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Don't use a string trimmer right next to flower beds or shrubs unless you're extremely careful - those things will shred anything in their path! Your safest bet is a sharp spade or edging tool, which lets you make clean cuts along the border and gives you way more control. If you've got delicate plants super close to the edge, hand-trim those spots with pruning shears instead of trying to power through with equipment. Mulch along the border also helps define the line without needing aggressive edging every time.
A sharp spade or dedicated edging tool beats a string trimmer if you want precision near plantings. The main thing people don't realize is that even a "careful" hand with a trimmer tends to drift - vibration pulls the head toward soft plant stems, and by then it's too late. Manual edging takes longer but gives you total control, and you can actually see what you're cutting instead of guessing through a cloud of grass bits. Just keep the blade wet or wipe it between cuts so it glides cleanly instead of crushing the soil, which damages roots near the edge anyway.
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