As simple a tool as a string trimmer is, choosing one for your lawn isn’t without its considerations. Weed trimmers possess varying shafts, power sources, and handles, among other specifications. Thus, some should perform better on your turf than others.
Tech and Machine recommends comparing features with one another so that you can pick a model that best suits your needs. Upon visiting the store, make sure to test out their available models. Doing so should give you a good idea of how the machine aligns with your weed-wacking requirements.
That said, what exactly should you look out for? That’s what we’ll go over today.
Considerations for Choosing a Weed Wacker
To know what weed-eating tool can serve you best, first take a look at your lawn and how you plan to go about the task.
Areas You Want To Trim
How much land area are you working with? Are those areas close to electrical outlets? Weed trimmers also have their limits, and small yards with nearby outlets are just about as much as they can handle efficiently. Any larger and you might have a tough time on your hands from being too far from outlets.
Then again, there are gas and rechargeable trimmers. Battery-powered units won’t have nearly as much trimming power or endurance as their electric or gas counterparts. On the other hand, gas trimmers can be difficult to maintain.
Structures
Are there any structures near the areas you’re looking to trim? If there are, you could be better off selecting a straight-shaft weed eater.
These units are ideal for working around fences, vegetation, landscape structures, and other forms you don’t want to damage or interfere with your work. However, if you’re dealing with a flat or mostly flat garden-type plain, a curved shaft would be adequate.
Type of Weeds
Not surprisingly, weeds also have a say in the type of weed trimmer you choose. If the wild, unwanted plants in your backyard are of the thick and resilient kind, a commercial-grade weed trimmer is in order.
This pesky vegetation might be too much for a standard-grade model to handle. They could end up wearing down your regular trimmer before it even makes a dent in the workload.
Weed Trimmer Models
As mentioned, weed trimmers come in different types. There are electric-powered corded trimmers, ones that come with battery packs, cordless wackers, and gas-powered models.
Electric units typically take the top spot for their ease of use, silent operation, and lightweight quality. Then, there are battery-powered options that can run for about 30 minutes before needing a recharge. They should be convenient enough for a small workload, but they’re unreliable for getting you through an all-dayer.
Gas models are tougher and better-rounded than their counterparts in terms of both applications and attachments. However, they will also be heavier and noisier and could take a toll on you physically.
Test Out the Models You’re Considering
Now that you have your shortlist, it’s time to test these models out. Go over the controls and get a feel for the balance and weight of the machine. While in the store, carry it around as you would when using it. For a trimmer to be ergonomic, its weight should either be equally distributed along its length or heavier up top.
Additional Features
Some trimmers have built-in features that others don’t. For instance, some models allow you to do edging, which delivers cleaner and smoother lines along the edges of the areas you’re working on. You should find this feature useful for manicuring driveways and sidewalks, whose edges would look more appealing when shaved uniformly.
You also have the “guard” feature, which can prevent the trimming of garden plants when activated. Trimming can have people so absorbed that they forget to work around their favorite blooms, shredding them as effectively as the parasite vegetation growing around them.
Extra features are a pretty common addition among gas models. Some gas-powered trimmers have see-through fuel tanks, which lets users know if the machine is close to needing a refill. Others have deflectors, which propel the exhaust backward.
Compare Features
Some features seem more enticing than others, but don’t be deceived by this. While it’s vital to know a particular model’s offerings, it’s even more crucial to find out how its features align with your weed-wacking needs.
Compare weed trimmers in terms of shaft and handle type, power source, and workability for a specific area. There’s also a wide range of low-cost trimmer options in case budget is an issue.
The Weed Wacker for Your Turf
Once you make sure your weed trimmers are sourced from a reputable brand, the next decision will mostly come down to the specific characteristics of your turf. String trimmers vary in a number of facets due to the different plains they’re subjected on. With a bit of research and inspection, you should be able to find the model that matches your lot’s needs to a T.