What Model Type String Trimmer Best Fits Your Garden Projects

I have to admit I'm a little afraid of string trimmers. There always seems to be such potential for danger, from rocks flying up in your face to getting the string tangled in a horrible mess with a wad of tall grass wrapped around it.

The truth is, string trimmers are not that difficult to use and they are very handy to have around the yard. String trimmers can be used to trim grass next to trees, walls, fences and other items that you can't get too close to with a conventional lawn mower. They are great for edging along the sidewalk and driveway and can be helpful for cutting very tall [grass] or weeds on a hillside that is too steep to mow.

String trimmers use a plastic string rotated at very high velocity (up to 400 miles an hour) to cut grass. Maybe it's the speed that scares me. String trimmers are very effective at what they do, though the clogging and tangling problem is a real potential with some trimmers. Other models have short strings that can be changed very quickly and easily instead of the traditional big ball of string that causes those problems of my nightmares.

String Trimmer Model Types

String trimmers can run on gas or electricity and there are corded and cordless models. The type of string trimmer you want will depend on your needs and how much you are willing to spend.

Electric string trimmers are the cheapest, especially the corded varieties. They are lighter than gasoline-powered trimmers because you aren't carrying around the gasoline. They also have less power and tend to have a smaller cutting area than the gas-powered string trimmers. Electric trimmers are also less noisy than their gas-powered counterparts, and they cause less pollution.

Gas-powered trimmers are more expensive and heavier, but they are also bigger and more powerful. They come with either two-cycle or four-cycle engines. The two-cycle engines use a gasoline-oil mixture, while the four-cycle engines run on straight gasoline. Gas-powered string trimmers can cut up to 18 inches in a single pass, so they’re great for when you have a lot of trimming in a wide area, such as on a hillside. The two-cycle engine models are cheaper than the four-cycle, but they also have less power and don’t run as smoothly.

No matter what type of string trimmer you choose, they all run pretty much the same way. A loop handle or handlebars are used to hold the trimmer while it is running.Â

Proper Use Of Your String Trimmer

The main problem people have when using string trimmers is that they get the cutting string too close to the ground. Like a lawn mowing blade, the height of trimming should be two to three inches so that the ground doesn't look bald. Try to cut with your string trimmer at the same height that your mower cuts. This takes some practice but it is the key to a good-looking trim job.

Edging is a popular reason for using string trimmers because they can get so close to the sidewalk. All you have to do to turn your string trimmer into an edger is to turn it so that the string is turning vertically instead of horizontally.

Remember when you are trimming close to fences, trees and sidewalks that it is possible to get too close. You can actually kill your trees if you remove too much bark because you hit them with the string trimmer. And of course you can always send a chunk of wood, a piece of concrete or a rock flying at yourself or someone else when you hit an object with your trimmer. That's why it is vital to wear eye protection, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when you are using your string trimmer. Also wear ear protection and keep other people from working or playing in the yard while you are using your string trimmer.

Yes, there are reasons to be intimidated by string trimmers, but as long as you use them wisely they are great tools for your yard and garden.

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