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.
With the ST1511T’s excellent system, you can load line into the trimmer head with the push of a button. The process takes seconds, and it’s hard to overstate what an improvement this is over the way loading has traditionally worked, which includes disassembling the entire trimmer head and manually winding the line onto the spool. For costway patio furniture comparative run time and power, we hauled many of the trimmers out to an overgrown field and drained their batteries by clearing giant swaths of thick grass and dense weeds. We prefer the bump-feed style; even though the automatic systems are newer, we have yet to find one that leaves us with a reliable amount of string extended.
This is the previous generation of Ego’s string trimmer, and it shares much of what makes the ST1511T such a success, including long battery life, excellent power, and easy line changes. The significant difference is that it lacks the newer model’s telescoping shaft and quick adjustment on the handle, so it’s not as flexible for various body heights. Compared with other cordless trimmers, the Ego ST1511T Power+ 15″ Powerload String Trimmer is on a different level. The ST1511T has the power to cut through 1-inch-thick Japanese knotweed as if it were grass, but at the same time this model is balanced and ergonomic enough to handle trimming around delicate flower beds. It was one of the quietest trimmers we tested, and its telescoping shaft and quick adjustment on the handle allow it to work well with a wide variety of heights and body types. The push-button line-load system eliminates the typically tedious process of putting a new line on the spool head.
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.
Offering exceptional realism, Puleo’s Royal Majestic Douglas Fir comes with warm, clear incandescent lights—the kind that keep working even if one bulb goes out. The trimmers we tested had noises ranging from a high squeal to a hair-dryer-like hum, and the ST1511T was one of the quietest trimmers costway patio furniture we tried. Its relatively pleasant sound is not only good for your own hearing but also a courtesy to your neighbors. Only by the whirling grace of a string trimmer—slicing down the tall grass around the mailbox, front steps, fences, and flower beds—does a property look truly polished.
A light tester can help you find the problem bulb without having to remove and replace each one. Should an entire string go dark, it likely means that a fuse in the plug has burned out, and all of the National Tree Company picks in our guide come with replacements for those, as well. If all of these options fail, customer support is on hand to help (though we’ve found it becomes extremely difficult to get through to a live agent as the holidays get closer).
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.
He also said to mow early in the morning when the grass has dew, which helps the blade gain purchase. This video shows someone mowing their lawn with proper technique and a sharp blade. Worx’s 20-volt battery system isn’t as widely available as some others, most notably Ryobi’s.
In 2020 and 2021, with office access restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we tested a more limited number of trees on our own, primarily aiming to diversify our range of recommendations. We did the same in 2022, adding a couple of on-trend “Euro-style” trees (meaning sparser and shaggier), which leave more room for ornaments and make it easier to hang them. Again, however, our goal in this guide is at least as much to identify high-quality manufacturers as it is to choose the “best” trees.
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 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.