I can also do the cutting in the early morning, whereas I would never dare take out a string trimmer at that time of day. Not everyone needs a full-size string trimmer, so we also considered a number of smaller, lighter models. Sacrificing power for ergonomics, these string trimmers are a better fit for people who may have movement limitations or anyone who has a small lawn and minimal trimming needs. With all the whipping and cutting a trimmer does, it’s not surprising that the string breaks at a fairly quick rate. Loading new line into the trimmer head has long been the most frustrating part of owning a string trimmer, but newer models solve this problem with either automatic systems or very simple manual designs. If the Ego ST1511T is not available, we also like the Ego ST1521S Power+ 15″ String Trimmer with Powerload.
We used the trimmers between rose bushes, down the edge of a driveway, and around fire pits. During testing, we paid attention to the trimmers’ overall ease of use, balance, ergonomics, handling, and noise. The Lee Valley set delivers everything you need to get started on your scything journey. If the Lee Valley set is sold out, the individual pieces (blade, handle, sharpening stone, and holster) are available for purchase separately at roughly the same cost. If you’re looking for a replacement umbrella canopy for your existing stand, we’ve got those, too. Find an umbrella stand, or an umbrella base if you’re looking to replace.
Artificial trees have a significant environmental impact and can’t be recycled. So we decided to recommend only those models that you can reasonably expect to last for a decade or more because they’ll spread their impact out over time. For anyone to stick with a fake tree that long, it has to be impressive to start and then remain that way through annual wear and tear. The National Tree Company 7.5-foot Feel Real Downswept costway patio umbrellas Douglas Fir Pencil Slim (PEDD4-392D-75) with Dual Color LED Lights is a great option for small spaces, such as a foyer or a compact apartment. It’s similar in construction to our top pick, the Downswept Douglas Fir, with a rich mix of realistic polyethylene branch tips and fake PVC filler branches. And it uses the same dual-color LED lights—only this tree has 350 bulbs, not 750, because there’s a lot less tree to cover.
Although tree manufacturers introduce new models every year, we haven’t seen any in 2023 that are so striking, or have such innovative features, that they would our change our recommendations. The best way to think about who should get an artificial Christmas tree is to compare the benefits and drawbacks of fake versus live trees. Artificial trees offer a lot of versatility, as this space-saving version of our pick proves. If you don’t want a tiny tree in a small room, consider a slim model with a minimal footprint.
This change required us to set our sights only on the most convincing, lifelike artificial trees, which usually carry a correspondingly high price tag. When we began this research several years costway lounge chair ago, we were surprised to find how much a good fake tree cost. I use a scythe to take down a weedy area that once housed pigs so the ground is too lumpy and bumpy for any kind of wheeled mower.
As for run time and cutting ability, we have yet to find a property where a battery-powered trimmer falls short. The best of the battery models can slice through thick stalks of Japanese knotweed and can finish the work at large properties with plenty of battery charge to spare. We’re highlighting this model in particular because its lights (along with the branch-tip construction) are the same as those on our pick, the popular and widely appealing Downswept Douglas Fir. The lights have the same multiple colors and patterns (nine in total) that our staffers found so charming, including all-color, all-white, and the “sparkling” mode (some bulbs gently dim and rebrighten). Again, this tree has fewer of them (350 versus 750), but the Pencil Slim still looks fully lit because those lights are spread among a lot less foliage.
Check out the ones with a collar tilt feature to adjust the shade, it’s so convenient. We’ve also got lighted umbrellas, perfect for evenings outside and a great source for ambient lighting. Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor.
When looking for models to test, we dismissed anything priced too far over $300, as there are too many high-quality models in the $200 to $300 range for anyone to justify going beyond that mark. Live trees can be sustainably farmed and harvested, they absorb carbon while growing, and they provide some measure of wildlife habitat. Although live-tree farms do contribute to the consequences of fertilizer and pesticide use, they add value to land that might otherwise be valuable only to developers. At the end of their lives, live trees can be “recycled” in a number of ways, such as by being turned into mulch, used to stabilize sand dunes, or even submerged in lakes to create fish habitat. Among smaller trimmers, we’ve tested the Ryobi P V One+ String Trimmer/Edger and the Ryobi P V One+ String Trimmer/Edger, but neither model offers the ergonomic adjustments of the Worx WG170.2.