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How to choose the right garden strimmer.

Author: Jenifer Martin
by Jenifer Martin
Posted: Jun 08, 2015

Strimmers, also known as grass trimmers, are a very handy, multi-functional power tool that can make garden maintenance significantly easier.

They work by spinning either a plastic blade, or more commonly, plastic cord, at high speeds, allowing the trimmer to cut through weeds and long grass. Strimmers are great for finishing the edges of your lawn once it has been cut with a mower and for cutting grass in awkward places, such as around trees and up against fences and walls.

They're also suited to trimming overgrown lawns down to a level at which a mower can take over.

Strictly, speaking, Strimmer is a brand name, used by Black & Decker, and the units themselves should be referred to as trimmers. However, the word 'strimmer' has entered our common vocabulary in the same way as 'hoover' has come to mean any vacuum cleaner.

Here we take a look at the different strimmers that are available to buy, and the pros and cons of each.

Type of strimmer.

There are three broad categories of trimmer – petrol, cordless (battery) and electric (mains). Heavy duty trimmers which are used for removing brush and undergrowth are known as brush cutters. These 'super strimmers' are petrol-powered, high performance bits of kit which aren't usually necessary for domestic applications. We'll stick to strimmers that are suitable for home use.

Power.

Strimmers vary hugely in their power capacities. The higher the power rating or engine size, the more effective the unit will be in dealing with tough jobs. More powerful strimmers are also more expensive than lower powered ones.

If you only need to trim the edges of a lawn, a lower powered strimmer will so just fine. For more difficult jobs, such as brambles, you'll need something with a bit more 'oomph'.

There are thousands of stockists of garden strimmers uk and, if they're any good at their job, they'll be able to advise you on which strimmer is best for your garden,

Cost.

Believe it or not, there are strimmers on the market for just under £10. These are only going to be suitable for the lightest of jobs and probably won't make it through one summer. They may be okay for a one off job but if you want a strimmer that lasts, you will need to shell out a bit more.

Top-end petrol strimmers are around £200, with electric models priced at anywhere from £10 to £150.

Own brand models from retailers such as Argos, Homebase and B&Q are often more affordable than the big brand names such as Bosch, Flymo and Black & Decker.

The large retailers often give strimmers away for free when you buy a mower from them. However. these 'freebies' may not be of the highest quality.

Strimmers are often discounted after the summer rush, so look for out-of-season bargains.

Corded strimmers..

Mains-powered, electric strimmers are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. They are more suited to smaller gardens because of the limitations of the power cable, although an extension lead will extend their range. The cord can be a bit of a pain and tangles are not uncommon. You also have to be very careful not to strim it!

Cordless strimmers..

Electric cordless strimmers are battery powered and portable, which makes them great for larger gardens or in locations where there is no power supply (you would need to charge the battery elsewhere in this case). Not having to worry about the trailing cable is a real advantage, but once the battery runs down you're forced to take a rest from strimming for a while. The more money you pay, the better battery life you get.

Petrol strimmers..

More heavy duty than electric strimmers and totally portable. They can be pretty heavy due to the small engine and petrol tank, but they are usually supplied with some decent straps to take the strain.

A tank of petrol tends to last a long time so refilling is pretty rare. The only real downsides are that you will need to store some petrol in your shed or garage and they cost more than electric models.

Most strimmers in the UK are at the more affordable end of the spectrum and corded, because they are only used for trimming the front lawn once a week. If you need more range, cordless strimmers are an inexpensive option. If you have more heavy duty jobs to do, or you're just a petrol head, a petrol strimmer is the best option – and also the most fun.

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About the Author

Author is an expert article writer who has written many articles on the topic of coffee machine spares. Currently, he is writing articles on coffee grinder spares

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Author: Jenifer Martin

Jenifer Martin

Member since: Apr 22, 2015
Published articles: 3

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