When it comes to the size and care of your lawn, it is safe to assume that you have been faced with the decision of whether to purchase a lawn mower or a weed whacker. Undoubtedly, everyone needs a lawn mower for lawn care, but not everyone needs a weed whacker. While it is true that these two garden tools perform the same general task of cutting or trimming grass, there are still some major differences in their basic operation that you must keep in mind, especially when faced with the decision of whether to go for a lawn mower or a weed whacker. These tools may have similar functions but they also have different operations and results. This is why you should learn how and when to use each of them in order to get your lawn looking its best. With the right process of lawn maintenance, your lawn can be looking well-manicured with that professional touch in no time.
Lawn mower vs weed whacker, what to use:
A weed whacker, or string trimmer is used to trim grass and remove weeds in areas that are hard to reach. They are only suited for small areas, like the side of the lawn, or close to a tree. A lawn mower on the other hand is meant to cut quickly large areas of grass, but is less suited for the area close to a tree.
Using the right lawn mower and weed whacker can make a huge difference in the amount of effort you apply, as well as in the quality of the finished job. In addition, knowing the basics can help match your needs to the tools that will meet them. Do you want to know the differences and similarities between a lawn mower and a weed whacker? Are you confused as to which of them to use for your job? Don’t worry too much; in this article, we will highlight some of the major differences between the lawn mower and the weed whacker as well as the right one to use.
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Weed whacker or Weed Eater: Are they the Same Thing
The term “weed whacker” and “weed eater” is often used interchangeably by a lot of people, but there is no difference at all in their meaning and function. Typically, both of these terms simply refer to the same piece of equipment: a string trimmer, plain and simple. It is normal for many people to think that a weed whacker refers to one heavy-duty brush cutter that comes with a metal blade, but the truth is, this is usually just another term for a string trimmer used by many. Then why the different names? In the rest of this article, you’ll see reasons why these two terms are often used interchangeably.
When the weed whacker was invented, the term was coined by its manufacturers. However, with time, different manufacturers began making similar products but with different names. You’ll find purists that might argue that the weed whacker is an incorrect term because it isn’t what the manufacturers named it, but this is not entirely true as “Weed Eater,” and “Weed whacker” are both brand names of different manufacturers. This simply means that they are not intended to refer to the general non-branded product.
Additionally, there seems to be a regional or location tag as to which of these names people prefer to use. You’ll find that in the southwest region of the United States, people prefer to use the term “weed eater,” rather than “weed whacker.”
That being said, lawn mowers and weed whackers are excellent helpers in maintaining the appearance and neatness of our lawn. However, there are some people that are still unsure about the proper application of both equipments, which raises the question: what to Use? Before we consider both options, it is crucial that we look at some features of a lawnmower and weed whacker.
Lawn Mowers
Lawn mowers maintain the growth of your lawn at just the right height to keep it neat, thick, and healthy. The two main types of mowers available are the push and riding mowers, and each is available in manual, gas-powered, or electric-powered models. Most people prefer the gasoline-fueled and the electric-powered model. However, if you prefer to push the mower manually, you can consider the “sweat power” option. Lawn mowers come with blades on the underside of the tool, and as you push or drive the mower, the blades rotate at a high speed to cut the grass. If you have a small lawn with little grass, you might want to consider a push mower as it fits your task and saves cost. However, for homeowners with large lawns, riding mowers are the more practical choice. It is not uncommon though, to find people that have small lawns using riding mowers; given the convenience and ability to avoid stress.
Weed whackers/Weed Eaters/String Trimmers
Also known as a string trimmer, a weed whacker is a tool used for trimming grass and removing weeds in areas that are hard to reach. This handy garden equipment is a lightweight, versatile power tool used for ridding your lawn and yard of weeds and grass. Because of their highly mobile nature and versatility, weed whackers are able to reach the grass around trees, fences, buildings, and other areas that a lawnmower cannot reach. A Weed-whacker is made with a flexible monofilament line that allows it to reach and cut grass in difficult places.
These tools are available in a wide variety of models that have either gas powered, electric powered, or battery-operated engines, featuring a spinning head at the bottom of a long shaft. The reason for this is because the head uses a rapidly spinning monofilament string that exerts a centrifugal force on it to cut through weeds and grass efficiently. Their electric models are available in corded types- with electric cords that are attached to a power outlet, cordless, or battery-operated types. If you have a large lawn and you know you’ll be covering a lot of ground, it may be best to invest in a cordless electric trimmer as they tend to be more powerful and easy to move around.
Additionally, there are some other variations in the features of a weed whacker. You may have guards, guiding wheels, or decide to go with an angled or straight rod. There are even more expensive models like the gas-powered ones (2 or 4-cycle engine) and can be rather costly compared to the others, but on the bright side, you’ll get the most of it when you have large areas to clear up or yard to edge. After the gas models, the more economical ones you’ll find include the electric corded and battery-operated models, some going for about $50. Both models are great options for people with smaller yards to cover or areas that do not require a lot of maintenance.
Lawn Mower Vs Weed-whacker: What to Use
For your lawn care and maintenance, it’s somehow difficult to compare the functionality of a weed whacker and a lawnmower as both tools perform their different tasks remarkably well. A lawnmower is that equipment that handles a large part of the cutting while a weed whacker does the finishing job, clearing out places where the lawnmower may have missed. When you combine these two tools for your yard work, you’ll be able to get impressive results quickly and easily.
However, the major differences between the two depend greatly on their capabilities. For one, lawn mowers are more powerful, effective, and efficient and are great in cutting large areas or yards of grass. When using a mower, you’ll be able to move grass faster and at a lower physical cost than a weed whacker. Also, lawn mowers have a height-adjustment feature that allows you to get a perfectly flat lawn, which makes it perfect for you and your lawn. Another great advantage of a lawnmower over a weed whacker is the presence of a container for collecting grass. When you use a mower, you won’t have to manually collect mown grass from the yard with rakes, like when you use a whacker.
A weed whacker, on the other hand, is the perfect finishing tool that will give your yard that professional, manicured look. It features a rotating head that spins a string at a very high velocity, allowing it to slice through grass and patches of weeds. While a weed whacker does not the capacity to tackle large areas, its compact size, and mobile nature makes it perfect for trimming around shrubs, houses, fences, and garden beds while also getting rid of weeds easily. This particular feature makes it the perfect tool for nearly clearing those spots that your mower might have missed.
Final remarks
Weedwhacker and lawnmowers are both great tools that give your lawn a clean and professional look, but it is important to know that each tool is best-suited for their individual tasks. However, when you combine the great power and cutting area of a mower with the maneuverability and edging capacity of a weed whacker, you’ll be able to make your lawn look the best.