Weed Wacker Buying Guide to Help You Prepare for Spring
Winter is almost over, and that means it is time to start preparing for your spring yard care routine. While getting your lawn mower ready is an important step in preparing for spring yard maintenance, having the best weed wacker can be one way to make the work easier.
An electric grass trimmer or battery powered weed eater can obviously work well for taking care of weeds, but it will also make it easier to cut the grass in areas where your mower cannot get. In this post, we have put together a weed wacker buying guide to help you find the best weed wacker/lawn mower. You’ll want to think about the power supply, weight, handling, and extra features you’d like in your corded or battery powered weed eater.
Weed Wacker/Lawn Mower Power Supply
One of the first things to consider is the power supply of the weed wacker. You can choose from gas-powered models, corded electric grass trimmers, and even battery powered cordless weed eaters.
Gas Powered Cordless Weed Eaters
Some people will tell you that gas powered weed wackers are the best option. For the most part, this is because they have the most power. They also don’t need a cord, so you are free to use them wherever you need them.
While gas powered models do have more power, they are also louder and they tend to be heavier. It also takes more work to maintain a gas powered string trimmer. Furthermore, most homeowners do not need the additional power that comes with a gas powered motor.
Corded Electric Grass Trimmer
For the best grass trimmer that is lightweight and easy to handle, most consumers should look for a corded electric model like the WORX 6 Amp 15” Electric String Trimmer & Edger. The modern electric grass trimmer models offer enough power for anything you could need to do around the home, and they tend to be very easy to maintain.
The only downside to the electric grass trimmer is that your range is limited by the cord. As long as you have a place to plug-in, you have no worries about running out of power, but if you have a large yard, cord length might be an issue.
Cordless Battery Powered Weed Eater
If you want something that is low maintenance and free to go where you need it to, the best option is to go with a battery powered weed wacker. With no cord, you can work away from any source of electricity, and these models are generally very easy to use.
The one drawback to a cordless weed eater is that it can only run as long as the battery has a charge. If you have a large area to cover and are worried about running out of power, a model like the 20V PowerShare GT Revolution 12” 4.0 Ah String Trimmer/Edger/Mini-Mower should serve you well. With a 4.0 Ah battery, this tool doubles your run time and charge, making it one of the best weed eaters for covering a lot of ground with a cordless design.
The Best Weed Wackers are Lightweight
After deciding on a power supply, you are going to want to check the weight before buying a new weed wacker. It is true that electric models are usually the lightest overall, but there can be significant differences even within machines that operate off the same type of power supply.
When trying to find the best weed wacker, look to see how much it weighs. Think about how long you are going to need to use it to work on your yard and how far you will need to carry it. You do not want to buy a weed eater only to find that it is far too heavy and too much of a burden to effectively complete the work you need to do.
Handling
Weight is one important factor when it comes to using a weed wacker, but you also need to consider the design of the shaft. In general, models have a straight shaft or a curved shaft.
The curved shaft design is a little easier to handle if you are going to use it like a weed wacker lawn mower, but if you need to get under and around bushes or other objects, the straight shaft design is usually more effective.
In addition to the design of the shaft, you should also check out the handles. Look to see if it is easy to use the controls when you are operating the string trimmer. You should also check the quality of the handle that is part of the way down the shaft.
Extra Features
Many of the best weed eaters come with a range of features that can make them easier to use and more versatile. One good example is models that are designed to convert into edgers. If you plan on using the grass trimmer to edge your lawn, a model like the 20V Power Share GT Revolution 12” String Trimmer/Edger/ Mini Mower can work well. With this design, the head of the weed wacker/lawn mower/trimmer can actually turn to be used as a wheeled edger.
Beyond models that can convert into an edger, you also have handy features like multiple speed settings for cutting under different conditions, telescoping shafts to adjust to the height of the user, and machines that offer an automatic feed that lets out more string trimmer line when you need it.
A weed wacker is a tool that can serve you well, but you need to find the right one. By considering the points in this guide, you should be able to find the best weed wacker that will work well for your spring yard care routine. A well-maintained yard is key to great curb appeal, which is especially important when selling your home. Regardless of your intentions, though, a great yard should be a point of pride for every homeowner.
Find your perfect electric grass trimmer or weed wacker at WORX!
