Video buyer's guide to string trimmers

String trimmers are ideal for dealing with grass, weeds, and brush in areas your mower or tractor can't reach, keeping your property tidy and eliminating inviting homes for insects, rodents, and other critters.

If you're in the market for a new string trimmer for next spring or for the last bit of yard work you'll do this fall, check out our free buyer's guide (ratings available to subscribers) and watch the video from our recent tests of string trimmers (right).

The video features advice from Peter Sawchuk, a senior project leader in our Tech department and our go-to guy for testing outdoor power equipment, who discusses the basic types of trimmers and the pros and cons of straight and curved shafts.

Sit down longer with Peter as I get to do, however, and you can get additional details that can make a big difference in how much time you spend on your trimming chores. Take two- and four-cycle. Four-cycle engines are touted as cleaner (less smoke) and more convenient (no need to mix of oil and gas) than two-cycle engines. But results from the four such trimmers we tested demonstrate that four-cycle technology in string trimmers isn't the panacea you might think.

Another consideration relates to the head housing the monofilament line, which does the actual trimming. Fixed-head units use two or more precut pieces of line. Bump-feed models let out line when you bump the head to the ground. And automatic models release more line by themselves when needed.

As part of our Spring 2010 report on string trimmers, we'll look at models whose very designs tend to wear out line sooner than you might expect, others whose manufacturers have learned how to keep tall growth from wrapping around the shaft, and one that couldn't seem to keep its head together.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our "Fall Lawn and Yard Checklist" for details on tending to all facets of your property, and keep your power equipment in shape with our "End-of-Season Lawn-Equipment Guide." You'll find other tips on our Fall Cleanup Guide page.

Ethics schmethics. For lawn-tractor care, it's a matter of scheduling

The latest installment of Randy Cohen's The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine featured the following question, under the headline "Waiting for the Lawn Tractor":

"The shop that services my lawn tractor told me to expect its return in a week. I want it back sooner and am considering giving the workers an up-front cash bonus to put my tractor at the head of the line. But this feels worryingly like covert bribery. Other customers wouldn't know about it nor could they bid against me with higher bonuses. Is such a payment ethical?"
 
Cohen replied that the notion of giving a bonus is "fishy" because the shop's workers would be "cheating their boss by undermining the shop's first-come, first-served policy for their personal gain, and you'll all be cheating honest, patient customers." In the end, reported Cohen, the question asker, from Pennsylvania, didn't offer up any cash for priority service.
 
Seems like a reasonable outcome, but I'll leave it up to you to decide for yourself on the ethics of the matter. The crux of the issue seems to be scheduling. Instead of bringing your gear in for routine service during a busy season, wait until a time when the shop is more likely to be quiet. I usually bring my mower and leaf blower in for routine service in early winter when the local shop is quieter. So don't hold off until next spring to get your outdoor power equipment serviced.
 
Now if the question asker's tractor suffered a sudden problem and he needed it fixed ASAP even this late in the season, it's understandable that he'd want it back with little delay. But given the likelihood that the shop is crowded with ailing equipment from landscaping pros trying to finish off their fall jobs, the consumer couldn't have expected priority service, bribe or no bribe. My advice: Borrow a tractor or mower from a neighbor or rent one, or hire a local landscaper to do the work.
 
Of course, the other key piece of advice here is to keep your equipment in tiptop shape. So follow our end-of-season maintenance tips for your mower or tractor and this start-of-season help for tractors.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook
 
Essential information: Make easier work of fall cleanup and read up on the latest mowers and tractors.

Getting Their Goats: Another town turns to four-legged creatures for outdoor cleanup

The Men Who Stare At Goats, the new comedy starring Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, and George Clooney (shown below holding a cast member), is about a secret U.S. Army unit. But based on some news reports we’ve seen since spring, it could be a tale about landscapers who use goats instead of gas-powered equipment ton the job.

The latest town to go goat is Andover, Massachusetts, which has accepted one resident’s offer to use her goats to control weeds and undergrowth at a local nature preserve, according to this Boston Globe report. The six goats could handle a half-acre of grass, brush, and other growth every three days. Another benefit is that what the goats leave behind “will help the grass, as long as it doesn’t smell so bad that people won’t use it,” as one resident observed.

The news comes on the hooves, er, heels of the town of Hempstead, New York, and Google also deploying goats and some property owners in England using wallabies for landscaping work.

Goats might not be for you, but if you’re hoping to minimize your involvement in yard work, note that our tests have shown that some robotic mowers aren’t good performers. And if you’d like to go greener when tending to your property, keep in mind that some reel lawn mowers have not shined in our tests, though the top-performing electric lawn mowers and string trimmers  can rival some gasoline-powered models in performance and also produce no exhaust emissions. If you’d like to replace your gas-powered mower with an electric model, take advantage of a mower-exchange program.

At this time, we have no plans to test goats or other herbivores for next May’s report on lawn mowers and tractors.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Tap into the yard-care tips in our Fall Cleanup Guide.

Tip of the Day: Drain the carburetor bowl on your lawn mower to protect the engine

As we covered in "Is Fuel With an Increased Level of Ethanol a Problem for Small Gas Engines?" there's growing concern over the effects that gasoline-ethanol blends like E10—that's 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol—might have on small, nonroad engines on lawn mowers and tractors and other outdoor power equipment.

If you're concerned about the possible effects ethanol might have on your gas-powered mower or other equipment that will sit for long periods in storage—including a string trimmer or leaf blower—remove the remaining fuel from the tank and then empty the carburetor bowl before you stow gear for the winter. The simple project will help keep your gear in good working condition.

Even if you've run your equipment dry as part of your usual end-of-season maintenance steps, some fuel can remain in the bowl of the carburetor. If you don't drain the bowl, you might see some of the telltale white residue and related corrosion associated with ethanol blends. Four-cycle engines in particular seem prone to the buildup, although two-cycle engines can also suffer from the problem.

To empty the carburetor bowl in your mower:
• Run the engine dry, then let the machine fully cool.
• Locate the carburetor bowl. It's a cylindrically shaped device with one or two bolts on the bottom (shown). If there are two bolts, the off-center one is a drain, which you can use to get rid of any fuel without removing the bowl; place a container beneath the carburetor and remove the bolt. Any fuel present should trickle out.
• On some engines, such as the Tecumseh carburetor shown, the single bolt is for removing the carburetor bowl itself. Also while holding a container beneath, remove the bolt, pull off the bowl, and drain it. Wipe out the inside of the bowl.
• Whether or not you need to remove the bowl, it's a simple task to drain it and tighten everything back up.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new snow blower, read our latest report on single- and two-stage gas and electric models and updated free buyer's guide and ratings (available to subscribers).

Weekend Project: Overseed now for a lush lawn in spring

After dealing with insects, weeds, fungi, and the coming deluge of leaves, you're probably looking forward to a break from yard work. But there's another important project to do this fall if you haven't already. Called overseeding, this simple addition of grass seed to an established lawn will help your yard look its best next spring. Note that if you live in a northern state, hold off on overseeding until next year, but if you're in the Sun Belt, follow these steps:

Time it right. Before you overseed, remove leaves from the yard with a rake or leaf blower or mulch them with your mower or tractor.

Prepare the yard. Pros recommend a good dethatching and aeration during the fall, but if your lawn is in good shape, you can get away with a thorough raking. Give one last mow, with the blade set at a lower setting than you used in midsummer. It also helps to give bare spots individual attention with a hand rake before seeding.

Choose the right seed. Be sure to use the right type of grass for your region and the same type that's in your yard. Use plenty of seed—distributed evenly with a hand-held, drop, or other spreader—and work in some compost or topsoil, especially to bare spots. Refer to our "Guide to Common Lawn Grasses" to find the best grass for your area.

Feed for the winter months. You can add some starter fertilizer, though some experts advise waiting until the seed has sprouted to fertilize. Some fertilizers include preemergent weed killers. If you prefer to go the organic route, lay down corn gluten in the spring instead of a weed killer now. Corn gluten prevents seed from sprouting, so you can't do it while overseeding, but it can fend off crabgrass next year.

If you're using a drop spreader to lay down the seed or fertilizer, calibrate this equipment so you apply the proper amount.

Add the water. Water lightly but often, even in the middle of day if the sun isn't strong. A light spray to the overseeded areas is better than a straight stream to keep from disturbing the seed. And if leaves are falling, trying blowing gently over the grass, not toward it, to disperse them until the seed has sprouted. And try to stay off the lawn during this time.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Once you've done your last mow of the season, put your mower to bed for the season.

Tailgating Alert: Gasoline-powered blender banned by California Air Resources Board

With football season in full swing, you might be doing a little weekend tailgating or entertaining at home. If you need a new blender or gas grill for your football fiesta, check out our buyer's guides to these appliances and try these easy, delicious grilling recipes. If you live in California, where the strict air-quality standards set by the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have an impact on the outdoor power equipment, paint, and other consumer goods available, there's one margarita or daiquiri maker you won't be able to buy.

The Los Angeles Times' Up to Speed blog recently reported that CARB fined Lake Forest, California-based On the Edge Marketing and CSK Auto Inc. of Phoenix $240,000 for selling a gasoline-powered "Party Blender" (shown) to California residents because the souped-up appliance is equipped with an illegal, uncertified two-stroke engine that runs afoul of CARB's regulations.

CARB maintains that the type of two-stroke engine used on the blender can produce emissions 10 times higher than those produced by engines approved for use in the state. "Gasoline-powered blenders may be this year's tailgate sensation, but drinkers should not be polluting our air while having a good time," said CARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols.

Many outdoor-power-equipment manufacturers are phasing out two-cycle engines as local, state, and federal emissions standards get tougher. Lawn-mower-exchange programs are one way states and municipalities can get consumers to replace old lawn mowers with greener models.

Note that our ratings of string trimmers and leaf blowers (available to subscribers) do not identify whether an engine is a two- or a four-cycle type. The Cub Cadet 4125, Craftsman 79614, and Troy-Bilt TB465SS string trimmers have a four-cycle engine. In our testing we found these models to be a little heavier at the handle, and their engines were as hard to start as a two-cycle engine. The John Deere BH25LE and Craftsman 79498 leaf blowers have a four-cycle engine.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer's guides to string trimmers and leaf blowers.

Weekend Project: Start your fall lawn care during the Labor Day break

Investing part of this Labor Day weekend in your yard could pay off handsomely next spring. During this “second spring,” air temperatures can be favorable, weeds are less active and more vulnerable to herbicides, and the still-warm ground gives seedlings lots of time to germinate. Here’s how to master fall lawn and yard care:

• Start with a soil test. The video (right) describes how doing so will help you amend your soil so plants will fare better and your fertilizer will work better and last longer.

• Match mowing to your grass. Cool-season grasses like fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass grow fastest in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, when they need more-frequent mowing (follow these mowing tips). If you skipped this midseason maintenance on your mower (especially these engine-killing omissions), do it now.

• Don’t put off fertilizing. September is also the best month to fertilize both cool-season grasses and warm-season varieties like Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and zoysia grass. We recommend two applications—the first soon after Labor Day, the second around the last time you mow for the year. Fall is also a good time to reseed or use sod to replant or repair grass.

• Fix these common problems. Check out our interactive gallery of weeds, insects, and diseases and smart solutions to other pitfalls and pests like moss, dog urine, grubs, and moles. Remedies for regional problems are also on tap.

• Water with winter in mind. If rains have been sparse recently, apply plenty of water, even if temperatures are cool. Lawns that enter winter stressed from drought are likelier to be damaged by cold weather.

• Plant but don’t prune. Fall is also a good time to plant (though not prune) trees and shrubs. It’s the time to plant crocus, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs throughout most of the country.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Find answers to your specific questions in the fall yard cleanup section of our lawn & garden forum. Find ratings and maintenance advice for a wide variety of lawn and yard equipment on our main lawn and garden page. 

Booze and mowers/tractors don't mix

A 57-year-old New Hampshire man got into some serious legal trouble after being arrested and charged with driving a neighbor's lawn tractor while under the influence of alcohol.

"Believe it or not, if you are operating a riding lawn mower, it is considered a motor vehicle under state statute," said Wells Police Lt. Gerald Congdon in this story on Seacoastonline.com.

Michael Goode, who was arrested on two Class C felony charges, isn't the only one who drinks when he mows. In a 2008 poll of 1,005 adult homeowners conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 12 percent of respondents admitted to drinking beer while mowing. An even higher number acknowledged two other dangerous mowing practices—skipping hearing protection and listening to music. (Watch the video for the story of one family's long comeback from a tragic mower-related injury.)

Sometimes riding mowers can prove unsafe when there's apparently no alcohol involved. Our latest coverage of mowers and tractors (story and ratings available to subscribers) included a report that showed that zero-radius-turn tractors could lose control when descending hills.

Our examination of data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that voluntary standards for rollover protection (and accessories like seat belts and roll bars) aren't preventing a rise in lawn tractor rollovers. And while robotic mowers might leave you more time to tipple, our tests found them to be not particularly effective and, in one case, downright dangerous.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Weekend Project: Mower maintenance details seven often-overlooked but essential steps that will make for safer mowing and help your mower or tractor last longer. And read about AutoROPS, which is designed to prevent tractor and riding-mower rollovers.

Robotic lawn mowers aim to do the yard care for you

If you're fed up with cutting the grass a few months into the latest lawn-mowing season, you might be considering hiring a yard-care company to do the work or even swapping out your old mower or tractor for a robotic model.

But as we've found in our tests of robotic mowers over the years, these machines might not be worth their often high price. And they might not even save you time: Manufacturers of robotic mowers warn you to keep children and pets away from the machines, and some companies advise you to supervise the mowing. That's sound advice, but for a half-acre lawn, that could mean 4 hours of supervising the mower several times a week, compared with the hour or so of work you'd do cutting the grass on your own.

We've also been disappointed by mowing performance. In our 2008 report on lawn mowers and tractors, the Friendly Robotics RoboMower RL1000, $2,000, provided an unimpressive cut. What's more, it sometimes got stuck—it went outside its perimeter wiring and ended up against a tree—and didn't return to its charger.

For our 2009 report (story and ratings available to subscribers), we noted that the Husqvarna Automower 220 AC, $2,100, trims only a little over 2 inches, which can weaken grass roots. And small sticks and leaves stopped the thin, swinging blades on the mower. Get more details on this robotic machine.

Manufacturers of outdoor power equipment continue to work toward enhancing their robotic mowers, including commercial-grade models used on golf courses and sports fields. "You know, our products are getting more and more sophisticated all the time," said Dana Lonn, managing director of Toro's Center for Advanced Turf Technology, in "Robot Mowers Take the Sweat Out Of Lawn Care," on NPR's All Things Considered. Lonn added that Toro's Groundsmaster 5900, has "four microprocessors on it; it's got a network; it wirelessly reports how many hours it's achieved. Computers are driving it."

Read and listen to the rest of that recent NPR story, to which Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home franchise, contributed. "I think the short and simple answer is, [robotic mowers are] still an expensive toy," Markovich told reporter Nell Greenfieldboyce. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Weekend Project: Basic mower maintenance keeps your lawn looking its best

If the engine on your mower goes kablooey, there's not much you can do on your own—beyond shelling out $50 to $75 per hour to a repair shop to fix the problem or spending hundreds on a new grass cutter. See our buying guide to mowers and tractors and our May 2009 ratings-based report (available to subscribers).

But a little basic maintenance will keep your mower running smoothly and your yard green. Here's what you need to do to keep your mower—and your yard—in tip-top shape:

• Check the dipstick to be sure the oil level is at or near the full mark. Too little oil can damage or destroy the engine by leaving parts unlubricated in a hot environment. It is the fastest way to permanently damage your mower. Too much oil can cause poor running, produce excess exhaust emissions, and damage the spark plug.
• Hose or scrape off old clippings from beneath the deck. Do this work at the end of each mowing while the clippings are still moist and easy to remove. Built-up clippings will significantly reduce mulching performance by blocking the recutting action necessary for good mulching. To easily clean the deck, turn the mower on its side with the carburetor and air filter facing upward to eliminate lubrication oil from getting into the fuel system, and use a hose and a scraper. Tip: After cleaning, spray silicone lubricant on the inside of the deck to reduce clipping build-up and for easier cleaning.
• Get the blade sharpened. A dull blade can make your lawn look less than its best. A dull blade will damage the blades of grass, stressing the plants. You might even notice that the tips of the grass turn brown. Need another reason? A dull blade will cause your mower to burn more fuel and you to work harder and longer. Tip: Buy a second blade. This way, you'll always have a sharp blade on hand. Plan on changing to a sharp blade once a month or more frequently for heavy cutting conditions.
• Remove grass and debris from the cooling fins, engine covers, and air intake after each use to help prevent engine overheating.
• If your mower has a manual engine throttle control (most mowers don't), be sure it's properly adjusted. Regularly check the wheel-drive belt on a self-propelled mower for wear and tightness. Replace as needed.
• Always use gasoline stabilizer. This way, gasoline that ends up sitting for some time is always fresh. The recent environmental additives to gasoline can cause it to break down and form a "varnish" when sitting for even a short time, which can result in hard starting and an expensive carburetor cleaning.