Alex is not a lawn care natural. He had to learn things the hard way. But after stumbling through his first few seasons of lawn care, he learned a lot. Mostly - what not to do.
Alex has become one of the country's advocates of battery-powered lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other highly visible publications. Alex started The Lawn Review with his friend Tyler - who you may see in some of the videos on this website - to help normal people like you understand how to take care of their lawn themselves with the best tools possible.
Alex has thousands of hours of experience using hundreds of different lawn tools and has found exactly what to look for in each type of tool. He speaks with deep experience not only about the boring technical specifications, but what the tool actually feels like when you are using it, what to look for before you make a purchase, and how the lawn tool measures up when you factor in price.
Dewalt leaf blowers are a household name. Not only do most people own a bunch of Dewalt products already, but they have really stepped up their game lately.
**SPOILER** Best Dewalt Leaf Blower: Dewalt 20V Max Leaf Blower because it has great strength for around the house, a super versatile battery system, and is extremely comfortable.
But they’ve started diversifying their product suite and have a ton of new blowers.
Fortunately, we had the pleasure of using some of these suckers (or blowers) and have put out our definitive ranking guide.
So, let’s get started.
The official Dewalt Leaf Blower ranking
Now that you’re up to speed on leaf blower terminology, let’s move forward with ranking the best Dewalt leaf Blowers on planet Earth.
The Dewalt Flexvolt 60V MAX handheld blower is pretty sweet. One of my favorite things about this blower is that it puts out a deceivingly-high 423 CFM of air with speeds up to 129 MPH. But wait, there’s more!
It also comes with a flat concentrator nozzle that can increase air speeds up to 175 MPH. That is freaking fast.
What is he blowing? Concrete?
This blower comes with a nice brushless motor as well, making it darn near perfect. My only complaint is that most folks looking for a blower are looking for one that is going to push leaves like a dang cannon. This one is more of a sniper, good for wet leaves and smaller areas.
2. DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT Leaf Blower 125-MPH, 600-CFM
What the previous Dewalt blower lacks, this one totally makes up for. This 60V Max Flexvolt Dewalt blower has 600 CFM – which basically means it is a cannon of air. CFMs this high are pretty rare on electric leaf blowers.
Kinda cool looking.
This blower again has a nice brushless motor, a grip that resembles your electric power drill, a variable speed trigger, and a speed lock. I like the speed lock function here because sometimes I want to do mid-speed and my finger cramps holding it at the exact speed I want (first world problems).
Very nice – has a cool red spinny cone for extra effects.
All-in-all, this is a great blower from Dewalt and comes in at just over 9lbs. Comparing this one to the one before, they are both 60V blowers but have different purposes. This one is for pushing big piles of leaves and the other is for smaller spaces and wetter leaves. They are both great blowers, but really fit two different demographics.
The Dewalt 20V Max leaf blower is really good and an amazing price. I wrote about this specific leaf blower once before, but they’ve made some major improvements.
The first major improvement they’ve made is a nice removable concentrator tip. With this blower, you get the best of both worlds. You have the ability to snipe wet leaves or clean off your porch as needed, with the added ability to remove the concentrator and use the wider mouth for shoving big piles of leaves.
This one has all the great things – a brushless motor, a nice variable speed trigger with a lock, and it’s about half the weight of the blower above – just over 5 lbs.
Yep, the one we own.
Holy cow. This one is also relatively quiet (about as much noise as a blender) and is the most affordable of the three.
In my opinion, this is hands-down the best Dewalt blower on the market. The best part is that the 20V battery on this one is one of their most popular battery lines and is what the power drill uses (among hundreds of other tools).
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
How we spend our time now.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM – Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs. CFM and MPH are interrelated on blowers.
Usability – what is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Different types of invasive grass can do more damage than others, but all invasive grasses have one thing in common: they are incredibly annoying.
Don’t ruin this!
Whether you’re preparing your lawn for the first time, or just noticed some weird looking grass growing in your yard – we are going to figure out what type of grass is invading your lawn and what to do about it.
All that time you spent doing a soil test, getting the right fertilizer, watering, and preparing for the perfect lawn can get ruined overnight.
So, let’s get started identifying some of the common invasive grass species.
How to identify your grass type
If you haven’t signed up for our email list to get our full-year green grass guide, you’re missing out on amazing content like the infographic below. This is a great starting point for all grass care – knowing what you’re working with. Once you understand this, creating an action plan for getting rid of invasive grass species will be way easier.
From our year-round grass guide
Common Types of Invasive Grass in Lawn (with action plan)
What good is it knowing what type of invasive grass species is pirating your lawn without a proper action plan to get rid of it? Imagine going to the hospital with a heart attack and they say “Yep, that’s a heart attack. See you later”. NO!
Nutsedge almost looks like a promising, overgrown natural grass that you would like, but turns into a beast that sticks out like a sore thumb. Because of how big and dense it is, it can totally wreak havoc on your yard if it is allowed to proliferate.
Clemson University (garbage football school) recommends a few different methods for getting rid of it. One thing recommended to get rid of it is to dig 10 inches below the nutsedge and an 8-10 inch diameter around it. Certainly possible, but you might as well just dig another few feet and make your own grave with how much that would suck to do.
In reality, Clemson gives really good advice on how to handle it if you are very scientific and have the appropriate equipment. Our advice is to keep it simple.
Nutsedge almost looks good, then gets out of control fast.
How we recommend getting rid of nutsedge invasive grass
While Clemson’s mechanical method is a sure fire way to destroy your life, there are other options. The good news is that you can get a simple spray, which is what we recommend. The bad news is that nutsedge is extremely stubborn, so multiple applications and patience will be required.
Something you can grab at any Home Depot or even on Amazon is Ortho’s Nutsedge Killer for Lawns. It works with purple and yellow nutsedge and is extremely easy to use.
Crabgrass is an annoying late-spring annual weed that is characterized by a central base with stems branching out in a big circle around it. It can form little colonies or neighborhoods of grass and are extremely tough. If you’ve ever tried to pull a big one of these out of your lawn, you know just how difficult it is to completely get out. The central core tends to be very hearty and deep.
These also do well in places like sidewalk and driveway cracks, which can be extremely annoying and difficult to remove.
Super common, super ugly.
How to get rid of crabgrass in your lawn
The best offense is a good defense. During the course of your seasonal lawn care, make sure to apply a pre-emergent herbicide specific to crabgrass in the early spring or even late winter if you can.
Even something really basic like a Scotts Halts Crabgrass can help minimize any crabgrass from getting roots in the middle or late spring. If it’s too late and you see it in your yard, use something easily accessible like a Roundup Crabgrass Destroyer.
Bermudagrass as an invasive grass
Unwanted invasive bermuda is the bane of my existence. I have fescue and live in a transition zone, so bermuda grass pops up at some point in the heat of the summer every year.
Bermuda is a warm season grass and thrives in the heat of the summer under full sun. Many southern states have beautiful bermuda grass – especially big turf fields. But many of us find it to be more of a pest than anything. For me, bermuda shows up on the edges of my lawn during the summer, always ruining the perfect edges.
Bermuda – in MY lawn!
How to get rid of unwanted bermuda grass in your yard
Once you’ve noticed bermuda growing in your yard, grab an easy BioAdvanced Bermudagrass control for lawns. This product is super easy to use and pretty dang effective if you have cool season grass. As a plus, it takes care of crabgrass, foxtail, and a few others.
Clover as an unwanted grass type
Not talking about Lucky Charms – in fact you aren’t lucky at all if you get this. It is a perennial weed that is super common in America. The most common characteristic of clover is obviously the little leaves that people think are lucky, but also some small little flowers.
Clover – remember making those crowns?
I have neighbors that don’t mind clover at all, but for those that are picky like you and me, we want to get rid of them ASAP as possible.
How to get rid of clover in your lawn
Clover is easy to fix because it is a tell-tale sign of an under-loved lawn. Your lawn needs better nutrients if you have clover. If you don’t know what your lawn needs, then take a soil test – don’t just guess and ruin your yard.
Step one is to do a soil test and fertilize your yard, let the good grass grow. Clover also has really shallow roots and is easy to pull out by hand. Lastly, spot treat the rest of your yard with something like a Bonide Clover Killer – this can help make sure it is gone for good.
Wild Onions are an invasive grass
If your lawn makes you cry, it may be because of the onions getting chopped by your mower. This cool season weed grows and forms little bulbs beneath the ground. They aren’t exactly onions but start to look and smell just like them.
image credit: Clemson
You will see wild onions in your lawn most frequently in the autumn, when it starts to cool down a bit. Pulling these up is kind of a fruitless (or vegetable-less effort) because the bulbs will stick in the ground and just keep sprouting.
How to get rid of wild onion in the lawn
Luckily, wild onions aren’t all that hard to kill. There are great options like Ortho WeedClear – a simple product that covers a bunch of different weeds. A simple spray and pray will work here.
Quackgrass is a stubborn invasive grass
I had never known what quackgrass was until I had a friend ask me to write about it for this article. Quackgrass is a true pest. It is a cool season invasive grass that actually releases chemicals that hurt other plants. They grow super fast and are really aggressive.
Broad leaves make it super easy to spot. Photo cred: Purdue.
Maintaining a super healthy lawn is the best way to prevent quackgrass from coming – don’t give it any easy landing spots.
How to get rid of quackgrass in your lawn
Quackgrass sucks. And sadly, there aren’t specific quackgrass killing sprays or solutions. The best thing on the market is good old fashioned RoundUp as soon as possible. Then again and again and again until it gets killed to death.
Green Foxtail invasive grass
Green foxtail is a summer annual that sprouts out really big and tall – almost up to a foot in length. It has these spiky hairs at the very tip which make it extremely easy to identify. You generally won’t see this in your lawn unless you really let it go. Maybe a spot that you miss when you mow – behind the shed or up against the house.
Green foxtail’s distinctive bushy head.
You can cut them down, but they will continue to shoot out the long bristled endings.
How to get rid of green foxtail in your lawn
The best offense is a good defense of course, with applying a nice pre-emergent and nurturing your lawn throughout the year. But if you’re reading this, it is probably too late.
A nice broad spectrum weed control product will work, like good old fashioned RoundUp as mentioned earlier. Simple solution for a simple problem!
Dandelions – common weeds
Who doesn’t know what dandelions are? Probably one of the most famous weeds in the world (besides weed, of course) that everyone is familiar with. Not only the famous yellow characteristic flower, but also the dried out version that people make a wish with.
Photo cred: Clemson.
The all-star of the lawn weeds game doesn’t mean that you are happy to see them. They spread super easily and can actually be pretty ugly when they spread.
How to get rid of dandelion in your lawn
Fortunately since dandelion is so common, it has a billion easy killer solutions. One of the most popular solutions is OrthoWeedClear – the same stuff you can use for clover (two birds, one stone).
Creeping Charlie removal guide
Creeping Charlie is a hard-to-tackle weed that is almost too pretty to kill. It has nice green, round leaves with purple flowers. It is closely related to mint, so actually has a decent smell as well. It won’t grow too tall and does best in shady areas and underneath trees.
Photo cred: Wisconsin University
How to get rid of Creeping Charlie in your lawn
Creeping Charlie can be knocked out with something called Triclopyr Ester, which also works with clover and unwanted bermuda.
Triclopyr is not the most popular lawn product in the world, but will definitely get rid of Creeping Charlie. There are some side effects, however. This product is not great for warm season grasses like Zoysia and Bermuda.
Bluegrass – not the good kind
Bluegrass, when unwanted, is a confusing grass species that almost resembles fescue in its early stages. In fact, I had a friend send me a picture of some bluegrass and ask if his fescue was getting too long.
Kentucky Bluegrass.
Unfortunately, when Bluegrass starts to really grow out, it gets bunched up and grows these little fuzzy heads that stick out like a sore thumb. The fuzzy heads can really start to make your lawn look discolored and then it becomes extremely apparent that you have a problem.
How to get rid of bluegrass in your lawn
The best way to get rid of bluegrass is with a simple spray of RoundUp – the easiest and most common herbicide on the market. The trick with RoundUp is to make sure to apply it when its nice and dry outside without a threat of rain. Otherwise, it will wash right off.
The Bottom Line on invasive grass types
One common thread you will see in each of these weed control methods is to play defense. The best way to prevent weeds and invasive grass in your lawn is to apply a pre-emergent, continue to water your lawn, mow regularly, and make sure your grass is as healthy as can be. Proper aerating and overseeding at the right time of the year is important as well. Crowd out the bad with the good.
Kind of a good life motto as well.
Why we started the Lawn Review
We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. We couldn’t find clarity around what type of products were actually good and reliable. All the fertilizers we tried didn’t work. We ended up with a dying lawn, wasted time, and wasted money.
We take this stuff seriously!
So we started buying and reviewing lawn tools and figuring out which ones were the best. And now we’ve moved onto actually keeping that grass nice and healthy all year around.
We’ve spent thousands of hours building this content for people just like you and me – normal people.
PowerSmart’s battery powered lawn mowers are lesser known in the electric world, but have gas alternatives that are super popular. According to our lawn mower expert Tyler, this is a really good cheap option for small yards.
PowerSmart is known for having extremely well-built, quality products. We reviewed their gas-powered snow blower and were….blown away.
But they’ve recently stepped into the electric lawn mower space. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on one of their brand new mowers, the PowerSmart 40V electric mower.
PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered Lawn Mower: Features and benefits
Let’s check out some of the great features and benefits from the PowerSmart 40V Battery-powered lawn mower. Interested in other PowerSmart mowers?
Using the mower
The most important thing about a lawn mower isn’t how well it cuts, it’s how the mower feels to use. If you are going to be walking a couple of miles in a straight line in your yard, then you want to make sure it is with an intuitive, easy to use mower.
The PowerSmart battery powered mower has five different height settings for cutting the grass. This helps folks with grass like tall fescue, which requires a lifted cutting deck, but also someone with bermuda or zoysia, which requires a shorter cut.
This PowerSmart mower also comes with 3 discharge options: side discharge, mulching, and bagging. We always recommend mulching, which allows for the re-use of the grass clippings as a nice fertilizer for the soil.
This mower comes in at about 42 lbs, which I actually like in an electric mower. The metal deck on this mower means that it is going to be more durable and better downward force for stabilizing the mower.
How to operate the PowerSmart 40V mower
The PowerSmart battery lawn mower comes with a safety key, which is actually really unusual for a lot of battery powered mowers. It only comes with one key, and without it you cannot operate the mower.
Don’t lose that key!
After the key is in place, you simply press the start button, pull down the trigger, and engage the blades.
One thing we also enjoyed about this mower is that it has an indicator light for battery life and another for some sort of system fault (heaven forbid).
The handles are very sensitive.
The trigger is actually pretty sensitive and you’ll want to make sure that you have it pulled down all the way for the entirety of the mowing journey. Any let-up on the trigger at all will cut off the mower.
Bells and whistles on this electric mower
Overall, this mower is pretty basic. It doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles, isn’t self-propelled, and doesn’t have many parts that can break. We really like that it comes in a basic form because it allows the mower to come in at an extremely reasonable price.
Battery life and run-time
PowerSmart claims that this battery can run for 42 minutes, which is usually under optimal conditions. We put this to the test (as seen in our video) and got 56 minutes.
Where the battery goes!
Wow. We really liked this as some of the competitors have been WAY below their advertised time. We almost cut an entire 1/2 acre yard with a single charge. Oh yeah.
We also put the battery recharge time to the test as well. The base has three different light indicators. Blinking red means that it’s charging, alternating red and green if it’s overheated, and solid green when it’s done charging.
Battery charge indicator.
It took about 3 hours to fully charge from dead.
Price and Warranty
The PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered mower comes in at about $280, including the charger and battery. It also comes with a nice 3-year warranty – which is really good.
Official Review: PowerSmart Battery Powered Lawn Mower 40V
The mower has some things to love and a few things not to love. If you have a smaller yard and are looking to get the job done, this is a really good value. It comes in at a great price point and will be good for at least three years.
We did find it a little bit “bumpy” and noisier than we would have liked. With a few small modifications, it could become a lot more comfortable.
If you have a larger yard, I’d probably check out some other mowers, especially some self-propelled ones, that will help tackle the job for you.
All-in-all, the PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered mower is a great value mower. You can pick it up straight from PowerSmart.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
We take testing seriously.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in an electric lawn mower
When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:
Brand quality
Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
The Stihl FSA 45 string trimmer has a feature I’ve never seen on any string trimmer, and I’ve used and reviewed DOZENS of string trimmers.
Stihl string trimmers are some of the most widely used trimmers in the world by both landscapers and homeowners alike.
Stihl has a new line of battery string trimmers. We have already reviewed the Stihl FSA 57 string trimmer and next up on our list is the Stihl FSA 45 cordless trimmer.
Bottom Line: While you likely won’t find a landscaper using the STIHL FSA 45 string trimmer (unless he’s being punished), there are still plenty of folks who would love this string trimmer.
Today, we are going to break down some of the features that make it unique – the good, bad, and ugly.
Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer: Features and benefits
The Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer is a unique cordless trimmer that has become super popular. Let’s break down some of the features of this new weed eater.
I can work with that.
The string trimmer lacks desirable power
The new battery line from Stihl is where you begin to see a deviation from Stihl’s rich history. Stihl has always been one of the toughest, most professionally-driven, powerful lawn tool manufacturers on the face of the Earth.
Their new battery products are not really all that powerful, but if you’re a homeowner with a small yard and looking for reliable products, then it is hard to beat Stihl.
The FSA 45 is not the most powerful. In fact, it only has a 9 inch cutting swath, which is definitely one of the smallest I’ve reviewed. For reference, most commercial string trimmers have a 15 inch cutting width. 9 is really small and is only really good for little here-and-there trimming around the yard. This will not be a reliable trimmer for thicker brush, edging, or very tall grass.
Sad!
Looks about right…
It claims that it can cut up to 3 football fields worth of length on a single battery, but the battery only runs for 12 minutes. Not sure you could cover all of that in 12 minutes, so who knows (should we put this to the test?!).
The battery system is confusing
The Stihl FSA 45 is a part of Stihl’s new AI series – not sure what AI stands for, but it means that the battery is integrated into the tool. Yep, most battery tools have one that pops off. This one is more like an electric car; you plug it in to the wall to keep it charged and then pop it off to get going.
This has some benefits but also some major drawbacks. Firstly, it’s nice to have a sleeker product that is just one solid piece. No worrying about buying extra batteries or having to keep a charger taking up plug space all the time.
A major drawback is that for each one of these integrated tools, it’s basically like having a separate battery system. There is no synergy, no ability to pop off a battery and put it on another tool to keep going, no incentive to buy more Stihl products to save money on batteries.
Good for the small stuff, not for the big stuff
It actually kind of sucks. But if you have a tiny yard and don’t need a bunch of fancy tools, then a small electric mower and this string trimmer are all you really need.
Stihl’s FSA 45 is light and easy to use
The Stihl FSA 45 string trimmer absolutely shines in the usability department. It really is designed for the common homeowner who doesn’t spend a ton of time in their yard. It is extremely comfortable and easy to use. At just over 5 lbs, it is super lightweight.
Battery light indicator is cool.
A few features we really liked about this one:
It comes with a loop that allows you to hang it on the wall. Garage storage is always an issue with lawn tools, so this one tries to make it nice and easy.
You have built in battery life notifications right on the tool without the need to separate the battery
It’s got a nice, easy to use handle. Honestly it feels like using a Swiffer or some other easy to use house cleaning tool.
It has an activation key, which is good and bad because it would suck to lose it.
This thing is all about convenience and ease of use – so this is really the most well-developed part of the trimmer.
Can do some liiiiight edging.
The weed eater is affordable
The Stihl FSA 45 sells for about $140. This is a DECENT price for this tool. You can get some string trimmers for a much lower price. Since this doesn’t come with a separate battery, why not just grab a more cost effective tool?
Stihl FSA 45 Battery Powered Weed Eater String
We developed our own weed eater string that is built to make weed eaters like the Stihl FSA 45 more powerful. Check it out!
Overall Review: Stihl FSA 45 cordless trimmer
The Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer is a great, lightweight, easy to use string trimmer with a great brand name behind it. However, if you are looking for more power or something of equal caliber but at a lower price, then I recommend continuing to search elsewhere.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
Our jobs.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
How to instantly improve your weed eater
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Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.
With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.
Stihl’s reputation
Stihl is still at it! Pumping out high quality product after high quality product. They’re thought of as one of the GOATS of the yard product game. The boys in orange are known to have a superior product to their competitors. The Stihl FS 56 RC Trimmer is a top notch trimmer that falls right in line with some of their other awesome products.
Comparing a Stihl gas blower to an EGO battery blower.
The world’s largest chainsaw manufacturer, the company moved some operations to Virginia in the 1970s and opened up their first factory dedicated to a single chainsaw. They have continued to master their craft and expand their product offers in the lawn care space.
Stihl has a great reputation that many commercial landscapers rely on each day. Many residential owners will be more than pleased with their products.
Gas vs Electric String Trimmer
When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2022 it’s important to understand your power source options. It basically boils down to gas or electric. Electric trimmers are typically easier to start and usually maintenance is a breeze. They also have less of a noise and environmental impact. Electric trimmers are usually a good bet for small to medium-sized jobs.
Trimmers powered by gas usually end up having more power and are more suitable for larger, more commercial type applications. This is mainly due to the issues the professionals have with keeping them charged. But not all of us are professionals, we just want a badass string trimmer from Stihl.
The Craftsman V20 mower was surprisingly powerful and provided a solid cut, despite some weird nuances.
We break down the Craftsman V20 mower.
Craftsman is one of the most popular outdoor power brands in the game – with a presence in mowers, automotive tools, and even some household appliances. One of the GOATs in the power tool game just introduced a lawn mower from their new V20 series.
Bottom Line: This is a great mower for the money – a brushless motor, sleek design, and really easy to use. You can grab it at Lowe’s!
Craftsman V20 Brushless Electric Mower: Features and Benefits
As mentioned before, Craftsman is a big name in the tool space. They are bringing their immense knowledge and product lineup to the big stage with the arrival of their new V20 mower. We were lucky enough to get our hands on this mower for a pretty thorough inspection.
Using the Craftsman V20 Brushless Mower
Right off the bat, this mower doesn’t have the standard design you normally see from a gas mower. It has a slightly odd look where it appears flat and kind of goofy. It has smaller plastic wheels that feel cheap, but has five different settings for height adjustment of the cutting deck. It also has the ability to fold in half for easy storage.
To start the mower, you simply place the safety key in the “ignition”, press the start button on the side, and hold down the bar to initiate the motor. Then simply keep the bar held together and begin walking – just like a normal gas push mower.
Safety key + ignition.
At first glance, the mower appears cheap and plastic-y. In fact, one thing I noticed that I didn’t love right away was that the batteries don’t have an available battery life indicator that you can see while you are mowing. If you take the batteries out, you can check the battery life, but not while you mow.
From a functional perspective, it does have a 3-in-1 cutting system. This is pretty standard for push mowers. The capabilities are mulching, side discharge, and bagging the grass clippings.
Craftsman V20 battery charge time and run times: tested
The Craftsman V20 brushless mower has an advertised run time of about 50 minutes. Well – we put that to the test in our backyard.
We got about 27 minutes into mowing our lawn before it died. Yikes! Granted, the lawn was a little wet but still – that’s barely half of the advertised time!
Separate charging stations (would rather have one).
When we took them in to charge, it took each battery well over 3 hours to charge. Not great!
I honestly expected a bit more from the batteries on this, but with a 20V battery you won’t see the same run time you would from an EGO or Ryobi battery, with much higher voltages.
You can see the batteries, just not how much juice there is.
Definitely a lot to be desired when it comes to batteries, but I can’t overstate how nice it is to have one battery system for several tools. Despite the underwhelming run time, I would still recommend the Craftsman V20 mower to anyone who already owns V20 tools.
Price and Warranty of the Craftsman V20
The Craftsman V20 battery powered mower is on sale for about $329 right now at Lowe’s. Not bad actually. You can also get the version without the batteries and chargers for a lower price – another benefit to owning the batteries already.
Mower deck looks pretty good – a single blade that gets things done.
The Official Review: Craftsman V20 Brushless Electric Mower
We wanted to hate this mower. We really did. It looked like a toy and was mostly plastic. The battery run-time wasn’t what was advertised.
But boy is it hard to hate. Despite all of the quirky things about it, it cut my super long fescue lawn like my gas mower does. It got the job done without all the bells and whistles.
you can see it on my face – impressed!
It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, easy to store, and does what it is supposed to do.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
How we spend our days now.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
The Best Black and Decker string trimmer is the 20V Max 12-inch string trimmer that has a two-in-one functionality that allows it to also be a great edger. I like this Black and Decker weed eater because it is super lightweight, inexpensive, and great for beginners.
Black + Decker 20V MAX PowerConnect 10 in string trimmer and sweeper
Black + Decker 20V Max 10 inch string trimmer (LST201)
5 Best Black and Decker String Trimmers (RANKED)
The beautiful thing about the Black and Decker string trimmers is that one of them, if not all of them, are always on sale on Amazon. That’s where we recommend grabbing these, mostly because of their great return policy and quick shipping. You can also grab them at your local Home Depot.
5. Black + Decker 20V Max 10 inch string trimmer (LST201)
One of the most basic, simple, and least expensive string trimmers on the market, the 20V MAX 10 inch string trimmer from Black and Decker is a bargain.
Fewer parts to break!
Although I would never use this in a big yard, for small yards this trimmer is great. This is a very basic trimmer that is going to be just fine cleaning up small patches of grass that you missed mowing and giving a nice, clean line that you would expect from any other trimmer.
Definitely don’t get this if you have a yard with more than ¼ of an acre – you’ll need more power for sure.
All-in-all, this is a really good price for someone looking to make a quick, easy buy. You can get it on Amazon for well under $100.
4. Black + Decker 20V MAX PowerConnect 10 in string trimmer and sweeper combo
While this is likely actually the least powerful of the string trimmers on this list, Black + Decker made it an enticing combo by throwing in a sweeper. The combination here means that you get a nice lawn tool set-up without breaking the bank.
Two for one is always fun.
This 20V MAX string trimmer is about 10 inches, which has to be one of the smaller string trimmers in production. Fortunately, it can still flip to an edger and be used for both. This is the ideal string trimmer for someone with a tiny yard who wants to do it all with only a few tools.
To make it even better, they throw in a little mini-blower that can help clean up the grass clippings and do some light-duty leaf blowing.
This Black and Decker string trimmer isn’t battery-powered, but is a great corded electric string trimmer. While it isn’t going to provide you the same portability that a battery powered string trimmer provides, it gives you reliable power without being concerned about the battery charge.
This is a nice, big trimmer and won’t run out of battery.
Other than requiring an extension cord, this string trimmer is great. It has a perfect size at about 14 inches and has a lot of the same capabilities as the big dogs. One thing I love about it is the automatic feed spool feature, which will automatically send out more trimmer lines when you start to run low.
Super light.
The last thing I will say about this weed eater is that it is pretty short and lightweight, so it is super easy to store wherever you need to put it. At just under 6 lbs and about 3 feet long, it can practically go anywhere. We own this one and did a full review of the 14 inch 6.5 A version.
2. Black and Decker 40V MAX 13in. 2in1 cordless string trimmer/edger with POWERCOMMAND Kit
This one wins the award for longest name. Actually, of all the string trimmers on this list, this one is definitely the most heavy duty. It has the classic 13 inch string trimmer, which is great for medium yards, but also has the wheel conversion to an edger. At 13 inches, this will actually produce a pretty sweet edger (for a string trimmer).
I love that this one uses a 40V battery as well, a nice step up from the 20V series the other trimmers use. This one also comes with a dial that controls how much power you’d like to use, giving you control over the runtime.
They have great hedge trimmers!
With the 40V battery, you can use things like the snow blower, chainsaw, hedge trimmers, or lawnmower. Step up your game with this trimmer and build your garage around the 40V series.
1. BLACK+DECKER 20V Max String Trimmer/Edger, 12-Inch (LSTE525)
Probably the best mix of versatility, power, and price – the 12-inch 20V Max string trimmer wins the number one spot. This trimmer comes with a decently-sized 12-inch cutting swath that’s big enough for medium yards and small enough for small yards. It also includes the wheel on the top that allows you to flip this tool to an edger-type of tool to clean up the lines around your driveway or sidewalk.
Reminds me of the GT Revolution from WORX.
The beauty of this product is that the 20V Max series is huge with BLACK+DECKER and can be used with tons of other tools. From a usability perspective, it also has a nice easy-feed system to get the trimmer line out after it gets beaten up.
Super easy to use!
All-in-all, this one packs the same punch as some of the bigger brands with the price of one way smaller. 10,000 reviews on Amazon back me up on this one.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
We take tool testing seriously.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in a string trimmer
Cordless weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:
Feel – Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. Bad. You are going to be using this often and for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable.
Motor – brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Brushless motors also produce more torque and less heat. With Black and Decker having a more “budget-friendly” line, you may not be able to find this without spending the big bucks.
Batteries – Try to get a battery that can be used with other tools. For example, I have Black and Decker’s 20V battery for my power drill – getting a trimmer that takes the same battery is great for saving money and wall space for charging.
Curved vs Straight shaft – I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing”, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.
The best place to store your lawn mower is a garage or shed, but if you don’t have those you can get creative and still keep the mower safe.
I like to live dangerously.
You have to have a lawn mower to stay on top of your grass. But there just simply isn’t a good place for it. It won’t fit in your garage – can you leave it outside? Can you put it in a shed? Under a deck? INSIDE?!
Many people are so annoyed by trying to find a solid spot for their mower they just give up and hire a landscaper – losing thousands of dollars per year in the process.
But those of us that have been around a while know a few tricks. Thankfully, technology has changed, too. So let’s break down the best ways to store a lawn mower.
Storing a lawn mower has several nuances. First, we need to examine the type of lawn and be realistic. If you have a massive zero-turn mower, this thing is going to need its own garage space or at the very least a well-protected carport. Many zero-turn mowers can be up to five feet across – and those are just the blades. You won’t find a good outdoor location for this and will want to keep it well protected from the elements. Most sheds won’t do either. Landscapers can get by with keeping them on the backs of trailers during the summer, but these need dedicated indoor space during the winter.
Not easy to store this lawn mower..
Lawn tractors have similar requirements, but can sometimes be stored between cars in a well-spaced out garage. Many folks with large yards also have a lot of garage space and can make use of it for stashing a 3 foot wide mower.
Push mowers are the trickiest. With smaller yards come fewer places to store things. But let’s see what we can do.
Best Place To Store A Lawn Mower
Hands down, the best place to store a lawn mower is in the garage. The garage offers a decently insulated, dry area for storage. While it’s a total luxury, it hands down will be the best way to keep your mower from rusting, fading, or exposing the plastic parts to extreme temperature volatility that would result in cracks.
Personally, I have mine in the garage in the back corner and pull my truck a few inches away from it each time. It is a tight squeeze, but I make it work to keep the mower protected.
If you don’t have the space for a mower to take up a portion of your garage, think again. There are many mowers these days (battery-powered) that allow for you to fold the mower in half and have it in a much smaller space in your garage.
The fact of the matter is that this will still take up at least 20-24 inches of width, with somewhere between 12-16 inches of length.
If you don’t have the space, then let’s move outdoors.
Sheds are great storage spots for lawn mowers
If you don’t have a garage, your next best location to store a lawn mower is in a shed. If you have one already, great. If not, we can help out. Here’s what to look for in a shed for storing lawn mowers.
Well-insulated
You want your shed to be able to keep out most of the elements. While it won’t do much to protect against temperature, having one that is waterproof will really help prevent rusting. It’s also important to keep the shed close to your house, in a shaded location. This will allow it to stay somewhat protected from the elements and keep it relatively cool.
Secure
Get a shed for your lawn mower that locks! Lawn mowers can cost upwards of $1,000 – don’t invite thieves by keeping it wide open for the whole world.
Flush with the ground
You will have a hard time getting your mower in and out of a shed if you have to lift it or somehow get it over a big lip in the entrance. I say this because you are pushing a machine with a blade. You don’t want the blade getting caught on ANYTHING. Get a shed that is flush to the ground that allows you to easily wheel it in and out.
Something with rack space
Don’t just get a lawn mower storage shed. Get a shed that you can use with a bunch of things. We recommend getting a storage rack for your other lawn tools to go with it.
now THIS is some premium shed space
So what’s the best shed for lawn mowers?
We found a lawn mower shed that has all the things you’re looking for. I did some annoyingly extensive research on sheds (you’d be surprised) and found one on Amazon that comes at a pretty great price point and has all the things I’ve mentioned.
The Rubbermaid Resin Weather Resistant Outdoor Storage Shed is pretty slick.
Actually looks kinda upscale.
It comes in a ton of configurations, but honestly the 5 ft by 2 ft version will work for basically all push mowers. I’d say 95% of push mowers are below 22 inches, so the 2 ft version can easily accommodate them without taking up too much space.
Here’s what we like about it:
Weather resistant
It’s in the name. Has a pretty dang durable outer surface that provides serious protection but is also thin enough to not be bulky.
Thick but not bulky – nice!
Durable
Not just to weather, but looks really durable and will avoid scratches. The big bad wolf will likely not be able to blow this house down.
Well-designed
Just about perfectly flush with the ground allowing you to roll the mower right in. Is not an eyesore in the backyard, either, with a decent design. It also has a nice spot for a lock, so keep the thieves at bay.
Many functions
Has a lot of different attachments you can add into the inside for whatever you want stored.
Okay – you don’t have a garage and a shed is out of the question right now – what do you do?
You still have options. Depending on where you live, you might be able to get away with outdoor storage as a temporary solution.
If you have to store your lawn mower outdoors, consider these things:
Try to keep it dry
Keep your lawn mower dry at all costs. Not only can you avoid rust, but also avoid water building up in places that it shouldn’t be.
Tuck it close to your house, underneath your deck, on top of a patio, whatever – but make sure to keep it dry.
Additionally (or alternatively), throw a tarp over that sucker. Obviously it doesn’t have to be big, but something to keep it from getting directly drenched will help.
Try to keep it shaded
Heat can do silly things to equipment – causing plastic parts to expand, the color to deteriorate, and overall wear down your mower.
You can use the same methods of keeping it dry to keep it shaded.
Keep it in a non-grassy area
Sounds counterintuitive since the mower is used to being in the grass, but giving the blades some breathing room can help keep the blades sharpened and also prevent rusting.
Move it onto a gravel or mulch section where something is not making constant contact with the blades.
Those are our tips. Good luck, Godspeed, and save up for a shed, please. Don’t have the money? Start mowing some lawns for money.
Alternative Storage Ideas for Lawn Mowers
Still looking? Seriously?
Okay, we’ve got some outside of the box and new ways to store lawn mowers that don’t involve garages, sheds, or the great outdoors.
We are talking about the great indoors.
Yep.
A lot of these electric mowers nowadays can fold in half like a dang lawn chair and weigh under 50 lbs.
No, you may not want to store it inside all the time, but during the winter – definitely.
The Toro Lawn Mower stores upright like this and doesn’t have gas that can leak.
Here’s how:
Give it a nice and complete spray down. Not only do you want to get rid of any bugs, but you want to get all the caked on grass completely off of the blades of the mower.
Hand dry the blades quickly after to prevent rusting (be careful).
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
We take tool testing seriously.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
The battery powered Toro Recycler SmartStow 60V mower was a bit of a let down. I expected this Toro mower to be perfect – and it was just okay.
I love it!
Toro mowers are one of the best selling gas mowers in the Milky Way galaxy (and beyond). Making the switch to battery is a huge task. Aren’t battery mowers weaker? And plastic? And can it break easily?
This Toro Recycler Battery mower is durable, solid as a rock, and has the foundations of a great mower. I do think it is a bit overpriced given some of the others on the market, but you can check if the price dropped at Home Depot here.
Let’s hop into what might become the household staple of the future. The red Toro Lawn Mower that is in just about every garage, except battery-powered. This one even made our list of mowers for bermudagrass.
#1!!
The Toro Recycler Battery Mower is as powerful as gas
Gauging power output on a battery-powered mower is always tough when compared to gas mowers. Gas mowers have cubic centimeter displacement, or ccs, that give you a good idea and are more widely recognized.
Battery mowers have voltage (V), which generally correlates to power. It also has Amp-hours (Ah) which correlates to run-time. The 60V Toro Recycler SmartStow battery mower is an above-average voltage for a walk-behind battery mower.
I would compare the Toro Recycler’s power output to somewhere around 175 cc on a gas mower.
In layman’s terms, this thing can keep up with and even exceed most gas walk-behind mowers. It will sound different, but the cutting power is really the same.
Same, same – but different.
One thing I will mention related to power is the motor type. This comes with a great Brushless motor, meaning more torque, a cooler running motor, and a durable long-lasting tool.
The 60V battery run time
Battery life may be the biggest concern if you are switching to a Toro SmartStow battery mower for the first time. Up above, I mentioned Amp-hours as the measurement of how long the battery will run. You can get the Toro Recycler SmartStow in either a 5 or 6 Ah battery package. I recommend going with the 6 Ah for more run time.
In a normal yard, you will be able to cut for about 45 minutes, which is really pretty great for a battery powered mower. In terms of size, you will be able to cut about ⅓ of an acre with this on a single charge.
Can be used with a ton of other Toro 60V tools.
The beauty of the 60V battery on the Toro Recycler SmartStow battery mower is that it can be used with the trimmer, blower, and chainsaw. One battery can give you several different tools. That’s why if you go with the Toro 60V, you should make sure to check out other products in the Toro 60V line to save some serious money by purchasing the “tool-only” versions.
Just as a forewarning, running your mower with the self-propelled function on will noticeably burn the battery as compared to just pushing it the old fashioned way.
SmartStow battery mower has zero maintenance
My favorite part about battery mowers in general is that they require basically no maintenance. At all. And they start reliably every time without having to pull a cord a dozen times.
No spilling gas all over your garage, no oil changes or filter changes, and no smelling like gasoline (which I actually like).
No pull-cord, just push to start.
You can simply press a button and get going.
As you may have read at the beginning of this article, it’s also really important to have a mower with a metal decking. Thankfully, the Toro Recycler battery mower has a nice 21 inch or 22 inch steel deck, whichever size you buy.
The steel deck means that you get the reliability and durability you would expect from Toro.
Bells and whistles on the Toro 60V mower
Some other features of the Toro Recycler Battery mower include the rear-drive self-propelled function. I’m a bit picky, but if I get a self-propelled mower, I actually prefer it to have front-wheel drive so that it can help pull the mower over certain spots.
Oddly, the Toro Recycler has this top air-intake system that is supposed to pull air up through the bottom of the mower and make grass stand taller before it gets cut. This contraption is heavily marketed but doesn’t seem to work at all. In fact, it looks like the vent doesn’t actually connect to the bottom of the mower.
The Toro Recycler SmartStow has a 9-position cutting height range, which is almost excessive but nice that you have this many options. You’;’ll be able to cut all types of grass, from fescue to zoysia.
The last part is the Recycler Cutting System, which is how this mower gets its name. One of my favorite things about Toro is that they patented the term LawnVitamins, or very finely trimmed grass clippings created from their Recycler series.
Cost of the Toro mower
The Toro Recycler SmartStow comes in at about $500 depending on the size and the battery that you get. This is a pretty reasonable price considering that it is going to last you for quite some time.
As is true with all brand-names, you are definitely paying a bit more for the “Toro” logo printed on the side.
Official Review: Toro Recycler SmartStow 60V Battery Mower
From Toro, this is exactly what I would expect. It is high-quality, well-made, durable, and reliable. I believe over the years we will see this mower become the dominant replacement for folks using gas mowers nowadays.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
This is how we spend our days
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in an electric lawn mower
When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:
Brand quality
Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
The best battery powered lawn edger is the Greenworks Pro 80V lawn edger because it is super easy to use and comes with a great battery system from Greenworks.
We constantly get compliments about having the best grass in the neighborhood. But honestly, our grass itself looks just like each of our neighbors. So what’s the difference?
Clean, crisp borders around the yard separating the driveway and walkway from the grass. It is a small, subtle change but makes all the difference. Think about it like framing your yard. Imagine the Mona Lisa without a frame. It would look like something your kid would bring home to hang on the fridge (maybe a little better).
The new battery lawn edgers are awesome. So let’s check out which ones are the absolute best.
Bottom line – Here is our ranking of the best battery lawn edgers:
Let’s get started! There are some great brands here, but a few that really stick out for their power, reliability, and price.
5. DEWALT DCED472X1 Edger
Dewalt is a household name, but not necessarily for lawn tools. Mostly known for their power drills, saws, and other contractor-grade equipment, Dewalt is a well-trusted and well-known brand.
Recently, they’ve dug into lawn tools and have put out some surprisingly high-quality, competitive stuff.
The gentle slope is a nice detail!
Their edger is actually pretty sweet. One of my favorite things about it is the squeeze trigger, which is way more comfortable on the hand and also provides a bit of a safety to prevent kids from using it.
The edger is really an attachment on their multi-tool, which has a bunch of different heads that give you a full toolkit to craft your yard around.
This one was designed by pros, as it has a gentle slope going into the edger to ensure that it is flush with the surface and providing a deep, clean cut.
The Dewalt battery lawn edger is on sale on Amazon right now and is normally a steep price, but also includes the head that can attach a ton of other tools.
4. Kobalt 80-Volt Max 8-in Cordless Electric Lawn Edger
Kobalt is one of those brands that was exclusively sold in Lowe’s stores across the country, then randomly showed up online and did really well. Kobalt has some high quality products and are a personal favorite of ours in the aesthetics department. They have a nice navy blue and black combo that is sleek and not some fluorescent color.
Kobalt’s 80V Max series is a great series to build a battery powered tool set around. They have an awesome mower and a bunch of really good blowers.
Kobalt’s products look cool.
One of my favorite things about this edger is that it is LONG, which I like for surgical precision when edging. It also has a nice brushless motor, which means more torque, a cooler motor, and longer life.
This one is for sale at Lowe’s – the perfect buy if you already own a Kobalt 80V Max battery.
3. EGO Power+ ME0800 8-Inch Edger Attachment & Power Head
EGO has great products, hands down. The power head is one of, if not the absolute best, top power heads on the market. Super versatile, reliable, and powerful. The EGO power head is a dang steal.
I like EGO Power+ products because they all use the 56V battery, from the lawn mower to the blower to the edger.
EGO products are built to last.
There isn’t anything particularly special or snazzy about this product, but it is one that I know and trust to do the job without fail. Driving around your neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, I bet you’ll see one of these hanging in your neighbor’s garage. It will still be there in 5 years. Good stuff.
Greenworks is one of our favorites brands – they have great products that are durable and reliable.
Their 40V series is awesome and can be used with over 60 tools. It is a great battery line to go with if you are looking to build out your lawn tool kit around a single battery.
The 40V edger they have is great. It has all the necessary ingredients for a great edger and similar to the EGO, comes with the power head that can be used with a bunch of different attachments.
That brushless motor at the base is cool, but also dangerous.
I ranked this one number two because it has the brushless motor (which is great) down at the bottom of the tool, where it is vulnerable to hitting pavement and breaking. Otherwise, this battery lawn edger is great.
It comes with a ton of reviews and a great price on Amazon, where you can also get the multi tool power head.
1. Greenworks Pro 80V 8 inch Brushless Edger
Greenworks’ Pro 80V battery line is the supreme battery-powered lawn tool line. They have an amazing 80V mower, incredibly powerful blowers, and this awesome edger.
This battery lawn edger is a dedicated edger – not part of a system of interchangeable parts. And it means business.
It has all the things you look for in an edger. Amazing battery system, easy to use handle, 4 year warranty, adjustable handle, brushless motor – the works.
The battery system here allows it to run for over 80 minutes, which is way more than you would ever need but speaks to the power of the 80V battery.
Coming in at about 17lbs, it’s surprisingly light and usable considering how long it is and how much power it puts out.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
How we spend our time.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What’s the difference between trimming and edging?
Let’s set the record straight here. Edging and trimming are two very different things that are often mixed up.
Edging utilizes a motorized blade that digs into the dirt between a hard surface (street, driveway, sidewalk) and your yard. Edgers push up dirt and dig a small little trench that cleanly separates the yard and surface. Edgers can do a little bit of trimming if grass is growing over the surface, but are not designed for full-scale grass shredding.
Trimmers are used to cut stray grass not reached or not accessible by mowing. Trimmers can also be used to cut the grass between hard surfaces and the yard, but don’t quite have the capability to edge as well as an edger does.
Nicely edged lawn.
Is it worth buying a battery lawn edger?
In my opinion, absolutely. Most trimmers now come with detachable heads that allow for an edger to pop right on. Edgers are what take your yard from good to great.
Can you edge with a trimmer? Can you trim with an edger?
If you are an absolute pro and have a high-powered trimmer, you can do some mild edging with a trimmer. If you use the GrassKicker weed eater string, you can get a really, really good edging job even with a weaker weed eater. Check it out below.
You still will not be able to dig way down deep to cause the best separation from surfaces, but it will give a similar appearance for a shorter amount of time.
You cannot trim with an edger unfortunately. The blade is just too big to finely cut small fragments of grass.
The best mower for hilly yards is the Greenworks Pro 80V Brushless Self-propelled mower because it has a strong self-propelled feature that does much of the heavy lifting. Lawn mowers and steep banks and hills don’t often get along. You end up hauling the dang mower straight up a hill, or try to do it sideways and end up missing a bunch of spots.
Today, I’ll break down my favorite mowers for mowing a hilly or sloped front yard:
It was hard to narrow down, but I was able to distill the list down to just three. I have to tell you, these three are titans in the electric lawn game. I am not bringing any bush league mowers to my recommendation list. These are not only top mowers for steep banks, but also top battery powered mowers in general. Let’s get started.
3. Makita XML03CM1 18” Brushless lawn mower
Makita mowers are pretty sweet. If you have owned any Makita products before, likely one of their power drills, you know that they have super high-quality products.
I put this mower at number three for a few reasons. For starters, it is heavier than the other two, coming in at over 80 lbs. It also does not have a self propelled function, meaning you are going to be pushing that 80 lbs, which is the average weight of a regular gas mower.
Not bad!
I have this one at number three because it is a high quality mower that is extremely durable without being overkill on size. If you have a big property, this one is the type I would keep for steep banks and hills that my lawn tractor or zero turn couldn’t reach or were unsafe. It uses the same batteries that are found in the power drills, saving you a ton of money on a new set of batteries.
2. Greenworks 40V 16” Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
Greenworks is one of our favorite brands because they ONLY do battery powered lawn equipment. So they are the pros.
Anyways, we love the 40V 16” cordless mower from Greenworks because it is small and light. This mower is perfect for effortlessly tackling the steep banks and hills. Many people are concerned about having to push a mower, when in reality the difficult part is holding onto the mower if you are fighting gravity downhill. This is true if you cut in a vertical pattern and are moving downwards with the mower. It is also tough when cutting horizontally and trying to keep the mower straight instead of toppling over.
Gets the job done and light as a feather.
Worry no more – this mower weighs less than 40 lbs, making it an extremely easy to use mower for steep banks and hills. At 16 inches, you don’t have to worry about it taking up a ton of space in your garage, either.
In fact, this is one of the most popular mowers ever purchased on Amazon, with over 8,000 review comments left. You will probably see your neighbor with one.
1. Greenworks Pro 80V 21-inch Brushless Self-propelled Mower
Bring in the big dog. This mower is perfect in just about every way.
Brushless motor. Self propelled. Steel cutting deck. Amazing brand. Battery line that works with all Greenworks 80V products.
It is really a dream mower.
Thing of beauty!
I love it for hills because it can do a lot of the marching uphill for you. An underrated component of this mower is that it’s self-propelled function will help hold a steady and straight line when mowing horizontally on a hill. So basically you feel like you’re sideways, but the mower keeps marching forward.
This one is lighter than most gas mowers as well. You’ll be surprised at what it feels like to use on hills.
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
Testing sometimes hurts.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in an electric lawn mower
When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:
Brand quality
Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers.
What you need to tackle hills with a lawn mower
Steep hills and embankments give every homeowner a fit. We all know the challenges they present, which is why we wrote this article. Here’s what you need in a mower for steep hills:
Lightweight – it has to be able to be easily controlled and not topple over or get off track.
Self-propelled – this not only helps push the mower for you, but will keep the wheels moving straight with its forward momentum
Battery-powered – if you have a really steep hill, you can definitely run into issues with gas not funneling into the engine. Battery powered mowers avoid that.
A walk-behind mower – even if you have a big property, I would separately purchase a walk-behind mower for the steepest part of the hills or steep banks.
