Of course, you should also make sure that no one will be coming into the area you’re working on – this means keeping an eye on curious pets. The machine coped with its grass duties, and the rougher stuff around the edges, with the auto feed working well when you ease off on the power during cutting. Clear the area – Before you start strimming, check the area for bits of debris, such as pieces of glass and metal or sticks and stones, as these can be picked up and thrown by the trimmer.

strimmer 2023: Cordless, petrol and battery-powered Best strimmer 2023: Cordless, petrol and battery-powered

We didn’t have any problems with the auto feed, and we liked the fact there is an automatic shutdown if the machine is left on but isn’t in operation.A telescopic shaft, foot pedal adjustment for degree of cut and an edging wheel makes that job much smoother, and we found that the machine left a nice tidy line in its wake. This electric model from the British manufacturer comes with a 28cm cutting swathe and 10m of cable, so it’s able to make its way around most small lawns without the addition of an extension lead. For pick-up-and-go strimming, we found the Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 was an excellent all-rounder, with good ergonomics. Within that space, there were dense patches of unruly vegetation, as well as a lawned area that had just been mown.

Spare Parts | Spear and Jackson Spare Parts | Spear and Jackson

We didn’t need to think about the line’s length for the entire time we were strimming, with the machine’s auto-feed mechanism working well every time we stopped and then started strimming again. A quiet, battery-operated model that comes with a variable cutting path of either 28cm or 33cm, and with the line already fitted onto the cassette, so you can hit the ground strimming. Ergonomics can be a problem with petrol machines, but the Hyundai’s trigger, long boom and cow-horn handles made it easy to work with a straight back, while still allowing you to scythe easily through undergrowth.In terms of safety, the electrical components found in battery-powered trimmers are isolated, unlike their corded counterparts, but there isstill a risk of starting a fire or giving yourself a nasty electric shock when working with wet grass. One blade has three teeth for general scrub, while the eight-tooth blade will work well against thicker, harder wooded stems, and the blades are easily changed. However, when it was time to take on the brush, it was able to perform without skipping a beat, so it’s a great tool if you have to contend with lawns and undergrowth in equal measure, as you won’t have to switch to a specialised brush cutter, unless things get really thick and clogged. The fact it cuts at two different widths, after a minimal adjustment, was very handy when moving on from the lawn to the more overgrown areas in a garden, too.

Spear and Jackson Garden Power Tools | Spear and Jackson

Strenuous strimming while hunched over and tense is the fast-track way to back pain, so, if you are prone to such ailments, choose a strimmer with adjustable handles and shafts, to help you get the right balance and feel for your posture. The line fed out well and the cutting head can be turned, so you can switch from trimming to edging without hassle. Protection – It might not be the most comfortable gardening get-up but using powerful tools such as these requires some protective gear, so make sure you’re sporting full-length trousers, gloves, closed-toe shoes and a long-sleeved top.

What’s also essential is that the strimmer has an effortless feed mechanism, as a broken line is inevitable, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping to ensure there is enough cord spinning around for the machine to do its job effectively. There’s a fine (usually nylon) line between a good-looking garden and a great-looking one, and it’s attached to a strimmer or brush cutter.

It’s particularly suited to finding its way into hard-to-reach areas, such as in and around a rockery. The fact that it runs so quietly, even on full power, makes it an attractive option for urban gardeners who don’t want to be branded a noisy neighbour. Don’t attempt to tackle large areas of undergrowth with a compact, lightweight model, and, before getting to work each time, you should check the machine for any damage. Get the right tool for the job – It’s vital that you ensure your trimmer is suitable for the work you plan to do.

A super-light, corded model that is perfectly suited to keep a small front and back garden in check during the summer. Strimmers are usually equipped with a flexible strimmer wire, which becomes taught as the strimmer head rotates, enabling it to slice through vegetation.