Not A Lawn Mower: There's An Alternative For Cutting Your Grass You Probably Already Have

If your lawn mower suddenly won't start, has broken down, or your yard needs a simple trim in between cuts, you may choose to wait it out. Before you resign yourself to a slightly overgrown lawn, you should take a look in your garage. There's a good chance you already own a surprisingly effective alternative for cutting grass. Reserved for more edging or detail work, your string trimmer (or weed whacker) can do more than tidy up your borders in a pinch; you can use it to cut your grass.

A weed trimmer works by spinning a thin nylon string at a high speed. This allows it to slice through grass and weeds with ease. It's designed more for precision in areas where lawn mowers struggle, especially in uneven spots, tighter spaces, slopes, and obstacles like trees, fences, or shrubs, rather than yard coverage. 

However, it can also cut grass if your mower is out of commission. If your lawn is on the smaller side or just in need of a quick touch-up, you may find the trimmer can get the job done well without much hassle. Just think of the weed trimmer as a temporary stand-in rather than a replacement tool for cutting the grass.

To keep your grass under control until your mower is back up and running or needed, you can use a technique with the weed trimmer that's like "scything," where you sweep it side to side to cut wider sections of grass. It can help you cover wider lawn areas that way. But it's best to work in small sections and use a heavier nylon line for denser areas. If the lawn becomes noticeably overgrown, it can also help trim down the taller grass before using your mower.

While helpful, your weed eater has some limitations. The small cutting path means it'll take more passes and can be too much for the trimmer. You'll likely have to restring your weed whacker more often and maintain it well when using it on larger areas of lawn, too. If it's wet or the grass is soggy, it won't cut well. It can also be challenging to maintain the cutting height over big spots, which might leave your lawn looking patchy or uneven. The nylon line tears when slicing, so it doesn't cut cleanly. You may also notice rougher tips or browning on the grass afterward.

However, your weed trimmer is one of the more versatile tools for yard care. It's lightweight and easy to use. Trimmers come in different varieties, so you can choose from gas, corded, or battery-powered models to elevate your lawn.