Trimming

After you mow your lawn, most people will take their string trimmer and run it along all of the places your mower couldn't get. Examples of these areas include along the edge of the grass line, in tight areas where the mower is too big to reach, and along raised sidewalks and pathways. It is important to cut grass to the same height as the mowed grass, and even more important than that is to stay safe while completing this job. Learn how to do both of those things here.

Cut Grass to the Same Height: There are two different ways you can achieve this. Both of them require a steady hand and a keen eye, however, so it might take a few tries for you to learn how to handle your machine for the ideal cut while not letting your hands shake.

Method 1: Leaving the Trimmer Flat: For this method, you will want to leave the strings on the trimmer flat against the ground, holding the trimmer in the "conventional way". Then run it along the tops of the grass. This is the easiest method to get a clean, even cut at the same height as the mowed grass, however, it makes it harder to get into tight spaces and it puts the strings on your trimmer at risk of hitting something hard and being torn off.

Method 2: Twisting the Trimmer Vertically: For this method, twist the trimmer so that the strings are up and down instead of side to side. This is most effective for getting into areas along raised sidewalks or borders where you risk breaking a string when the trimmer is facing horizontally. When you're doing this, be especially conscious of your safety. Only use this method to get up against raised areas, otherwise, it would be advised to leave the trimmer flat (method 1). 

Staying Safe: Trimmers are one of the most dangerous pieces of yard machinery out there. Because the string (the equivalent of a blade that is almost as sharp as one due to how fast it is turning) is totally out in the open and if you get too close you run the risk of slicing your shin. Additionally, you can very easily throw things up (woodchips, sticks, etc.) even with the tiny guard that comes with the trimmer.

Never put your feet (or any part of your body) close to the trimmer when it is moving. If you need to work on the strings, turn the trimmer off and make sure it is not primed or at risk of starting suddenly--you could chop a limb off if you were too close. This is extremely dangerous. Don't take any risks.

Also remember that you need to wear safety goggles at all times, even more so with a trimmer than with a mower. Protect yourself if necessary by wearing jeans and a sweatshirt if there is a likelihood you'll kick a lot of debris up.

Now you have some tips for good trimming, as well as for how to do it safely. After you've mowed, you know exactly what to do--so go and do it already!

Published August 17th, 2023.

Andrewa. "Brushcutter & Line Trimmer." Wikimedia Commons, 11 May 2016, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brushcutter_and_line_trimmer.jpg. Accessed 17 Aug. 2023.