the detent feels a bit stiff, and you need to set it firmly to avoid a partial engagement—but once set, it holds. I only changed depth two or three times per session, so it wasn’t a major annoyance.

The edge guide pulls up and down smoothly and locks positively. The on/off trigger sits comfortably under the index finger, and there’s enough travel to feather it on gently instead of snapping the blade to full speed.

Maintenance and durability

Maintenance has been minimal. I pop open the small guard door to clear caked mud after wet sessions and hose off the chassis. The blade shows normal wear after a few hundred feet of edging and one afternoon of trenching. Pro tip: keep a hex key handy to check blade bolt tightness after the first couple of uses; once it settled in, it stayed put.

Being corded, there’s no battery to nurse or carburetor to curse. Long‑term, fewer consumables means lower operating costs. The listed limited warranty provides some peace of mind, and parts support on this platform has been good historically.

Limitations and trade‑offs

• Cord management is unavoidable. If you have a deep or complex yard, plan your route or you’ll get tangled and frustrated.
• The tool prefers steady, moderate feed rates. If you try to force it quickly through roots or compacted soil, you’ll bog it down.
• In very dry conditions, trenching kicks up a lot of dust. A quick pre‑soak of the line makes a world of difference.
• The depth selector works, but it’s not particularly slick. Set it once and leave it if you can.
• For very long property frontages or commercial work, a gas wheeled edger or a higher‑end battery unit will finish faster.

Safety and power tips

Use a 12‑ or 14‑gauge outdoor‑rated extension cord on a GFCI outlet to avoid voltage drop. Wear eye protection—grit and small stones fly more than you expect. If you’re trenching, call to mark utilities first; the LE750 isn’t a deep trencher, but it’s still capable of cutting shallow lines you absolutely do not want to hit.

Value

This is an honest, budget‑friendly way to get crisp edges and handle occasional trenching without the maintenance overhead of gas. Unlimited runtime is a real advantage over battery models at this price point. If you only edge a few times a season and want a dependable line without a big learning curve, it’s a compelling package.

Recommendation

I recommend the LE750 for homeowners with small to midsize lots who want clean sidewalk and driveway edges and need to trench occasionally for low‑voltage cable or drip tubing. It’s powerful enough, easy to set up, and simple to maintain. You’ll trade a bit of speed and the convenience of cordless for the consistency of a corded 12‑amp motor, but the results are reliably tidy. If you’re managing long stretches of edging every week or cutting through heavy roots and rocky soil, consider a more robust wheeled edger or a pro‑grade trencher. For typical residential use, this tool hits the mark.