When it’s time to dig out your grass trimmer from your garden shed you will need to check a few important maintenance issues before you get going.
Sweeping the swathe head through long grass or weeds can inevitably cause problems with lots of debris getting caught round the line spool and putting extra load on the engine or motor. A stiff hand brush will clean this up fine and improve the performance overall.
Generally all garden trimmers have a line of nylon cord which spins and cuts through vegetation make sure you have a sufficient supply of the recommended size trimmer line. Some garden trimmer models are fitted with a double cord for higher performance in more overgrown areas.
The cord can wear out or occasionally break by hitting a tough object so always check the area to be trimmed over before you start and remove any large objects that are likely to cause any damage.
Having the added feature of a extendable shaft allows users to adjust the height which makes them easier to handle and control. These trimmers have two handles that slide away from each other so you can adjust the handles height and distance. This makes them more comfortable to use, especially when trimming large areas or using for a lengthy period.
There are also combination trimmers, which give you a complete toolkit in one package. A tool for all garden tasks. Clip-on tools can change the function of your multi tool in a matter of seconds. One minute it’s a hedge trimmer, the next it’s a leaf blower.
Electric vs petrol vs battery-powered trimmers
Electric trimmers are cleaner, lightweight and easy to handle. They’re ideal for when you’re working in a small area near to a power source but the downside is the cord does make them restrictive and can get in the way. They’re also less powerful than petrol trimmers and should not be used in wet weather.
Petrol trimmers are powerful and run for a long time. They are suited to larger gardens, overgrown and less accessible areas, as they do not need a power source close-by and there is no cord to get in the way. However, petrol trimmers tend to be heavier and bulkier, can be noisy and smoky, and need regularly topping up with petrol.
Like petrol trimmers, rechargeable battery-powered trimmers are more mobile and can also be used anywhere. Furthermore, they are lightweight, cleaner and less noisy than petrol trimmers. A disadvantage of battery-powered trimmers is that they are less powerful, and have a shorter running time of around 30-40 minutes from 5-7 hours of charging, so you might need an additional battery for a big job. Some brands use batteries that are interchangeable with other power tools from the same range.
