Keeping your yard in tip-top shape is a hassle, at best, and a nightmare, at worst.
Especially if you have a soft spot for flowers and trees to liven the place up.
And having a lawn on top of all that? Boy, that’s a lot on your hands (and your poor knees!)
Luckily for you, the world’s starting to move past the thought of getting your hands too dirty when they created the lawnmower and a weed wacker!
There’s a reason why many homeowners prefer a lawn mower instead of a weed wacker, and you’ll see it here. Both are built to tend to a modest-sized lawn, so that begs the question:
What’s the difference between both of them?
Lawn Mower vs. Weed Wacker : Difference Between Them
Cut It Out!
A lawn mower is equipped with a rotary blade to cut the grass at a speed that revolves around doing the job finely and evenly.
As it’s a blade against the soft fibers of the lawn, you can imagine it accomplishes its task easily (unless there’s something wrong with the blade or the engine, that is).
On the other hand, a weed wacker uses a string.
Now, don’t be disheartened yet, because this doesn’t use any old string like the one you’ll find on threads.
No, this uses a microfilament string.
For a bit of an info dump, microfilament (as the name implies) is made of a fragile material.
Looks may be deceiving, but its thinness does not give way to weakness.
If you’ve ever had a paper cut before and only realized it much later on, you’ll understand why a microfilament string is no joke.
As the weed wacker has this string spin rapidly, it gets as stiff as any steel blade that it’s capable of cutting into grass and weed. The more you amp up its speed, the more rigid the string gets.
The downside comes from that.
Any amount of speed you push into the weed wacker still can’t stop the fact that you’re using a string instead of a blade.
Because of this, using a weed wacker is much more ideal to be used in small patches of grass.
Anything as thick as the wheat fields will just damage the blades of grass instead of cutting through.
Or worst, the grass might get all tangled up with the string if there’s too much to handle!
What these two have in common, however, is their power sources.
Both make use of the usual electricity and gas, but the weed wacker has the option to be battery-powered!
Of course, as these sources are vastly different from one another, it’s recommended that you know just how big your lawn is.
While being gas-powered can lend you more time to cut grass with more to spare, an electric one can limit your range since you’ll need your weed wacker or lawn mower to stay connected to an outlet.
Hands Off
As different options are mentioned, you should know that this also means you get varying designs!
At a glance, you can already point out the differences between a weed wacker and a lawn mower.
A gas-powered or an electric lawn mower usually has four wheels to make it easier for pushing. You can even take the time to leave it alone to wipe any grime or sweat on your face, and it’ll keep going in a straight line!
What’s more, having four wheels makes sure you maintain that fine, well-trimmed cut across your lawn. If you want the grass to measure exactly three inches, even over mounds or curves, then the lawn mower’s your guy!
A weed wacker doesn’t allow you that kind of luxury.
As it doesn’t have any wheels, you have to turn it off first before setting it down if you want to catch a break.
Besides that, you also need to carry it the ENTIRE time you’re trimming the lawn because, without any wheels, it just sits on the property and ruins it, especially if you forgot to shut it down!
This slight design makes it inaccessible (or at least difficult to use) by those who have conditions that keep them from carrying something around for long periods.
But if you’re equipped with muscly arms that deadlift as a hobby, then you could probably use this easily as a test of balance to keep your wacking straight and clean!
Bring Your Weight Around
Although it’s not as accessible as a lawn mower, the weed wacker is much lighter than its counterpart.
A weed wacker has a small, slim design that “enables” you to carry it around the lawn. Without any wheels, its slim design is a blessing for your limbs!
Meanwhile, the lawn mower has every reason for it to be as big and bulky.
Containing the engine and all of that components need all the space it can get! Fortunately, this has the option to be manual if you want to go “old school” or have a tough time pushing it across the lawn.
Then again, a riding lawn mower does exist for that purpose. So, if you have the extra money to splurge on (and your yard’s an acre wide or more), then go ahead and give it a try!
So, Which One Should You Choose?
In the end, no amount of lightweight designs can outweigh the lawn mower’s dominating win.
It has everything you’ll ever need to tend a lawn: comfort, accessibility, and layers upon layers of options.
You don’t have to stick to one design when there different types of lawn mowers that offer you a plethora to choose from to indulge whatever preference you have.
Through the use of lawn mowers, you won’t think of connecting “lawn” and “a bother” anymore!
Final Words
Tending to one’s lawn can be tricky if you don’t have the proper equipment, much more if you have to maintain it.
Hopefully, you’ll consider looking into this comparison to weigh both of these tools’ pros and cons.
Once you do, here’s to hoping you’ll have an easier, much more relaxed experience grooming your lawn into its clean, gorgeous state!
