Most people don’t particularly enjoy weed-eating. It is hard (hot) work, even when you have the best equipment.
Maybe you’re a suburban homeowner trimming the edges of your flowerbeds. Or maybe you’re a farmer planning to reclaim a half mile of grown up fence on the back 40. Maybe you’re a pro that already knows everything you’re about to read. (Please let us know if we missed anything.)
Whatever brought you to this blog, we’re here to help you make the most of your next trimming project so you can get out of the sun and give your back a break.
We’re offering great deals on power tools during the month of October!
String Trimmer vs. WeedEater vs. Weed Whacker vs Brush Cutter
“String Trimmer” is thegeneric term for this type of tool. “Weed Whacker” is another name for the same thing. They use plastic strings and other heads to cut tall grasses and weeds.
“Weed Eater®” is a trademarked term owned by Husqvarna AB, and is often used interchangeably when referring to string trimmers of other brands like STIHL, ECHO or EGO.
“Brushcutter” typically refers to larger, more powerful versions of this type of tool that have saw blades instead of string heads. They are used for thicker, tougher plants like trees, shrubs and woody weeds. See the “types of weeds” section of this guide.
Brushcutters often have more advanced vibration reduction technology and are carried with a harness to help balance their weight across the user’s shoulders and waist, instead of one side.
Attachments, Accessories, and Applications
There is a surprising variety of attachments and accessories for string trimmers and brushcutters. Having the right string, blade or accessories at your disposal can drastically cut your trimming time, and reduce the wear and tear on both your trimmer, and your body. We’ll start with string.
String (Or “Line”)
This seems like something that might not matter too much for the average person. And the truth is, if you’re just trimming the grass around the edge of your house, driveway, or flowerbed after you mow, it doesn’t.
If it only takes you 15 minutes to do all your weed whacking, you can get away with just about any trimmer line.
Just be sure that you are using the recommended gauge of line, and not putting too much on the head at once. Be sure to check the owners manual that came with your trimmer or the manufacturer’s website for these details.
However…
If you are planning on spending several hours cutting thicker, tougher weeds like mature pasture grasses or rushes, you may want to consider a higher quality line like STIHL CF3 Pro or ECHO Cross-Fire line. Tougher line is more expensive by the foot, but lasts longer and often provides more value over time. Especially if you buy in bulk.
Brush and Grass Blades
Sometimes, string just won’t do it. Even though rushes and pasture grasses can be cut with string, this isn’t always the most efficient way.
Enter: grass blades and brush knives.
They come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Always be sure to check your trimmer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for safety and compatibility information.
- The STIHL Brush Knife and comparable blades from other brand are great for those thick grasses and rushes, as well as woody weeds an inch or less in diameter. Think blackberries, mature dogfennel (summer cedar), young Chinese Privet, poke sallet and the like.
- Multi-tooth grass blades are designed to handle grasses and tougher grasslike plants, but aren’t always the best for suckers, saplings and shrubs.
- Poly-Cut/Maxi-Cut and other comparable heads are a great option for people who don’t want a metal blade, but want something a bit tougher for those denser weeds. They also may be compatible with lower-powered trimmers that metal blades are not.
Pro Tip: Don’t tell anybody, but the brush knife is our favorite attachment.
Scratcher & Saw Blades
Two things will chew up your line and dull your brush knife in no time.
- Structures – Avoid hitting these altogether.
- Trees and Woody Weeds – You can take these down with a brushcutter or weed saw.
You can make short work of saplings, small trees and gnarled shrubs with a saw blade on your trimmer. They also work great for weeds that become woody as they. Think poke sallet, horseweed, and some thicker vines – although you should be extra cautious when cutting poison ivy. And, be sure to have a proper limit stop on your trimmer or cutter when you use these blades.
Scratcher Blades shine when clearing twisted, gnarly shrubs and vines, but aren’t made to cut thick stumps or small trees. These typically need to be sharpened by a professional or replaced when dull.
Chisel-Tooth Saw Blades are a happy medium for cutting small trees and those woody weeds, and they often have a distinctive ping sound when tapping a piece of brush. By “tap” we literally meant tap, because that’s all it takes to cut most weeds an inch or less in diameter. These can be field sharpened with a round saw file, but do not have depth stops like a chainsaw tooth.
Chainsaw-Tooth Blades are great for cutting down small trees, and can be maintained with all the tools of a regular chainsaw maintenance kit. They have depth stops (also known as ‘drags’) to keep the blade from getting bogged down. Be sure you have a properly sized limit stop for the blade you are using. Most of these are not made by brushcutter manufacturers.
Pro Tip: Not all trimmers and blades have arbors that are the same size. The arbor is the hole in the blade that seats around the driveshaft of the cutter. It is best to get a blade with the proper arbor size, but they often come with adaptor rings. For instance, a saw blade might have a 1-inch (25.4mm) arbor, and your trimmer might have a 20mm driveshaft. You would need a 20-to-25.4MM adaptor ring.
Other Accessories and Tips You Didn’t Know You Needed
- Harnesses and straps are a great way to take some of the stress off your lower back. They come in a few different configurations, from a simple shoulder strap to a full, backpack-style harness.
These distribute the weight of the tool more evenly across your body, and allow you to stand up straight, taking the load on your shoulders and waist, instead of forcing most of the stress onto your lower back from bending down. - Some trimmers come with bicycle-style handles, giving you greater control and allowing for better posture than your standard straight-bar and loop handle.
- Most brushcutters, and more powerful trimmers, come with advanced vibration-reduction technology. We’ve found this to be a big benefit when running a trimmer or cutter for long hours, multiple days in a row.
Pro Tip: We love the backpack-style harness.
Brands We Sell
Power, Weight & Convenience
Finding the right string trimmer for you depends on a variety of factors. Your height, strength, the types of weeds, attachments and accessories, how often you’re going to be using your trimmer, and your preference of gas or electric power will all impact your decision.
Some of these things can be found based on the manufacturer’s recommendations, but it’s always best to get a feel for a trimmer in-store before buying. This will give you the best idea of what size and power level of trimmer is comfortable for you to use.
It’s important to research compatibility for your trimmers and accessories on the manufacturer’s website.
Caring For Your Trimmer Or Brushcutter
First things first: check your manual for proper maintenance intervals. Some trimmers come with a grease point on the gearhead, while others do not.
You should expect to change air filters, spark plugs, and other small wear points throughout the ownership of gas-powered cutters and trimmers, but maintenance looks different for every model. And it looks different for electric models, too.
If you have questions or are not confident in maintaining your tool, be sure to call your local TriGreen Equipment dealership for help finding the information you need.
Pro tip: Be sure to clean out the string knife on the guard of your string trimmer periodically so you get a clean, less jagged string end.
Types of Weeds: A Non-Exhaustive List
Grassy and soft, shrub-like weeds can usually be taken down with a normal string head. These include things like nut grass, all the way up to young poke sallet (or pokeweed), pigweed and Virginia Creeper. Rushes are grasslike, and can be challenging to cut with string. The STIHL brush knife is an excellent tool to use for thick, mature grasses and rushes.
Woody weeds are similar in texture and density to, well, wood. They are typically mature versions of weeds that can be cut by string trimmers when they are young. Dogfennel (summer cedar), mature pokeweed, horseweed and blackberries are all woody weeds. At least blackberries are edible.
Suckers are the new growth that often occurs toward the bottom of plants like crepe myrtles, Chinese privet, and many other types of trees. They also often come up from the stumps of trees like Calgary pears (also known as Bradford pears), which are invasive.
Saplings are young trees that can can often easily be cut by brushcutter saw blades. You typically don’t want to cut anything much bigger than a sapling with a trimmer or brushcutter (say, four to six inches in diameter) for safety reasons. These tools are specialized for clearing just that – brush. They are not specialized for cutting down large, mature trees and can get pinched, dulled, or kicked by improper usage in this way.
Pro tip: Cutting weeds is a great way to give your property a manicured look. If you decide to spray after trimming, wait a week or so and then spray.
Choose TriGreen For Your Landscaping & Brush Clearing Needs
You need equipment and tools that can lift your workload – especially in the heat and unpredictable weather in the South. TriGreen is proud to provide handheld outdoor power equipment from brands you trust like STIHL, ECHO, and EGO. Visit your local TriGreen parts counter for your landscape tool needs, or browse brands here.
