Adequate lawn care is absolutely necessary if you’re looking to keep your lawn in an exemplary condition.
While a well-maintained lawn can add a level of aesthetic appeal to your property, an unkempt lawn can really make your property look ugly.
To be able to take care of your lawn, you should be equipped with the most efficient lawn care tools.
Two of the most widely used and also the most important lawn care tools are mowers and trimmers.
People usually start with trimmers and move up to lawnmowers as they get a better hold of lawn care techniques and equipment.
If you have recently taken up the responsibility of keeping your lawn in shape, the lawnmower vs string trimmer debate is something you might have come across.
If you’re looking for a definite lawnmower vs string trimmer comparison, this blog post has everything that you need to know.
By the end of it, you will have a clear understanding of what each of these tools is, what it does, and, most importantly, which one is better among the two.
If you’d like to see a graphical breakdown of the lawnmower vs. string trimmer, we got you covered:

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Contents
Lawn Mowers

A lawnmower is a lawn care machine that cuts the grass to an even height. Lawnmowers make use of one or more blades that are present on the underside of the machine.
These blades move continuously and cut the grass. The cutting height is either fixed, or it can be adjusted in newer models with the help of a lever system.
Lawnmowers are the ideal tool if you prefer the grass of your lawn to be of a consistent height. Lawnmowers keep lawns looking healthy and thick!
Types of Lawn Mowers
There are many types of lawnmowers that you will come across.
Each type comes with unique specifications and is fit for multiple types of lawns.
You can choose the type of lawnmower depending on your lawn care preferences.
Types of Lawn Mowers On The Basis Of Blades
There are three types of lawnmowers, depending on the type of blades they have. These are as follows:
1. Cylinder Lawn Mowers

Cylinder lawnmowers have vertically rotating, cylindrical blades present at the front of the mower. These rotating blades cut the grass against a fixed blade present on the bottom of the mower.
The best cylinder lawnmowers have three or more blades.
If you have a flat lawn that you wish to keep short and very well-manicured, cylinder type lawn mowers are the best option for you.
As for their power options, they can be push mowers, petrol-powered, or electric powered.
2. Rotary Lawn Mowers

Rotary lawnmowers consist of a single rotating blade that rotates horizontally under the mower, similar to the propellers of an airplane.
These lawnmowers are the most versatile as compared to other types of mowers on the market, and they can cope with almost all types of grass.
They cut rougher and longer grass better than cylinder lawnmowers. Rotary lawnmowers can be petrol-powered, electric-powered, or battery-powered.
3. Hover Lawn Mowers

As you can tell by the name, the main feature of hover lawn mowers is that they hover slightly above the ground, which makes them very easy to push over uneven surfaces.
If your lawn has an unusual shape or has an uneven surface, a hover lawn mower is probably the best option for you.
Hover lawnmowers are usually electric-powered and consist of rotary blades.
However, the one drawback of these lawnmowers is that they’re not always appropriate to be used for large lawns.
Types of Lawn Mowers On The Basis of Power Source
Lawnmowers can be divided into different types on the basis of their power sources.
They can be electric-powered or fuel-powered.
The types of lawnmowers on this basis have been listed down below:
1. Electric-Powered Lawn Mowers

These lawnmowers run on electricity.
They are small in size and the best for you if your lawn is small to medium-sized.
2. Cordless Lawn Mowers

As the name indicates, these lawnmowers are cordless.
So how do they run?
Well, they’re battery-powered.
They are equipped with all the benefits of an electric lawnmower, with the added benefit of not having to worry about the cable.
3. Petrol-Powered Lawn Mowers

If your garden is fairly large, petrol-powered lawn mowers are the best for you. They use petrol as their source of fuel. They are highly powerful but require regular engine maintenance.
4. Gasoline Lawn Mowers

Gas lawn mowers run on gas. While they are very powerful, they produce too much noise and fumes, which means that they’re quite an inconvenient and unhealthy option.
5. Push Lawn Mowers

Push lawn mowers need to be pushed around manually.
They are a great option if your lawn is small as you won’t get too tired pushing this kind of lawnmower around.
Pros of Lawn Mowers
There are numerous reasons why you should invest in a good lawn mower for your lawn maintenance.
The pros of a lawnmower are listed below:
- Mowing the garden with a lawnmower is less time-consuming
- Powered lawn mowers use less physical power
- The height adjustment option delivers a perfectly-leveled lawn
- Lawnmowers collect the grass cuttings along the way, which saves you from the tiring work of clearing away the cuttings
- It is safe to use
Cons of Lawn Mowers
Lawnmowers are vital lawn care tools, but they do come with some cons:
- They are expensive
- They can be used on flat surfaces only
- They cannot be used to trim the edges
- Gas-powered lawn mowers produce harmful fumes and excessive noise pollution
String Trimmers

A string trimmer is a lightweight power tool that is used to trim the grass and weeds.
It features an engine that could be electric, gasoline, or battery-powered and a long shaft connected to a spinning head.
The head makes use of a microfilament string that is responsible for cutting through the grass, hence the name, string trimmer.
Types of String Trimmers
String trimmers are divided into three types, depending on the power source that they run on.
1. Electric Trimmers

Electric string trimmers are mostly used on the surfaces that have been already treated.
They are used to do the final finishing of the grass and ensure that it has been evenly trimmed out from all corners and edges.
They are not suitable for use if you’re looking to cut thick branches or grass.
2. Gas-Powered Trimmers

Gas-powered string trimmers are more powerful and are suitable to be used on larger lawns.
They do not need a power source in the immediate vicinity, but you get the gas-filled just like you fill gas in a car.
3. Petrol-Powered Trimmers

These trimmers are similar to gasoline trimmers, with the only difference being the fuel source, which, in this case, is petrol.
Pros of String Trimmers
String trimmers are one of the most commonly used and most praised lawn care tools.
They are often referred to as power tools for all the right reasons.
- They can be used on uneven surfaces and where there are obstacles such as stones
- They can reach corners, edges, and narrow spaces
- They are versatile and can be used to get rid of weeds
- They are light in weight
- They are quite affordable
- Storing string trimmers is easy
Cons of String Trimmers
The pros of string trimmers outweigh the cons by a significant margin.
Some of the cons that are associated with them include:
- They do not trim the grass evenly
- They pose safety risks
- The chances of trauma with string trimmers are significantly high
- You need to wear masks and gloves while using a string trimmer
- You have to clear away the grass cuttings after you have mowed your lawn
Lawn Mowers vs String Trimmers

Lawnmowers and string trimmers are both essential tools that will help you keep your lawn in the best condition.
To pick a winner in the lawnmower vs string trimmer comparison is nearly impossible.
Lawnmowers are an excellent option if you’re looking for something that will make mowing the lawn less tiresome.
With lawn mowers, you don’t have to worry about clearing the lawn of grass cuttings, as they are collected in a bag.
As far as safety is concerned, lawnmowers are much safer as compared to string trimmers.
However, when it comes to trimming grass in corners and narrow spaces like sidewalks, lawnmowers are not very useful.
This is where you will need trimmers.
My Conclusion On The Lawnmower Vs String Trimmer Comparison & Debate
The answer to this question is – yes! If you want your lawn to look at its best, you need to have both, a lawnmower and a string trimmer.
While a lawnmower will help you get an evenly flat lawn, a string trimmer will ensure that the edges and corners of your lawn aren’t left looking unkempt.
It is the combination that is going to give a flawlessly beautiful lawn!
To conclude, there is no one winner in the lawnmower vs string trimmer battle.
Each of these tools comes with its own set of benefits, and together, they give you a garden straight from your dreams!