While a gardener’s best friend is probably the lawnmower, there are certain tasks that even this trusty companion can’t tackle. Dense patches of tangled weeds and undergrowth can be too much for the machine to stomach, especially on plots of undeveloped land. It can also be difficult for lawnmowers to tackle finicky edges and areas around ornaments or fixtures.
That’s why brush cutters and grass trimmers are indispensable tools for gardeners. The former are specifically designed to hack down troublesome areas that lawnmowers can’t, while the latter have the manoeuvrability, reach and precision to neaten up edges and make a garden look spick and span.
Why go petrol?
Electric and lithium-ion battery-powered brushcutters and grass trimmers carry a lot of benefits. The latter allows you to work for a long period of time while plugged in, the former provides higher intensity than before from a cordless machine, along with freedom of mobility. With either option, you avoid the noise and vibrations that come with petrol engines.
And yet, professionals still prefer petrol brushcutters and strimmers over other models when it comes to larger or more challenging jobs. That’s simply because they provide the most power, and can work continuously for hours at a time without pause.
The best petrol brushcutters
With engines varying from two-stroke to four-stroke and from 25cc all the way up to 50cc, there’s a wide range of different machines out there which are suitable for a variety of situations. Stihl has a range of entry-level land-clearing brushcutters. The Stihl FS 50 C-E is light, ergonomic, with easy jerk-free starting, and will make short work of grassy areas around the garden or allotment.
For trickier tasks, Efco have a whole range of models from the Stark 2500 S with a 25.4cc two-stroke engine and a 0.75l fuel tank to the 8535 ERGO, with a 52.5cc engine, a 1.5l tank and an ergonomically-designed backpack for ease of use and full range of movability. Of course, the latter is designed for professionals, almost double the weight and over triple the price of the former, so the specific circumstances of the task at hand should be taken into account when making a purchase decision.
At the upper end of the scale, the Husqvarna 555RXT has a 53.5cc engine which produces 2.8kW of power at 9,000rpm. At 9.2kg, it’s quite a beast of a machine and should easily handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Not for the faint-hearted.
The best petrol strimmers
Grass trimmers generally require less horsepower than brushcutters, since their primary function is to neaten grass. With that in mind, the Husqvarna 122C weighs in at just 4.4kg and has a quiet 21.7cc engine, making it a lightweight, easy to manoeuvre machine for hard-to-access or fiddly spots around the garden in need of tidying up.
Efco is responsible for making some of the best petrol brushcutters and grass trimmers, and the Stark 2500 TR is a great example of that. Lightweight, equipped with a 750 ml tank, sturdy debris guard, and a robust 25.4cc engine, it’s a higher-intensity alternative to the Husqvarna 122C. Another option is the UMS425 LN from Honda, which offers a 25cc four-stroke engine capable of delivering 810W at 7,000rpm. As the lightest model that Honda produces, it represents the perfect trade-off between power and performance, allowing users to move freely and reach inaccessible areas with its 360° rotation capabilities, making it one of the best petrol strimmers available.
So there you have it, our list of the best petrol brushcutters and grass trimmers. If you are unsure of which one is right for you, or have any questions, then please contact us and we’ll do our best to help.