If you're like most homeowners, your yard is your pride and joy. The lawn sets the tone for the aesthetic of your entire property. As such, it's critical to keep it in good shape. One such area of lawn maintenance is weed whacking. But if you're new to weed whacking, you might be wondering how to go about the cleanup process afterward. For your convenience, we brought you the answer.
Depending on the extent of your weed whacking (simply edging vs. clearing small brush), the cleanup process will vary slightly. If you only used the weed whacker to edge your lawn, simply blow off any hard surfaces with a blower when you're done. If you used the weed whacker to take down weeds and small brush, dispose of the large debris in a lawn/leaf bag, then use a blower to blow off surrounding hard surfaces.
If you still have some questions about cleaning up after weed whacking, don't worry. In this post, we'll discuss the topic in more detail. We'll also talk about whether or not it's okay to cut the grass with a weed whacker, whether you should mow or weed whack first, when you should edge your lawn, and much more. Without further ado, let's get into it!
Cleaning Up After Weed Whacking
Here we'll talk more about how you can tidy up your lawn after using the weed whacker. The process will differ slightly depending on the type of work you're using the weed whacker for.
Edging Only
If you're only using the weed whacker to edge your lawn, then the cleanup process is simple. When you're done edging, use a blower to blow off any hard surfaces (sidewalks, driveway, etc.) around your yard.
When blowing, be sure to blow the grass clippings and other debris into your yard rather than into the neighbor's yard or into the street. This is not only the courteous thing to do but it will also return nutrients to your lawn.
Whacking Weeds And Clearing Small Brush
If you're using the weed whacker to do a more heavy-duty project such as clearing small brush or pesky weeds, the cleanup process will be slightly more extensive.
Start by putting all of the leftover debris in lawn/leaf bags and dispose of the bags in accordance with your city's guidelines for yard waste. Depending on the type of debris, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands.
Click here to see these lawn/leaf bags on Amazon.
Then, use a blower to blow off the hard surfaces around your yard. Again, be sure to blow the debris/clippings into your grass.
Is It Okay To Cut Grass With A Weed Whacker?
Depending on the terrain, slope, and landscaping in your yard, it might be difficult to cut certain patches of grass with a lawn mower. For instance, there might be a nook of grass that's too small for a lawn mower to fit in, or perhaps a drastic slope in the lawn would make using a lawn mower dangerous.
Regardless, it's perfectly okay to use a weed whacker to cut the grass in your yard. A lawn mower is obviously preferable for cutting the majority of the grass in the yard, but a weed whacker makes for a fine substitute where necessary.
Should I Mow Or Weed Whack First?
Whether you should mow or weed whack first comes down the type of weed whacking you'll be doing. In other words, will you simply be edging your lawn with a weed whacker, or will you use the weed whacker to cut down weeds and other small yard nuisances?
If the former is the case, then you should mow first. Mowing prior to edging will clean up the bulk of the lawn, making it easier to see to edge afterward.
If the latter is the case, then you should mow after using the weed whacker. If you use a weed whacker to clear a substantial amount of large weeds and/or small brush, there will undoubtedly be some debris left over.
Mowing afterward will allow you to mulch the debris. Mulching is when the lawn mower grinds leftover grass clippings and other debris into smaller pieces that are evenly distributed back into the lawn. Mulching this debris is a convenient way to both dispose of it and provide nutrients to the lawn.
To learn more about the topic, check out this guide: Should You Edge Your Lawn Or Mow First? [What You Need To Know]
Is It Better To Weed Whack Or Pull Weeds?
If you notice weeds popping up around your property, you're likely wondering whether it's better to pull them or use a weed whacker to cut them down. Simply put, it's always preferable to pull weeds provided the roots are removed in the process.
When you pull weeds, you can remove the entire root system, effectively ridding your yard of weeds one plant at a time. When you use a weed whacker on weeds, you can quickly improve the aesthetic of the lawn, but the root system will remain intact. Thus, it won't help to actually purge your yard of weeds.
How To Weed Whack Around A Flower Bed
Edging around flower beds with a weed whacker is one of the best ways to make them pop. Here we'll outline some simple steps to do so:
- Before getting started, don long pants, closed-toe shoes, and protective glasses.
- Hold the head of the weed whacker roughly parallel to the ground. Standing on the grass, slowly walk from right to left, cutting the grass that borders the flower bed to the same length as the grass in the rest of the yard. Walking from right to left will ensure that the grass clippings are blown back into the grass rather than into the flower bed. Though standing on the surface adjacent to the grass is generally preferred when edging, standing on the grass is preferred in this case to avoid damaging the flower bed.
- After the preliminary trimming, hold the weed whacker so that the head is perpendicular to the ground. Slowly walk along the edge of the flower bed, cutting that nice, crisp edge as you go. There is no "right" way to hold the weed whacker or walk; simply find the method that's most comfortable and that yields the best result.
- If some grass clippings still ended up in the flower bed, use a blower to carefully blow them back into the grass.
When it comes to using a weed whacker for precision cutting, the name of the game is patience. Go as slow as you need to in order to maintain control of the weed whacker. With more practice, you'll get faster.
For a visual guide to getting perfect edges around a flower bed with a weed whacker, check out this video:
When Should You Edge Your Lawn?
You can expect to start needing to edge your lawn in the early spring, the same time that you'll need to start mowing again. In regard to the frequency at which you should edge your lawn, it should be done on an as-needed basis.
Depending on how fast your grass grows, you might or might not need to edge every time you mow. With that said, there's no downside to going ahead and edging your lawn every time you mow to keep the lawn looking as crisp as possible.
In Closing
We hope this guide has equipped you with the information needed to keep your yard looking pristine after using the weed whacker. Remember, your yard is the first impression your house makes, so it's critical to keep it tidy.
Before you go, be sure to take a look at these other related guides that can help you make your yard look its best:
How Often Should You Edge Your Lawn?
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Lawn Mower? [Is Buying One Cheaper?]