The final touch to your green and grassy masterpiece

Despite an afternoon spent cutting the grass, there can still be blemishes. That’s where a trimmer comes in — and there’s plenty to suit all needs, says Kya de Longchamps

Most of us know them by the Black & Decker branded name of Strimmers — grass trimmers used for precision cutting and equipped with whirling nylon threads rather than a blade. Edges, borders and banks — an electric- or petrol-driven trimmer can handle all those odd spaces and awkward reaches that defy the mower, tickling the base of trees, shrubs and even flowers to take out that spoiling shagginess after you’ve cut the grass.

Larger machines can whip through the toughest weeds on unyielding rough ground where a wheeled machine would falter. The four big names in trimmers are Black & Decker, Husqvarna, Flymo and Bosch, but generic and lesser name brands from suppliers including B&Q and Argos (Challenge) are well priced. Ryobi, a relatively recent arrival on the gardening power scene, also has well regarded trimmers in many DIY outlets.

POWERED UP

There are three styles of power source to consider and your final choice will depend on what you intend to use the machine for how large your garden is and just what you can stand to carry in a lengthy, vibrating machine.

A larger machine will be heavier, and will throw up more debris at higher speeds, so choose the smallest machine you need to get the work done rather than burning up extra fuel or kilowatts grandstanding a roaring beast for the neighbours. As power increases, the cutting path the machine can cover (sometimes termed swathe or head size) will increase, too.

CORDED

Limitless time but tied to a cable of 6-12m and only suited to smaller gardens. If you’re contouring the edges of a modest lawn and chasing out the odd stubborn patch of weeds and briars, they are absolutely ideal.

We love the Flymo Power trim, with its handy flower guard, 600w of wellie and a tilting head. It costs €86.49 (Argos), but you can get a good branded machine in the 300w range for as little as €35. The Black & Decker Reflex Plus comes with a 550w motor and automatic two-line feed. €70. Always use a residual current device (RCD) with a corded trimmer.

BATTERY POWERED

Rechargeable trimmers with a limited use between charges, these machines are highly manoeuvrable. The watts are a measure of their cutting power. Ensure you can live with around 30-40 minutes of usage time (this may be expressed in square metres of cutting), and remember you’ll need around five hours for a recharge. A Black & Decker 18V machine with a decent 25cm head and high torque gearing comes in about €80. Look out for models with interchangeable heads to trim hedges, for example.

PETROL

The choice for medium to large gardens with varied terrain. These machines start small, with grass trimmers of 4-6kgs and 25-30cc, but rise up to the level of loud, 8-10kg heavy duty brush cutters with blades and/or line that need strength to operate.

Larger, more expensive machines offer longevity as you can replace components as they go.

You also have the choice of a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and the inclusion of a clutch for more meticulous control of the engine. Ryobi do a four-stroke, 30cc machine at Woodies DIY for €299.99, which should last a lifetime.

CUTTING EDGE FEATURES

Rotating/tilting head. Jousting with a sweep at the ground with a running machine can be back breaking. By just twisting this head you can move from strimming grass to edging without angling yourself to the work.

Trimmer guard

There are various designs but these guards swing over the line orbit area to protect plants. Check for ease of use.

TELESCOPIC SHAFT

Adjusts to your height. Great if more than one family member is using the machine.

TWO-HANDLE OPERATION

It’s much easier to hang onto two handles rather than one and some machines even offer wrist support. In a larger machine a ‘cow-horn’ style handle will be vital to steady your work.

QUALITY LINE

Cheap line will wear more quickly, so look for square-cut quality varieties. A double cord model of trimmer is more efficient than a single strand type.

ANTI-VIBRATION HANDLE

The scourge of enthusiastic trimmers everywhere, between scorching yourself on the motor and the intense vibration, trimming can be exhausting. Look for low-vibration devices, noise dulling and low emissions where you can.

BUMP FEED/TAP ’N‘ GO

If you don’t want to pull the string out as you work, look for automatic or ‘bump feed’ machines that allow a length of cord out if you simply tap the machine on the ground.

An extra spool on hand and ready to go is handy.

TOUCH START

An electronic ignition system powered by 12V rechargeable battery for easy start.