Energy source decisions for trimmers and edgers

With trimmers and edgers, contractors want long-lasting power and maneuverability.

“We look for something that moves efficiently and gives us a sharp edge,” says Josiah Cherry, owner of KJK Lawn Care in Omaha, Nebraska. “We want good power, but also something that won’t break our backs. We work five to six hours a day, and that wears on you. So, (we) look for that good balance.”

Contractors can choose gas- or battery-powered trimmers and edgers, and both power sources have upsides and downsides.

Contractors still like the familiarity of gas-powered trimmers and edgers. Cherry says KJK Lawn Care currently only uses gas-powered trimmers and edgers. He says he likes that gas-powered options are easier to refill if they are low on fuel, while battery-powered options take more time to charge. He also tested battery-powered trimmers in his fleet recently to compare with gas versions, but he says the battery-powered trimmers wouldn’t stay charged for a full day’s work.

“You can trim with battery power easily, but I didn’t get the power or maneuverability I could out of a gas trimmer,” Cherry says. “We also didn’t like the feel of the battery-powered option. I think for homeowner use battery trimmers are fantastic. There’s less maintenance involved. They just didn’t have the power like gas-powered commercial trimmers.”

Andrew Morse, recurring department head for maintenance at Belknap Landscape in New Hampshire, says Belknap chose to use gas-powered trimmers and edgers. The company has used the same model of trimmers for the last four to five years.

“We selected a gas-powered model that’s good quality and well-balanced for its weight,” Morse says. He notes that it was also a good selection price-wise.

Belknap also demoed battery-powered trimmers in recent years, but Morse says the charge didn’t last long enough for the company’s needs and the model they tested didn’t seem rugged enough to complete commercial jobs.

“We purchased (a battery-powered trimmer) last year to demo it,” Morse says. “We were told it would hold charge for six to eight hours, but it barely held a charge for six minutes. It didn’t live up to what we thought it would be with battery life. Commercial equipment has to be rugged and not cause too much downtime, especially if a battery doesn’t hold charge.”

However, Morse says he’s “not giving up” on battery-powered options just yet. While Belknap hasn’t found a model that is a good fit yet, Morse says he thinks it will take time to find the right model as more battery-powered options come to market.

“We’re going to try potentially some different brands this year,” he says.

Regardless of the power source, Cherry recommends contractors shop for trimmers and edgers that are powerful but lightweight. He says contractors should connect and establish a good relationship with an equipment vendor to get the best insights when making purchasing decisions.