Anyone do their own yardwork?

[blackdogdeek]

info:

just moved into new house in november. spring thaw resulted in major growth.

so i finally purchased a mower this past weekend to get the lawn in a more respectable condition. however, due to obstacles(bushes w/ rock border, curb, structure) i wasn't able to get at all the grass.

so i'm thinking i need a trimmer now.

there's also a couple of bushes and a few shrubs that i need to trim since they are starting to look raggedy.

rear lawn: approx. 20'x30', bordered by concrete patio, cobblestone, garage base, neighbors garage, shrubs
front lawn: approx. 10'x20', borderby sidewalk, front walk, cobblestone, rocks, bushes

so there's not a lot of grass to edge/trim since it's a small lawn.

there's probably 7 or 8 bushes or shrubs in total to trim.

does anyone have any advice or recommendations on trimmers or hedgers?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

deja vu

 

[GasX]

gas powered give you a lot of freedom as you aren't constrained by a cord, but they are loud as hell - loud enough that you can't use them without ear protection...

 

[Toasthead]

I have a ryobi cordless trimmer. I love it.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
I have a ryobi cordless trimmer. I love it.

do you happen to know which model and about how much it cost?

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
gas powered give you a lot of freedom as you aren't constrained by a cord, but they are loud as hell - loud enough that you can't use them without ear protection...

i was thinking of going that route but was unsure if that would be overkill for our small lawn.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Originally posted by: Mwilding
gas powered give you a lot of freedom as you aren't constrained by a cord, but they are loud as hell - loud enough that you can't use them without ear protection...

i was thinking of going that route but was unsure if that would be overkill for our small lawn.

they also require more maintenance. However, the edge like a mouthaf**********!

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
I have a ryobi cordless trimmer. I love it.

how long does it last on a charge?

 

[HomerSapien]

Gas powered all the way. Most of them work the same. I have a cheap one from home depot that works fine(sorry cant remember the brand). If i want, i can buy attachments. Get a gas blower too and make sure they use the same oil/gas mix....It will save a lot of time from mixing the stuff.

 

[Shockwave]

Text

I asked this just hours ago....

Just got back from the store, picked up a Stihl string trimmer. Model FS55R
stihl.com

 

[bunker]

My lawn's not much bigger than yours and I got a gas trimmer (Ryobi). I thought about an electric but decided I wanted more power for edging the lawn.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Text

I asked this just hours ago....

Just got back from the store, picked up a Stihl string trimmer. Model FS55R
stihl.com

doh! sorry about that, i guess i could have just bumped your thread with my info, but i kind of thought i had more specific questions(i also need advice on hedgers).

how much was the stihl? if you don't mind my asking.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Text

I asked this just hours ago....

Just got back from the store, picked up a Stihl string trimmer. Model FS55R
stihl.com

doh! sorry about that, i guess i could have just bumped your thread with my info, but i kind of thought i had more specific questions(i also need advice on hedgers).

how much was the stihl? if you don't mind my asking.

It was 199. A bit pricey, but i was told Stihl or Echo is the way to go. It has a good amount of attachments available as well. I think it should be worth it, I've used Stihl chainsaws and like them. Besides, the only thing that pisses me off more then not having the right tool for the job is having the right tool for the job and the tool is too cheap to get it done. Hence, for me, it should be worth it. They did have a lower model number which came in around 140 or so, but the attachment option is very limited on that one so I went with this one.
So, you could get a Stihl for around 130 or 140 if you want.

 

[OffTopic1]

For most house hold electric wacker is sufficient.

 

[dmcowen674]

Congrats on your House.

Lowes Carry's a TroyBilt Trimmer that can be changed out with attachments.

Trimmer (turn it sideways to edge, it comes with a edge unit that I never use)

You can have at least 4 tools all in one and the 3 that you really need.

Attachments:

Hedge Clippers
Blower

Mini-Chain saw (Optional for branches larger than Hedge clippers can handle)


The engine has a great start mechanism.

I've tried all the brands and finally settled on this combo.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a gas trimmer. I've had 3 different electric trimmers but they all broke/fell apart eventually so I decided to go with a gas one. Gas is much more powerful and they are built better plus you aren't constrained by a cord. A decent gas trimmer can be had for around $130 or so. About twice the cost of an electric but it is worth it. I use mine every week during the summer and ever 2 weeks during the winter months.

 

[xXped0thugXx]

I landscape in the summer and use the STIHL FX110 RS, this is a professional use trimmer but STIHL also sells ones that would be perfect for your lawn , slightly smaller models , head over to Text and take a look before you buy. They have somethin for everyone, i wouldnt use anything else.

 

[Bryophyte]

For a small yard, a Black & Decker cordless electric trimmer will work great. It is easy to use, the cord is auto-feed so you don't have to "bump" it, and the head turns sideways to edge your lawn. Home Depot sells them for about a hundred bucks. Well worth the money. They are very quiet to run.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
For a small yard, a Black & Decker cordless electric trimmer will work great. It is easy to use, the cord is auto-feed so you don't have to "bump" it, and the head turns sideways to edge your lawn. Home Depot sells them for about a hundred bucks. Well worth the money. They are very quiet to run.

That's the crap electric trimmer that I broke twice. After the second one broke after a couple weeks of use I returned it and bought the gas one I have now.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
I landscape in the summer and use the STIHL FX110 RS, this is a professional use trimmer but STIHL also sells ones that would be perfect for your lawn , slightly smaller models , head over to Text and take a look before you buy. They have somethin for everyone, i wouldnt use anything else.

See my post a few above yours.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd get a weed eater and a hedge trimmer. Both electric and just get an extensions cord. Your yard isn't very big so shoudln't be a big deal.

We have an electric weed eater that came from sears. It plows through just about everything. Don't whimp out and get some cheapie one because they if you get into thick grass or whatever it will bog down.

Hedge trimmer, just get one that's a decent size.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Text

I asked this just hours ago....

Just got back from the store, picked up a Stihl string trimmer. Model FS55R
stihl.com

I bought one of these couple years ago. It runs like a champ. I also bought a blade for it. This year was the first time that I had any trouble with it, and that was minor. The hose the comes out of the gas tank into the carb had cracked in multiple places. 8 dollars to fix and it's still running strong. With the blade on there, I can wack a 3 inch tree down.

KK

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
gas powered give you a lot of freedom as you aren't constrained by a cord, but they are loud as hell - loud enough that you can't use them without ear protection...

hahahahahaahah

 

[BooGiMaN]

i fidn that the trimmer edger stuff is to much hassle
i got a gas trimmer and a seperate dedicated edger

i live in calif and i mow the lawn every week...i use an edger, a trimmer, mower, and finally an blower to blow the clippings off the sidewalk and back onto the lawn

 

[DrPizza]

uhhh, for 7 or 8 shrubs, how about non-powered hedge clippers? Is that too old-fashioned?
For a lawn as small as you're describing, I also don't see anything wrong with an electric weed-eater. It's not like you're going to have to walk 100 feet from the house...

But, if you're a real man, you'll manage to somehow collect a chainsaw, electric hedgeclippers, gas trimmer, and eventually, a riding lawnmower.