Strimminy Cricket!

A strimmer is an asset in any gardener’s arsenal but using one incorrectly can lead to issues in your garden and with the machine itself. If you pay attention to these things your strimmer will run well, and your garden will look great.

The biggest mistake people often make in the operation of a strimmer is usually strimming over or around hard objects. If you strim in areas where there are hard objects, you risk hitting them and this can damage your strimmer. Yes, plant guards usually protect against this kind of thing, but it makes sense to avoid impacts where you can. The same goes for tough organic material, if you’re up against brambles you may want to make use of a bladed strimmer rather than one with a line. Overly tough foliage can cause issues with certain types of strimmers because it can overload the engine and damage it. And if you’re using a bladed strimmer, make sure that the blade is properly tightened.

In terms of strimmer maintenance, always remember to clean your strimmer thoroughly when you’ve used it. Like it can with mowers, the build-up of cuttings can severely affect strimmer performance.  If you have a strimmer with a line, be sure to have a replacement and soak your line for a day before use no matter what.

And don’t forget, always wear something to protect your eyes. Happy strimming!