best strimmer to buy?

[what..the?]

hello I have a medium sized garden all tall grass which has over grown and blown flat, there are lots of objects to cut round and gradients so I think a strimmer is the only option I have just bouhg the house and plan for the garden to be completly redesiged with low maintenance materials so not grass so this will onlt really be used for a year maybe.

I have a mega cheap argos one with is battery and cost £15 ot doesnt really cut anything. I am completly none the wiser on these things so wanted some help.

Things important to me:
- length of use was charable one not last long befor it needs recharging would petrol be better
- easy to use with good cut
- safe
- easy to clean
- willing to spend upto around a £100 but as it would only be used for a year is it worth getting one this expensive.
- anything on offer?
- to be bought from local garden centre, DIY store or Argos. If from Local garden centre would need recommended retail price so I know they are not having a laugh!

Thanks in advance

[Old_Geezer]

I'd be interested to know too. Have bought many strimmers in the past only to find they do not last. Either they start to fall apart in a year or two, or in the case of the petrol one I bought, one summer opted not to start (and one looks a right Snag forever pulling the cord for no lasting success).

Maybe I ask to much of mine as I use them just a few times a year, and expect it to cope with whatever it finds in its path. I did wonder if a 'brush cutter' would be more robust than a simple 'strimmer'.

[what..the?]

I thought a bush cutter and strimmer were the same thing me thinks not now.... whats the difference?

[Old_Geezer]

Just got the impression the strimmer was designed for grass in reasonably well tended gardens only, and the brush cutter seemed more sturdy and could tackle the other stuff like thistles and similar plants - but I could be wrong. All I know is that I'm wanting a cheap but string/powerful/durable recommendation. One that'll last & last, year in year out.

[Old_Geezer]

Why when I type an 'o' it sometimes changes to an 'i' before I hit the submit button ? It is most annoying. PCs seem to be pulling that sort of trick more & more as the years go by.

[woofgang]

I always find with the line type trimmers that the line catches and tangles and they NEVER seem to work well. A brush cutter often has a whirling blade instead of string...need to be careful with use but probably better for your circs. I have a lightweight rechargeable Gtech one for tidying lawn edges and keeping the grass in my tortoise enclosure down. It has a plastic blade which lasts about one trim but they are cheap as chips to replace (designed to be disposable) and the charge runs for about 40 mins.

Its this one, bit its only suitable for light stuff
http://www.qvcuk.com/...cm_scid.KeywordSearch

[Ellipsis]

Have you considered hiring a big meaty petrol model to sort your current problems out? Then you may be able to get by with your £15 job for the next year ...

Otherwise, I'd go for something like this:

http://www.gardenline...ac-250ls-line-trimmer

[carrot99]

I'd like to know too!! My last one had to be struck on the ground for the string to come out - so the bottom fell off. I went for a sturdier JCB one and it is too heavy even wearing the harness thing it came with - and the string doesn't come out at all (because it is shy and very fragile) - so every three minutes I have to take the bottom off and unwind another few inches. I really begrudge getting another new one because it can't have been used more than half a dozen times in 2 years.

[what..the?]

thanks for that recommendation it really does look good I worry though on this occassion it might not be meaty enough to take on a whole garden of long grass in one day especially as it only has the 45 mins work time, the garden would take a whole day to trim back probably. This wouls be good for later maintainance cuts. Thanks for the recomendation though as other folks on here would like this... maybe old-geezer it depends what he is cutting?

[woofgang]

I had a petrol one, paid about 80 quid for it 8 years ago, used it once or twice, the string started acting up, it sat in the garage for the remaining time and I trashed it last year. Whatever you go for, have a blade not string.

[what..the?]

ellipsis - yes it did cross my mind that it might make sence but not ever renting anything like this a have been unsure. I do feel though with the size of the garden that a cheap strimmer would struggle to keep later growth down, so maybe buying and better model as a years investment might be more reassuring longterm. Sometimes when the equipment doesnt work and your stood outside working a right fool you think 'if only I had bought the better one!!'

[landscaper2]

A 'professional' machine will cope with this type of grass, the 'line' will be a thicker gauge, more secure in the head and the engine will have more 'guts' to blast thru the long grass. If you are only looking for a years use, then hire one to get the job done. A cheapo should then be able to cope for a year or after the initial clear up spray with Roundup to clean the ground prior to landscaping.

[landscaper2]

....further to above, if you feel you need to buy and can go to it, the you cant go far wrong with a Sthl - it will last years and years.

[what..the?]

thanks landscaper for all that advice very helpful. Yes it has been a consideration to roundup at a later stage. Even though the grass needs cutting incase the garden plans get canceled or put back I dont fancy looking out on an eye sore which I assume it would look like once the roundup is added???

[what..the?]

Landscaper2 - regards the stihl bush cutters and strimmers I have found their website
http://www.stihl.co.uk/
but what would you recommend bushcutter vs strimmer, electric vs petrol?
Thanks

[Old_Geezer]

Just seen the price of Stihl. It'd have to last !

[what..the?]

lol

[agardner09]

I've been using strimmers in my gardening work for years and a general rule of thumb is use the correct power for the job and you get what you pay for. Line strimmers are best for grass, brush cutters for brambles, scrub and even small saplings. Small electric strimmers are ok for small areas of reasonably short grass but if it's long and tough (old grass) you really need a petrol strimmer. The usual suspects for an electric one, shopping around really does pay and don't ignore the option of second hand. For petrol I have two Stihl 145, one with a string head one with polycut brush cutting blades. Stihls are pricy but really good, there are others available as they say including Echo.
I think in your situation you should either hire or buy second hand and then dump it. If it is only for a year then consider how many times you need to use it, grass doesn't usually grow much when it's cold and when it's dry.
There is a third option, if you are only going to cut maybe once or twice pay a local gardener to do it.
Finally a word of warning, strimmers can be DANGEROUS, especially powerful petrol ones. Do not wear soft footwear, users have lost toes! This is not the usual H&S ***. Also if you are strimming close to windows, greenhouses, cars, etc. do cover them with sheets or similar. Strimmers have a habit of finding small stones and turning them into speeding bullets. It's too late when you are looking at a smashed picture window! Apologies for the heavy warnings but someone should say it. Best wishes.

[AlBags]

Stihl are about the best and most reliable. Cheap ones are troublesome to start after a year or so, and not powerful.
Brush cutter for heavy work and brambles. 2-3 mm diamond edge line for most other stuff.
Look for a good FS80 with auto feed head (tap-feed)
Early ones cannot take an auto feed as head end gearbox is not strong enough.

[modeller]

You say you have a medium size garden therefore you are not far from an electric socket.
Why not use a strong mains operated model. Battery clippers, trimmers , strimmers, mowers etc are pretty useless in the garden. I've used them all and they lack the power to do all but the lightest of work. Petrol operated equipment is OK but requires more maintenance and frequently has starting problemsw especially if it's not used much. I now always buy the strongest and most powerful mains electric equipment I can handle . It pays in the long run. I know there is the inconvenience of trailing leads but that is only real disadvantage.

[what..the?]

thank you so much for all this assistance and for agardener esp for the health and safety which is extremely important to me. I will take your recommendations seriously thank you.

Thank you for all the comments this is definately 'print off' worthy so I can take this shopping with me.

Thank you everyone, any more help, or recommendations please do post