How to Trim Weed Fast: The Best Weed Eating Tips

You’ll surely want to learn how to trim weed fast, especially after spending a couple of hours in the hot sun mowing your entire lawn.

Some people enjoy weed-eating since it’s a great palate cleanser to yard work.

However, the more time you spend outside, the less time you can spend relaxing on a summer afternoon.

How to Trim Weed Fast

Below are professional landscaping tips to help you to see weed-eating as less of a hassle and more of a finishing touch on your immaculately maintained property.

1. Use the Right Equipment

One thing the pros can agree on is that even with the best technique, you’ll never be able to achieve the perfect sharpness on the edge of your lawn if you have low-quality equipment.

With that said, you don’t have to invest a thousand bucks in a professional weed wacker, especially if you’re working on a small residential property.

Still, you’ll want to have a heavy-duty tool to use.

The higher quality your weed eater is, the less effort you’ll have to put into edging the grass.

Not to mention, you’ll spend less time maintaining your equipment over the seasons.

A few of the most important things to keep an eye out for when you’re searching for a high-quality weed eater include:

Engine Type

You will have the choice between a two- or four-cycle engine in your weed eater.

The four-cycle engine is the more powerful option, but it is also the more costly choice.

Four-cycle weed eaters have excellent fuel efficiency, less harmful emissions, and an impressive amount of torque to help you power through vegetation like a knife through butter.

The problem is that they are also bulkier, heavier, and a little more challenging to store throughout the season, as they will typically need to be kept upright.

If you’re purely looking for the most powerful option, we highly recommend a four-cycle unit.

On the other hand, if you want something a little more lightweight for regular grass, a two-cycle engine is more than enough.

String Type

Most weed eaters have recommendations for the type of string that can be used on the spool.

Though, some are relatively versatile when it comes to the kind of line you choose.

Often, homeowners will want to try different line shapes depending on how heavy-duty their projects are.

The round line might not be the best answer for every project, though.

The most common string shapes you’ll find include:

Round

As the most basic option, some round string should be an all-purpose type that will suit most needs, especially if you’re maintaining your front or back lawn.

It cuts well and doesn’t break quickly, which can also make it an excellent choice for longer cutting sessions.

That is, as long as you’re dealing primarily with grass and traditional weeds.

Square

If you want something a little more heavy-duty than some round string, we recommend investing in a square trimmer line.

It’s a proven fantastic option for cleaning away thick and heavy brush.

However, using a square wire should be done with caution, as it can cause irreversible damage to lawn furniture, trees, and fences.

Twisted and Serrated

For the most potent cutting power, aside from using a metal-based head, you’ll want to consider a twisted and serrated weed eater line.

Both of these types have impeccable cutting power with minimal vibration, which makes them more comfortable to use for extended periods.

With that said, you’ll likely not need this specialty type of trimmer line if you’re working with regular household weeds.

Convenient Features

Along with the kind of string and the power from the engine of your weed eater, you’ll also want to consider any extra convenient features specific models offer.

It can help to make your yard maintenance more efficient.

For example, a simple trigger for feeding a new line from the spool to the cutting head can allow you to continue weed-eating with far less downtime.

You might also want to consider a weed eater that has ergonomic handles to help prevent cramping and discomfort halfway through a job.

2. Improve Your Technique

Now that you have the perfect equipment to get you started, you might want to consider refining your weed-eating technique to make the job even more comfortable.

The best way to get an idea of how you can become better at weed-eating is to watch a professional crew and notice how they hold their tools for the most efficient cuts.

A few additional recommendations to improve your technique include:

Maintain Optimal String Length

With access to maximum cutting power with a more extended amount of string (up to five inches), you’ll be able to tackle more significant areas of weeds in less time.

You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have too much string exposed.

This can make the weed eater too challenging to control and may enable you to cut specified areas of your lawn more than you intended.

Hold the Trimmer Correctly

There are two camps when it comes to figuring out how to hold your weed eater so that it makes the best cut.

Some suggest that keeping the device parallel to the ground is the best way to make sure the edges are level with the rest of the grass.

Others suggest holding it at an angle allows you to make a more even cut.

We recommend trying both methods to determine which is the most comfortable for you and will also provide the most professional result.

3. Perform Regular Lawn Maintenance

Another critical aspect of making your weed eating more effortless is to make sure the slate you’re working with is in its best condition.

The thicker your grass is, the better it will look when it is mowed and manicured.

Not to mention, it will also help to hide mistakes easier than thin grass.

The healthier your lawn is, the more forgiving it will be.

Hence, you will want to make sure you irrigate properly, fertilize it at least four times annually, and aerate the lawn at least twice a year.

It’s important to remember that patchy lawns will look patchy no matter what you try to do to it with the help of a mower or a weed whacker.

Final Thoughts

When you’re figuring out how to trim weed fast, it’s always best to look at the professionals, as landscapers can manage many lawns in a single day with ease.

By ensuring you have high-quality equipment and a few essential pro-tips in terms of your technique, you’ll be well on your way to making your lawn look professionally manicured.