Weed Wacker Vs. Lawn Mower – What Are The Differences?

Everyone loves to keep a clean and attractive lawn within their environment

because proper trimming of the grass not only improves the physical appearance of the lawn, it also allows equal distribution of resources for healthy growth and prevents pests and diseases from ruining your lush lawn.

Additionally, it keeps the grass level moderate and prevents overgrown grass and weeds from invading your landscape. That’s why you must constantly mow and trim your lawn to keep the grass short, clean, and even.

However, many people get confused when choosing between a weed wacker and a lawnmower.

You can keep your grass short, well-mowed, or trimmed with a lawnmower or trimmer. But which one is better – weed wacker or lawnmower? 

These two lawn-cleaning tools may seem similar, but they have a lot of differences.

Most professionals have advised that using the weed wacker and lawnmower is better if you want exceptional results.

If you own any of these tools or plan on getting one soon, this guide will help you differentiate between these two lawn tools and know which one to use, when, or where to use them.

What Is A Weed Wacker?

A weed wacker is also known as a weed whacker, string trimmer, line trimmer, weed eater, or weed whip. This lawn tool features a spinning wire to cut overgrown grass and ground cover in a small area.

There are different types of weed whackers to choose from. They include:

Electric-powered

Gas-powered

Battery-powered string trimmers.

Most people prefer gas-powered trimmers to electric weed eaters because of their portability and ease of use.

What Is A Lawnmower?

A lawnmower is a tool that uses revolving blades to cut grass to an even level.

The operator determines the level of the grass cut by adjusting the height of the blade. A lawnmower is also known as a grass cutter or mower.

Like the string trimmer, there are different types of lawnmowers. Examples include Electric Lawnmowers, Gas Lawmmoers, and Manual lawnmowers.

To further differentiate a weed eater from a lawnmower, it is essential to understand how each one of them works. This has been defined further as follows:

How Does A Weed Wacker Work?

The weed wacker or string trimmer works effortlessly. It utilizes a rapidly spinning microfilament string that becomes very stiff to cut grass and weeds. The quicker the hub moves, the stiffer the microfilament.

If you want the weed eater to cut grass accurately, you must cut grass in small portions instead of huge chunks.

Weed whackers come in a variety of types and designs. Users will have to select from electric, battery-powered, and gasoline. Gasoline string trimmers are best for covering a larger area.

How Does A Lawnmower Work?

While a weed wacker uses a microfilament string, most lawnmowers work with a rotary blade. The motor drives the blade, which in turn cuts the grass.

The rotary blade rotates, spins horizontally, and is fast enough to cut the grass as it makes contact with it. Different methods drive different lawnmower motors. Some are driven by gas while others by electricity.

Gas lawn mowers are best for covering a larger area, while electricity lawn mowers are limited to how far they can cut.

Note that different types of lawnmowers work differently. Gas and electric lawnmowers with rotary blades work similarly, while a manual lawnmower works differently. However, the concept is still the same.

You can also use your lawn mower without a bag.

Similarities Between Weed Wacker Lawn Mower

No matter the construction difference, the weed wacker and lawnmower were created to cut grass.

As a result, they help to keep your lawn clean and well-trimmed. However, they need physical assistance for them to operate.

Weed whackers and lawnmowers come in various types and are powered differently. The majority of them are either powered by gas or electricity.

For some reason, most people prefer gas-powered weed whackers and lawnmowers over electric ones. This is because they cover a larger area. But if you’re afraid of fumes and don’t want to pollute the environment, the electric weed eater and mower are also available.

Differences Between A Weed Wacker And Lawnmower

Both the weed wacker and lawnmower are used to cut the grass but have a lot of differences. So, before you rush to either a trimmer or lawnmower, it is critical to understand their differences.

Design

Even though they perform similar job functions, these two trimming tools are different in design and construction, 

A weed eater is usually small and slender, while lawnmowers are large and come in various types – Manual, pushover, and driven lawnmowers.

On the other hand, weed whackers come in only one design, which has to be carried all the time during use.

Nevertheless, both machines are powered by different methods, the main ones being gas and electricity.

Apart from their size, they also differ in their cutting styles. A lawnmower uses a blade, while a weed wacker uses a string to cut grass.

The blade doesn’t need any skill, while the string needs some skill to correctly and accurately cut the grass.

Weight

The significant difference between a weed wacker and a lawnmower is their size and weight.

A weed wacker is slim and portable, while a lawnmower is large and heavy.

Surprisingly, operating a lawnmower is more straightforward than operating a weed wacker.

This is because a weed eater cuts a small amount of grass while a lawn mower cuts vast chunks of grass at a time.

Additionally, a weed wacker requires more strength and energy, while anyone can operate a lawnmower.

Since most lawnmowers are pushed or driven, they are better suited for covering a larger area.

In contrast, a string trimmer can only be used in a small area as it is tiring and cumbersome to handle.

Ease Of Use

Consider getting a lawnmower if you want to cut grass on a large lawn.

It shouldn’t be just any mower, as some lawn machines, such as electric lawnmowers, don’t cover a larger area.

However, they are still better than a string trimmer, which covers a tiny area at a time.

Using a lawnmower is much easier than using a string trimmer. This is because you don’t have to hold the mower during use.

Depending on the type of lawnmower, you will be required to either push or drive it, which is not the case with a weed wacker.

This tool requires that you carry it during the entire use. This means that disabled or people with underlying conditions may not be able to use a weed wacker.

Performance

A lawnmower is more potent than a string trimmer. Moreover, it is more effective and efficient at cutting a large portion of grass.

Although a weed wacker only cuts grass and weeds in small quantities, it is more effective at cutting grass and weed around a tree, fence, patio, garden edging, and much more.

To have a clean and beautiful lawn, you may want to consider getting both the weed wacker and lawnmower to have a clean and beautiful lawn.

Impact On Grass

A weed eater puts more impact on the grass than a lower mower. The weed wacker doesn’t create a sharp cut like a lawnmower. Instead, it whacks the grass with a fast spinning string.

As a result, this damages the grass, which may take time to heal.

Additionally, the grass may not grow evenly on your lawn, causing some areas to differ from others.

When getting rid of tall grasses, a weed whacker is better than a lawnmower. However, it still puts pressure on the grass if more than 1/3 of its blades are cut at once.

When should I use a Weed Wacker and a Lawn Mower?

A lawn mower is recommended when you only want to cut grass to a certain level. It covers a larger area when compared to a weed wacker. On the other hand, you should use a weed wacker or weed eater to cut grass in areas where a lawnmower can’t.

Tips For Selecting a Weed Wacker and Lawn Mower 

Choosing the right trimming tool for your lawn will require comparing a few features. 

The size of your lawn

Before getting a lawn tool, you should consider your lawn size. There are small-sized lawns of about 100 sqm, medium-sized of up to 250 sqm, and large lawns of over 250 sqm.

For small-sized lawns, electric or cordless mowers are best suitable. While electric, cordless, and petrol mowers are suitable medium-sized. And petrol lawn mowers.

Lawn Mower Power Option

Lawn mowers are generally powered by electricity, petrol, or batteries. These all have their different pros and cons. For example, cordless machines can be more expensive than electric lawnmowers.

Bottom Line

Keeping your lawn fresh and attractive doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools at your disposal, your lawn will keep attracting the admiration of your neighbors as you regularly take care of it. 

A lawnmower and weed whacker are great tools that help you get the job done, but it is important to note when to use each tool. A mower does a great job leveling grass on your lawn, while a weed wacker uses its edging capacity to reach area cuts that the lawnmower cannot. 

Let us know which of these you would prefer.