10 Best Strimmers For Long Grass UK 2021 (An Expert Buyer’s Guide)

If you have a wild and unruly garden that needs to be tamed then you need a strimmer that’s up to the task at hand. The best grass cutting tool for long and thick grass can vary depending on you and your garden.

To help you to figure out the best strimmer for you I’ve compiled this list of ten top choices all ranging in size, power, and cost so there’s bound to be one in here that’s perfect for you. Alongside the product reviews, I’ve included a handy buyers guide to give you an idea of things to look out for when choosing your new strimmer.

Have a read through the options here and if you like the look of any of them have a click on the ‘Price & Reviews’ button to check current prices on Amazon.

To kick off this article we have a top choice that can really pack a punch. Read on to find out more.

Top 5 Best Strimmers For Long Grass

• Top Choice – Honda UMK 435 UE 35cc 4-stroke Bike-type Handle Petrol Brushcutter
• Runner Up – Hyundai HYBC5200X Petrol 2 in One Multi-Functional, Grass Trimmer
• Best Cordless Electric – BLACK+DECKER 36 V Lithium-Ion High-Performance Strimmer
• Best Petrol – Ryobi 25.4CC 2-in-1 Petrol Full Crank Grass Brush Cutter
• Best Budget Option – Flymo Contour Cordless 20V Li Grass Trimmer

1. Top Choice – Honda UMK 435 UE 35cc 4-stroke Bike-type Handle Petrol Brushcutter

Widely regarded as the best and most reliable engines, Honda has to take the winning spot where it comes to tackling long grass. The 4 stroke engine is easy to start, economical and runs extremely well even after years of use. This is the type of strimmer you hold onto for at least 5 years.

It comes with a twin line nylon spool, perfect for long grass, and a brushcutter blade which can handle heavy-duty work like strimming tough weeds and brambles.

Unlike most petrol models, this model comes with a 360-degree lubrication system in its engine so you can turn it and store it anyway without flooding the engine.

It’s not overly heavy but is quite loud so you do near ear defenders when using this grass strimmer.

2. Runner Up – Hyundai HYBC5200X Petrol 2 in One Multi-Functional, Grass Trimmer

Next up we have a big powerful machine that will handle long and thick grass without any hesitation. With a massive 45cm cutting swathe this strimmer line will cut through large areas in no time at all. Coupled with the extremely powerful 52cc engine it can cope with any task.

It has a low emission engine and soft start so despite the extra power it’s still pretty eco friendly for a petrol strimmer.

It has a bump feed system so you can effortlessly adjust the nylon line as you strim without stopping and starting all the time. The steel brushcutter blade can handle thicker weeds and fibrous stems no bother.

It comes with a toolkit, mixing bottle and double shoulder harness which makes it easy to use despite how heavy it is. A final benefit of this strimmer is that has a split shaft design so you can take it apart for compact storage and easy transport.

3. Best Cordless Electric – BLACK+DECKER 36 V Lithium-Ion High-Performance Strimmer

For long grass, a corded electric strimmer just isn’t powerful enough and a cordless model is required. If you aren’t a fan of petrol strimmers then one with a lithium-ion battery is the next best thing.

This cordless strimmer by Black + Decker is lightweight and very easy to use. It has high torque, E drive gear system which gives it more cutting power, perfect for long grass. It can manage 2500 meters of cutting on a single charge and this good battery life makes it suitable for larger gardens.

It has a telescopic shaft so you can set it to a height that best suits you and avoid any backache.

It has an edger guide so you’ll end up with beautiful straight edges to your lawn and it’s very easy to switch between trimmer and edger modes.

This is a really good power tool with a decent runtime. It comes with a battery and charger included so you can get to work right away. For long grass, usually, petrol is recommended but this little guy can really hold its own amongst these powerful machines.

4. Best Petrol – Ryobi 25.4CC 2-in-1 Petrol Full Crank Grass Brush Cutter

It hasn’t quite made the top two but this is the next best choice when it comes to the best petrol strimmer. With a decent 43cm cutting diameter, it can power through large gardens in record time. The full-crank engine is powerful, durable, and reliable and can handle heavy-duty tasks when coupled with the metal blade cutting head.

Clean engine technology means this garden strimmer is not too heavy on emissions and it has EasyStart technology so you won’t be fighting with the recoil to get it going.

The ease of use is helped by an ergonomic, secondary loop handle and shoulder strap to take the weight off your arms. The split shaft makes it easy to store and a bump line feed will keep you strimming without the hassle of stopping and starting.

The shaft is compatible with other Ryobi expand-it attachments so you can turn this garden tool into a hedge trimmer or pole pruner if you have these attachments.

5. Best Budget Option – Flymo Contour Cordless 20V Li Grass Trimmer

So you need a new strimmer to tackle that long grass in areas the lawnmower can’t reach but your budget doesn’t stretch very far. A lot of the apparent “cheap” options out there actually don’t come with a battery or charger so watch out! This little electric grass trimmer by Flymo is a great balance between cost and functionality and it comes supplied with everything you need to get strimming.

It’s perfect for neatening the lawn edges of smaller gardens but is also powerful enough to tackle longer grass and weeds like nettles as well. The cutting head is adjustable by a large foot pedal and can easily reach any awkward areas.

The telescopic handle can be set to the user’s height and it also has an adjustable secondary handle for more control. It’s lightweight and comfortable to use but the battery life is better suited to small gardens. It takes 2.5-3 hours to fully recharge which is about average for electric models.

Strimmer Buying Guide

Petrol Vs Electric

When it comes to getting a strimmer to tackle long grass you need something that’s up for the job. A corded electric one generally isn’t suitable as these are designed for light work.

The best option is a petrol one. They are powerful and capable of tackling long grass like no other model can. They do have their downsides though, and some people prefer to avoid them because they are loud, heavy, require maintenance and they emit unpleasant fumes.

The next best thing is a battery-powered electric model. These give you the freedom to roam and most can cope with long grass by they are not as powerful at petrol ones. The batteries don’t tend to last longer than 30 minutes so these are best suited to smaller areas.

Cutting Head

The cutting head design will impact how well the strimmer can tackle long grass. Nylon spool heads are generally effective enough but a twin line will do more thorough a job than a single line. An automatic line feed, command feed or bump feed system will allow you to top up any broken line without stopping and starting.

Plastic blades are a bit more durable than a line fed cutting head but they can also end up tangled in long grass and cause a lot of hassle. They take longer to replace when they do break so are not the best option for heavy-duty work.

A metal, brushcutter or grass cutting blade is ideal for thicker patches of grass and weeds. These come with most petrol models and can handle most jobs with ease. They are more dangerous to use compared to a nylon spool and you do need to be confident and in control of the strimmer as well as using the necessary PPE.

Power

The power of the engine or motor in a strimmer will give you an idea of how well the cutting head slices through that thick grass and pesky weeds. For petrol engines, you can get a good idea of how powerful it is by looking at the engine displacement given in cc. A higher number indicates a more powerful engine.

The battery strimmers are a bit vaguer when it comes to power. You need to consider the voltage of the battery alongside the amp hours. The voltage is roughly translated as more power whereas the amp hours give you an idea of the battery life.

Weight

The weight of the strimmer needs to be a size you can manage. A strimmer that’s too heavy will quickly cause fatigue and this can lead to loss of control which is very dangerous. It’s worth considering the vibrations given off by the strimmer as well as these shake your muscles and will cause you to tire much quicker.

Alongside the weight, consider the design of the strimmer and how well balanced it is. A well-designed strimmer will be easier to use even if it weighs more.

A final note is adding a harness can take the load off your arms and makes strimming much easier and safer to do.

Maintenance

Whilst a battery strimmer doesn’t require much more maintenance than keeping it clean and keeping the battery charged, a petrol strimmer requires a bit more work.

You need to check the spark plugs, air filter and general bodywork for signs of wear and tear each season. You also need to drain the fuel tank before winter storage. The strimmer needs at least an annual check and service.

It’s worth checking the manufacturer’s guidelines on care and servicing and also check the warranty. Some warranties will be invalid if you haven’t adhered to the servicing requirements.

F.A.Q.s

Can you use a strimmer on long grass?

As long as your strimmer is powerful enough, it will handle long grass with ease. You need to hold the cutting head at the 90degree angle to the stem of the grass and at the height that you wish to cut it to. Hold the strimmer away from your body and gently swing it in a U shape to scythe through the grass. Always move forward when strimming, never step back as you could trip over.

Is it OK to strim wet grass?

Wet grass sticks together, is slippery and doesn’t cut well. It tends to tear rather than slice and can lie flat from the rain causing you to miss patches. If you do need to cut wet grass you really need a petrol strimmer.

Why does my strimmer line keep breaking?

The most common reason for the strimmer line breaking is when it contacts a solid object. Fences, tree roots, paving slabs, and ornaments are the most common culprit. A strimmer with an auto or bump feed system will help you to avoid this issue.

Can string trimmer cut weeds?

A string trimmer can cut weeds well if it has enough power behind it. A petrol model with a twin line system will do the best job.

Is Thicker trimmer line better?

The thicker the trimmer line the better it will slice through dense material. The thicker the material is that needs trimmed, the larger the diameter of line you’ll need.

More Strimmers Reviewed

Bosch ART 23-18 LI Cordless Grass Trimmer

Another cost-effective option to tackle that long grass is this electric strimmer by Bosch. It uses durable plastic blades which are a bit tougher than the nylon spools. With an 18v battery, it’s not the most powerful and is better suited to a small lawn.

The good points are plenty and it has Syneon Chip which uses intelligent, controlled energy to suit every different project. You can switch the cutting head from trimming to edging with a simple button.

The battery and charger are included with this strimmer but if you already have Bosch power tool that takes this battery you can buy the body of the strimmer alone to save some money. There’s the option of adding in an edger wheel and extra blades if you like.

It’s not a heavy-duty option and cant handle larger areas very well. This strimmer is best for just neatening the long grass around the lawn edge after you mow.

Stihl FS 55 R 27.2cc Petrol Brushcutter/Strimmer

This is another fantastic petrol grass strimmer option as Stihl is a brand that is widely regarded as a good option for professional use. The engine is designed with low emissions and reduced fuel consumption in mind and Ergostart reduces the effort needed to get this strimmer going.

It’s extremely lightweight and well balanced and the secondary loop handle makes it very comfortable to use. This design is ideal for squeezing into narrow spaces so ideal for between trees or any narrow spaces around the house.

For such an effective and well-designed petrol strimmer, the price isn’t very high. It’s a great starter tool to get you introduced to the world of good quality petrol machines and will tackle any garden type without any hassle.

Ryobi OLT1832 18V ONE+ Cordless Grass Trimmer

This may look to be a very cheap option but this is because this strimmer comes without a battery and charger. It’s ideal if you already have Ryobi ONE+ power tools as the batteries are interchangeable.

The body of this strimmer is pretty well designed with a telescopic shaft, adjustable loop handle and the three-position, pivoting cutting head makes it quite versatile. You can adjust the cutting width of the nylon spool between 25 and 30cm to manage a perfect cut every time.

It’s worth considering that the batteries can cost almost as much as the body of the strimmer so this isn’t as cheap an option as it appears to be.

WORX 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer WG163E.3

This cordless, electric option by Worx actually does have the batteries and charger included so it’s off to a great start. It has a rubber wheel to guide the cutting head so you’ll get neat lawn edges every time.

It has a push-button, command feed system so you can adjust the line effortlessly. The head pivots by 90degrees to allow neat cornering.

It has an ergonomic handle design and the second handle is adjustable for ease of use.

The battery lasts around 30 minutes runtime after a full charge so will handle medium-sized gardens up to a large lawn if you don’t mind waiting for it to re-charge. There’s an option to buy this strimmer with two batteries included so this can also help maximise your strimming time.

Makita DUR181Z 18V Body Only Cordless Li-ion Line Trimmer

It’s important to be clear straight away with this strimmer that this is another body only option. You need to buy the battery separately. It is compatible with 18V batteries and can take a range of Ah up to 5 so you can select one with a longer runtime if you need it.

The battery placement is well designed so it sits at the pivot point. This removes the need to swing the heavy battery around whilst you work so makes this strimmer easier to use.

It has an adjustable, telescopic shaft and a bump feed cutting line so you can strim away comfortably.

It’s lightweight and low noise levels so a perfect choice for urban gardens. Makita is a brand known for its good quality power tools and this strimmer is no exception. For a small model, it’s pretty powerful and can handle larger gardens than the typical electric model of the same size.

Take-Home

So that’s a whistle-stop tour through all things strimmer related. I hope this article has helped give you some clues as to which option you should be going for. Each different garden is as individual as its owner and the strimmer requirements can vary a lot. I hope I’ve shed some light on which model is the best option for you and helped you on your way to taming that wild grass.

Best of luck with the garden this year and I wish you a neat and tidy lawn.

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