How to Properly Line-Trim Your Lawn

First, protect yourself by wearing proper personal protection clothing.  Proper personal protection clothing include, shoes, long pants, shirt, protective headwear, safety glasses, or preferably safety shield.  Line-trimmers can exceed 14,500 RMP, and will throw anything that it comes in contact with, including, grass, weeds, sticks, limbs, rocks, toys, etc.  There should not be any people, especially children in the area when using the line-trimmer.  The line can also cut you or anyone that it comes in contact with, please use that line-trimmer responsibly.

The common word for a line-trimmer is “weed-eater”.  Line-trimmers come in various models.  Basically, they can be electrical, battery powered, or gasoline powered; and come with either straight or curved shafts.  Personally, I have found that a straight shaft is more precise and easier to use.

When should you use the line-trimmer?  Every time that you mow your lawn, you should also use the line-trimmer to trim the lawn.  The line-trimmer should be used after you have used the mower to mow the lawn.  When using the mower to mow the lawn, you should not let the wheels get off the grass onto the sidewalk, and you should only mow close (within 3” of the sidewalk, planting bed borders, etc.  The line-trimmer should be used to put the finishing touches on the lawn, around the planting beds, foundation, etc.  Please take caution using a line-trimmer around plants and trees, as the line-trimmer can damage them.

The height of the line-trimming done by the line trimmer, should match the height of the newly cut lawn.  You should not allow the line-trimmer to cut lower than the cut lawn, or scalp an area.  This can be accomplished through practice and diligence.  Don’t run the line-trimmer at the fastest speed.  If you are running the line-trimmer at the fastest speed, and make a mistake on trimming height, it will usually leave a scalped area.  Line-trimmers can reach speeds up to 14,500 RPM or higher.  At the fastest speed it can cut through small plants, high weeds, and grass.  If you are mowing your lawn regularly, then you should not need to run the line-trimmer any faster than approximately one-third speed.  Remember, line-trimming puts the finishing touches on your lawn, slower speed will give you better control, and better results.

Line-trimmers should not be used to “edge” the grass along the street curb and sidewalk.  You will get much straighter lines and better results by using a steel blade edger for these areas.

If you are using a lawn care company and the line-trimming is resulting in un-even trimming, scalped areas, or they are using the line-trimmer as an edger, you should find another lawn care company, as the one that you have is not a professional lawn care company.