So, your new weed eater is fresh out of the box, and you’ve headed out to the lawn to try out your new tool. But work seems a bit harder than you expected. Well, this is pretty normal. Weed eaters take a bit of time to get used to.
So, if you want to master the skills of weed eating, you’ll want to make sure you have all the basics covered. Here are some tips and tricks on how to use a weed trimmer more efficiently to improve your quality of work and get you moving quicker.
How to Use a String Trimmer Like a Pro (6 Tips for More Efficient Work)
There are a bunch of things you’ll want to look at that you probably won’t find in the manual of your new weed whacker. So, let’s take a look at the basics to make sure you’re starting off on the right foot.
Hold the Weed Eater In the Correct Hand Orientation
Weed eaters can be used in either the left-handed or right-handed orientation. Usually, right-handed people will hold the trigger in their right hand and the handle in their left hand. If you’re a lefty, then you’ll probably feel better holding your weedeater the opposite way around.
But there isn’t one set rule. So, just hold the weed eater in whichever position you feel you have the most control.
Set Up the Weed Eater’s Balance
To get an even trim, the weed eater’s head needs to be positioned 90 degrees to the ground. This means you need to set up your weed whacker to match this angle. Again, there isn’t any particular setting for this. You just need to be comfortable and at the right angle.
So, adjust the handle up and down the weed eater’s shaft, then turn the handle either toward or away from you, so you have a comfortable grip. It’s best to try to even out the weight so that each hand carries half the weight of the weed eater. This means that one arm doesn’t get tired before the other, making work uncomfortable.
If you are right-handed and you pick up a weed eater set up for a left-handed person, then you’ll definitely think it’s set up wrong.
Understanding How to Move Around With Your Weed Eater
The easiest way to use a weed eater, say along the edge of the lawn, is to walk in a forward direction. So, if you walk up to the edge of your lawn, you are then going to have to choose to either head left, and weed eat or right, and weed eat. Now, this depends on which hand you have the trigger held in.
So, if the weed eater’s trigger is in your left hand, then the head will hang to the right. This means you want to turn left and vice versa if it is in the opposite hand. Another example is if you were going around your house, then left-handed folks would head clockwise, and right-handed would head counter-clockwise.
Knowing the direction you are heading in will save you from confusion and keep the weed eater head working in the correct direction. Now, when you get better with a weed eater, you’ll find that to improve efficiency, you’ll do certain sections walking backward.
Make a Plan to Tackle Your Yard
If I stand at the end of my drive and watch my neighbors weed whacking their yards, I can really tell those who have a plan and those who don’t.
The guy that is darting from one part of his yard to the other and then back again, wiping his forehead in between, doesn’t seem to know where he’s heading next.
Whereas my neighbor who starts at the front corner by the road, works around his property, then finishes off with the island flower bed, seems to have his plan totally worked out.
So, take a walk around your yard and figure out how you can most efficiently do the work without walking over the same areas twice unnecessarily. This is where knowing how to move with your weed eater really comes into play.
Know What Your Weed Eater Can Achieve
Weed eaters can only tackle so much grass at one time. So, in areas like the lawn edge, you can move pretty quickly. But if you have long, thick grass, you’ll need to slow down.
Taking a slower approach in those thicker areas will actually speed you up. You won’t have to struggle with the weed eater getting bogged down and the line wrapping around the head.
Know What You Want to Weed Eat
So you have a weed eater to tackle the areas that your lawn mower can’t get to either because your mower is too big or maybe because it’s not safe. These are the areas you want to weed eat. If you want to be efficient, then just try to stick to the areas you need and don’t get carried away whacking areas where you could simply use your lawn mower.
When you’re starting out, you might want to mow first, then you’ll know exactly what needs to be weed whacked. Then, once you learn what needs whacking, you can swap it around. This is so that the lawn mower can then mulch the grass you trim.
Mistakes You’ll Want to Avoid When Using Your String Trimmer
If you take your time mastering my six tips on how to use a string trimmer like a pro, you’ll find that you have improved results even on your next session in the yard. Most of what makes you efficient with a weed eater is knowing how to hold the weed eater, setting it up, where you’re going, and what you can achieve.
If you watch a professional with a string trimmer, you’ll notice they know exactly where they’re going and exactly how much they need to do. No darting about the yard with these guys. So here are a couple of tips to help you avoid some mistakes while using your weed eater.
Use All the Power of Your Weed Eater
There are a few instances where you’ll need to go light on the throttle of your weed eater. For example, when you’re whacking up against a plastic fence, close to the pool screen, or maybe when you’re using your weed eater as an edger. (Learn about the differences between a string trimmer vs edger.)
But there is no reason to rev your weed eater like it’s a race car. You’ll want to have your weed eater on max throttle whenever you’re weed eating, apart from the few examples I mentioned. Even then, you’ll reduce the power to the desired level and don’t have any reason to rev it.
Don’t Bounce/Stab the Weed Eater’s Head into the Lawn
You want to move the weed eater head across the lawn in a controlled manner. This means you’ll be able to achieve just the right amount of trimming you need. Now, a controlled manner doesn’t include bouncing or stabbing your lawn with your weed eater.
If you’re learning how to use a string trimmer like a pro, then definitely avoid these two methods. This is a terrible habit and definitely won’t make your yard look good.
Make Sure You Have the Right Amount of Line Out
The last item I want to mention on how to use a string trimmer is to use the right amount of line out of your weed eater head so that you are efficient. Buzzing around your yard with just an inch or two of trimmer line makes for hard work and not something your weed eater is going to like.
If your weed weeder is designed to have a twelve-inch cutting width, then make the most of it. Also, your weed eater has been designed to work under load. By this, I mean your weed eater is designed to only be used with the optimum length of line during operation. Running your weed eater with very little trimmer line is a sure way to burn out the motor.
Should You Remove the Weed Eater Guard or Not?
If you take a close look at a pro using a weed eater, you’ll notice that they have probably removed the guard from their weed eater. Why is this? Well, this allows them to use a longer line and cover more ground quicker.
Now, the guard has a small cutter that cuts the trimmer line to length so that you don’t use too much and bog down the trimmer. Plus, the guard deflects any objects heading your way. So, is it a good idea to remove it? Well, you get a longer trimmer line and a better view of what you are doing, but there are some risks. First, you’re no longer protected, and second, you could be overworking your weed eater.
If you take an even closer look at this string trimmer trick, you’ll notice that these guys are wearing protective eyewear. Plus, their weed whackers usually have a lot more power and are much more robust. These guys tend to stick to professional weed eaters. Most importantly, they are very experienced.
If you’re just starting out, I suggest you keep the guard on.
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