Time for a little yard assessment.  First, determine all the areas in your yard you'll want to trim.

Will you be using it to edge the sidewalk?  If so, how much area is there to trim?  Folks living on a corner lot may have twice the area that needs edging.  And of course, you have to do BOTH SIDES of the sidewalk!   You may also have to edge along the curb too.

Do you have flower bed edges that will need to be attended to?  How about fence lines?  Got a pretty long fence?  Will you have to trim both sides of the fence?

Then there’s the grass growing around the foundation of the house.  You’ll want that area looking sharp and trimmed.

Plus you may have a dog house, trees, posts, utility boxes, swimming pools, swing sets ….

Let’s face it.  We have LOTS of stuff in our yard that requires maintenance to keep it looking good and to keep Mother Nature at bay.

All these areas can be easily handled with a string trimmer although it may take some time to complete the task.  Be realistic in your estimation to the time factor involved.  This will help you decide which trimmer is best for what you want to accomplish.

Battery Powered Trimmers

If you’re considering a battery-powered unit, you may not have enough ‘run time’ to trim around all of these ‘obstacles’.  If you can accomplish the job in less than 45 minutes, a battery unit is a good choice.  So is having a second battery that’s ready to go if the first one poops out on you mid-way through your chore.   For a small yard, a battery powered trimmer is an excellent choice.

Corded Trimmer

A corded trimmer works great – if – you don’t mind the hassle of dealing with an extension cord.  Or two.   (Always keeping in mind where trees and posts are so you don’t get hung up halfway through the project!  (Been there, done that…)

A corded electric string trimmer is recommended if the trimming job lasts longer than 45 minutes.  Since you don’t have a battery to worry about, the size of your yard or the number of areas to trim are not a concern.   Although being able to ‘reach’ all those trimming spots is!

And naturally, you do need access to a  power supply (electricity).  So if you’re considering a corded trimmer you’ll need outdoor electrical outlets available.  Also be sure to purchase one or two extension cords that are heavy duty rated.   (You’ll also want to consider getting an extension cord ‘winder’ to keep your cord organized and tangle-free.)

Gas Powered Trimmer

Of course, a gas powered string trimmer gives you plenty of run time (as long has you have gas.)  They also provide the most power of all the string trimmers.

And they are the most expensive!  And heavier too.

Most come with a shoulder strap to help with the weight, but if you’re trimming for an extended period of time, it will get heavy.

Trimmer models are available with either a straight shaft or a curved shaft.   Many find a curved shaft to be more comfortable to hold.  Plus it feels more balanced.  But a straight shaft is easier to maneuver into tight spaces.

In summary, take a good, hard look at all the places you want to trim.  Talk a slow walk around each one to compute the ‘run time’ needed.  You should get a good idea if a battery, corded, or gas powered string trimmer would be best for your grass trimming needs.