Lawnmowers don’t reach every part of the lawn. There’s always some grass along the edge of a walkway, or near a flower bed, or in some other hard-to-reach place that the mower can’t quite get to. That’s where trimmers come in.
But which trimmer is right for you? There are so many different brands and models to choose from, and they have so many different features, that picking which one to buy is not an easy decision.
That’s why we wrote this buying guide – to give you a way to narrow down your options and find the best trimmer for your lawn. With so many different options to choose from, we hope this will help make the decision easier.
Gas or Electric?
The first big question to answer is whether you want a gasoline-powered or an electric-powered trimmer. For electric models, you can get trimmers that are powered by an extension cord. These are usually the least expensive option, but the cord means they have a limited range. If you need to trim more than 100 feet away from a power outlet, then this isn’t going to work for you.
Next, we have battery-powered options. Battery equipment has come a long way in recent years, and you can now find battery-powered equipment just as powerful as comparable gasoline-powered models. They’re ideal for if you want a quiet tool that starts quickly, is easy to transport, and requires very little maintenance. If you have a lot of cutting work to do, though, keep in mind that most will only cut for about 30 minutes on a single charge. You’ll either need to recharge the battery or keep extra batteries on-hand if you want to cut longer than that in a single setting.
Finally, there are gasoline-powered trimmers. These are the most readily available option and you can find them in a wide range of price brackets. They are loud, so you should use hearing protection when you’re trimming even though newer models tend to be less noisy than old trimmers. You can find them with 4-cycle engines or 2-cycle engines. People choose gasoline-powered trimmers because they can go anywhere and you can keep using them pretty much indefinitely as long as you have fuel to refill the tank.
Multi-Tool or Just the Trimmer?
Whether you choose gasoline-powered or electric-powered trimmers, you have the option to either get a stand-alone tool or have the trimmer as part of a multi-tool set.
Multi-tools consist of either a gas-powered engine or a battery-powered motor that can accept different attachments. Get the one power head and you can use it with a variety of different attachments. These can include a string-line trimmer, edger, hedge trimmer, pole saw, brush cutter, and in some cases even a cultivator. It’s a very versatile tool that can save on storage space and money over buying each separately.
The stand-alone tool is just used for one thing – trimming. You might have the option to switch between a string-line head or a metal cutting blade, but that’s about it. If you just want the trimmer without any of the other options that come with a multi-tool, or if you want a more powerful trimmer, this is the option for you.
Straight or Curved Shaft?
All trimmers either come with a straight or a curved shaft. Some also come with an adjustable shaft, which lets you change the height of the trimmer. You can also get walk-behind trimmers that don’t have a shaft at all.
In general, curved shaft trimmers are best for shorter users. They’re also easier to maneuver and control, which makes them good for trimming in tight areas. Straight shaft trimmers are better for taller users. They’re also good for reaching under obstacles like the edge of a deck, shrubs, and benches.
If you don’t know which shaft you might like better, you can try them out in the store. Holding the different options should give you a good idea of which would be more comfortable for you to work with.
The walk-behind trimmer models work very similarly to a small lawn mower. They’re much more narrow in front, though, so they can get into the same hard-to-reach places that regular trimmers can. They have larger cutting heads and are good for when you need to maintain large properties. This is also a good option for people who have trouble using tools you need to carry.
Cutting Head Options
Different string-line trimmer models offer different options for how the trimmer uses cutting line. The heads fall into two basic categories:
- Single-line heads – these use only a single cutting line, which makes winding new trimming line easy.
- Dual-line heads – these use two trimming lines, which makes your jobs go faster because the trim head cuts twice with each revolution.
In addition to whether the cutting head uses single- or double-line, you also get options about how you load-in new line and how that line feeds-out while you’re cutting.
- Bump heads – these trimmers feed new trimming line from the spool when you tap the cutting head against the ground. When they run out, you reload the spool with new line.
- Automatic-feed heads – these trimmers use centrifugal force to release new line as needed while you’re cutting. When they run out, you reload the spool with new line.
- Fixed-line heads – instead of loading line into the head that feeds out, these cutting heads let you quickly load precut pieces of line. You’ll have to do that fairly frequently, but it eliminates tangles in the cutting line.
All of these cutting heads can be good options. Which you buy all depends on your personal preferences. You can also find models that let you switch-out the string-line cutting head for a metal cutting blade to deal with tough weeds.
Types of Handles
Trimmers offer an option between loop handles or bike handles. Loop handle trimmers are designed so when you use the trimmer, you place one hand on a handle near the engine or motor and the other on a loop-shaped handle part way down the shaft. This design is pretty standard, especially on homeowner trimmers.
Bike handles have two handles that look very much like the handles of a bicycle. They’re designed so that when you use the trimmer, you place one hand on each of these handles. You’ll see this option more on commercial models.
Loop handles are considered more versatile and easier to maneuver. They’re great for general trimming tasks and for places where you need more control (such as around a flower garden or on uneven terrain). Bike handles are easier to use for long periods of time (especially if you add a back harness) and they’re great for clearing large areas and for working with a metal cutting blade.
Features To Look For
When you’re shopping for a trimmer, take a look at the cutting head. If there’s a large gap where the cutting head meets the shaft of the trimmer then there’s a good chance long grass and weeds will get wrapped around the shaft. You’ll either want a trimmer with a small gap to minimize this problem or one with a cutting head that’s easy to pop on and off so you can quickly clean it.
If you’re getting a gasoline-powered trimmer, then look for spring-assisted starting. This makes pulling the starter cord much easier.
Trimmers with variable speed controls let you choose different power levels for different cutting conditions. With battery-powered models, this feature also lets you decide whether you’re using more power to cut thicker weeds or conserving power to extend battery life.
If you also want to use the trimmer as an edger, look for a model with a rotating head. These edger-capable trimmers are designed to convert quickly for cutting neat edges. Some even have guides or wheels built in to make edging easier.
Our Recommendations
For overall cutting performance and reliability, we recommend Stihl, Echo, Honda, RedMax, and Shindaiwa. These are the trimmer brands we carry here are Richardson Saw & Lawnmower and we stand behind the quality of these trimmers.
As for which particular model you should get, that’s entirely up to your personal preferences and what you need to maintain your lawn. We hope this article has helped you figure out what type of trimmer you’re looking for. But if you still have questions, just come visit us. We’d be happy to talk with you about your lawn care needs and help you figure out which trimmer is the best fit for you.
