For lawn care professionals and homeowners who care about how their yard looks, lawn trimmers and edgers are important pieces of equipment. A lawn mower can only reach so many places, and that is where lawn trimmers come in handy. String line trimmers can clean up slopes, rocky and weedy areas, and around flowerbeds. Some can be used to edge concrete areas as well, but to get a clean edge along patios, walkways, and driveways, edgers are the best tool.
Trimmers
Lawn trimmers, sometimes called weed eaters or weed wackers, are best suited for cleaning up areas that can't be cut with a lawn mower. There are three main types of string trimmers: gas, battery, and electric powered. Gas powered trimmers are the most powerful and can be used to cut tall grass and weeds with thicker stalks. Battery powered trimmers are great for small yards, but they are not up to heavy-duty cutting. Electric trimmers are lightweight, but you are limited by the length of the cord.
String trimmers use a flexible line to cut grass and weeds, and can be used to trim around trees, rocks, and sidewalks in your yard. They are also useful for maintaining a hillside too steep or rocky to mow. Some models can be converted to use a blade if you have really tough weeds and brush that you want to use the trimmer on. You can also get string trimmer models with two lines instead of one and/or heavier lines that can handle tougher vegetation.
You can buy trimmers with a straight or curved shaft. Curved shafts are lighter weight and usually less expensive. Trimmers with straight shafts can reach farther, but the greater weight can make them harder to use.
Edgers
For maintaining a neat edge along flower beds and paved areas, an
edger is the tool best suited to the job. Some string trimmers have an adjustable head so they can be used as an edger, but the edges cut by these are not usually as neat. A better option for a clean, vertical edge is a dedicated edger or a trimmer that can be converted to an edger using an attachment.
Like trimmers, you can get edgers that are powered by
gas, an electric cord, or battery. Gas models will probably require more maintenance, but they can complete the work faster. Electric and battery models are less expensive, and an especially good choice for homeowners with smaller yards.
Aside from how it is powered, the most important features to look for on an edger involve the cutting blade. Blades should be easy to replace, and should be adjustable so you can vary the cutting depth. Safety features, such as a blade guard to prevent flying debris and blade disengagement so you can stop the blade from turning are also desirable.
For cleaning up areas of your lawn that you can't mow and trimming around paved areas, trimmers and edgers are the right equipment for the job. Quality brands like Echo, Honda, Redmax, Shindaiwa, Stihl, and Toro offer a variety of models to fit your trimming and edging needs, including some with the capability of changing cutting heads so they can be used for both trimming and edging.
