Best Electric Weed Eater

With a 13 inch cutting diameter and a rechargeable battery that provides up to 30 minutes of trimming, this Greenworks trimmer also makes it on our list of top weed trimmers.

This 13-inch Greenworks weed trimmer provides excellent power to clear weeds and grass and give your yard an excellent flawless look. Weighing only 9.3 lbs. this trimmer is lightweight and portable for use around the yard and even trimming hard to reach places. Its major limitation is the 30 minutes battery life which may not serve you well if you have a large yard. Additionally, you this trimmer may not be ideal for cutting brush.

This is also a cordless trimmer that makes part of our top choices. This gas free model is easy to use and requires very little maintenance yet it offers powerful trimming making it an ideal addition for anyone looking to have a clean and neat yard.

The Dewalt DCST920P1 offers a manageable trimming performance with speed control for trimming in a variety of conditions. Unlike most trimmers, the DCST920P1 is extremely durable because it uses a brushless motor which guarantees its performance. Although the battery life can be a limitation with this trimmer, that should not be a problem if your trimming needs are for an average yard.

Another top choice for the best weed trimmers is this Decker LST300 weed trimmer. It is also battery powered and runs on a powerful 20-volt lithium ion battery that provides extended runtime.

If you need to get rid of weeds faster and trim your lawn neatly, then you can trust that this trimmer will get the job done. Although its power can not be sufficient for cutting brush, it does a great job trimming and edging that will impress you.

With a 12-inch cutting diameter and powered by 18V lithium ion batteries, this is one of the most powerful cordless trimmers available. It also features a combination of trimming and edging capabilities making it a top choice for use with most suburban homes.

Its lightweight and portable design makes this trimmer very comfortable to use for day to day trimming and edging around the yard. Nevertheless, this trimmer cant be used for large yards because of the battery life. Its power can also not be sufficient for brush cutting limiting its use.

This Toro trimmer is not only powerful but also durable and comes with some of the highest performing features that make yard cleaning effortless.

Just like many other cordless weed trimmers, this trimmer features a lightweight design powered using lithium batteries to trim through grass and weeds. Although this limits its use to small yards and gardens, it is a powerful tool for cleaning around the yard giving it a neat look. Moreover, it produces very little noise and pollution and is economical to use and an ideal collection for anybody who has a yard.

For many people, the conventional mowing machines aren’t just enough to keep their lawns neat and tidy. This is more especially for lawns that are irregular or rocky.

In combination with conventional lawn mowers, it is important to use string and metal blade trimmers for a perfect looking and neat lawn.

Depending on your landscape, you may need a string trimmer or a metal blade one or even both.It all boils down to what you need to trim and the thickness and texture of your lawn.

Whatever trimming you need to do is therefore limited to what your trimmer can accept. That is why it is important to understand weed trimmer deeply and know where you will need to use if you are making a purchasing decision for the first time.

Weed trimmers come in two basic categories; gas-powered models which are powerful and more costly and the cheaper and economical electric models.Gas Powered

​These are very powerful trimmers that are ideal for use with big yards. They come with a large cutting swath usually 16 – 18 inches long. However, they have the disadvantage of being heavy and causing noise and pollution when compared with other options.

Moreover, you need to keep oil and gas on hand to be able to do your trimming more efficiently.There are basically 3 varieties of gas-powered trimmers; 2-cycle engine trimmers, 4-cycle engine trimmers, and brush cutters.

2-Cycle Engine Trimmers

​These run on a mixture of oil and gas. They are pretty powerful and are ideal for cleaning and trimming large yards. Furthermore, the 2-cycle engine trimmers are affordable averaging below $ 200.

If a gas powered 2-cycle engine trimmer is your top choice then go for a machine with separate choke, primer and throttle controls for easy use.
4-Cycle Engine Trimmers

​If you have a big jungle to clear on the other hand, then you will need a 4-cycle engine trimmer. These are very powerful machines that are easy to start, run smoother, pollute less and are quieter than the 2-cycle engine trimmers.

Moreover, they don’t require a mix of oil and gas to run. They are however a little bit expensive to buy as standard models cost $300 or more a piece.

Brush Cutter

​These are dedicated trimmers with bicycle-like handlebars and a brush cutting blade for flattening saplings and brush.

Although the handlebars can be fitted on almost any gas-powered trimmer, they make maneuvering a little bit harder especially when doing string edging and that’s why these types of trimmers are specifically designed for flattening brush
Electric Trimmers

​These are the most common trimmers that you are likely to find in many households. They have the advantage of being lightweight and easily portable. Furthermore, these trimmers produce very minimal noise and less pollution.

They are also very affordable with most units costing $50 - $150.The major drawbacks with electric trimmers is that they have less power, limited reach for corded models, limited battery life for cordless models and a cutting swatch of 12-15 inches which is smaller than their gas powered counterparts.

 In addition, due to their little power, these trimmers are not ideal for cutting brush.

Corded Electric Trimmers

​These need to be connected to the main source of electricity as you trim around the yard. They are less expensive and yet powerful and can clean most average suburban yards. 
Furthermore, if you have outdoor electrical outlets and an extended power cord, you can be able to trim your entire yard with minimal interruptions.

​These are battery powered trimmers which offer portability and unlimited reach. They are ideal for handling weeds and grass for small yards. Although the battery life usually limits their use, having a spare battery pack can ensure you finish all you weed and grass cutting without having to wait for a recharge if you run out of power.
Trimming Techniques

​Before you start trimming, you need to understand that the motor causes the blade or string to rotate at very high speeds. It is therefore essential that you were protective clothes, gloves, and eye protection before you start using your trimmer.
1.Set the height right

​You will need to keep the string head 2-3 inches above the ground for a perfect cut. If you are not keen enough, you may end up stripping your lawn bald. Trimming should be done by sweeping the machine side to side steadily while ensuring it is parallel to the ground.

You will get a hang of things once you have done this for a couple of times

.2.Cutting weeds and overgrown grass

​If you are trimming weeds and tall grass, it is advisable to trim from top to bottom. This will help avoid the stems tangling around the trimmer head and stalling it.

For a big field, you should consider getting a grass cutting head which features 3 plastic blades that are designed to lay flat the stems without tangling the trimmer.

​After you have established a neat edge along the walkways, flower beds and driveways, you can easily maintain using your trimmer. All you need to do is to shift your grip making the string spin vertically. This will trim any sideway growing grass helping maintain a clean edge.

​Although a string trimmer can trim right up to tree and shrub trunks, you need to be careful and avoid hitting these with the string. It can kill a tree if the bark gets stripped or strip a chunk of debris from wood or debris. The best approach is to create mulch beds around the trees to avoid getting close to them when trimming.

​To cut brush and saplings, you need to switch to the metal plate. Wear protective clothing and a face musk including shoulder straps to prevent your back from aching. Moreover, you should never remove the blade guard when operating the machine.

The blade guard not only prevents the blade wreaking havoc on rocks, trees and posts, it also protects you from flying debris caused by the trimming action.
6.Cleaning your trimmer

​Just like any other machine, your trimmer needs to be cleaned once you are done using it for the day. Wipe off any bits of debris and grass; check the gas level and the string reel. Recharge the batteries or coil the cord for electric trimmers before storing them in an upright position.