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.
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 costway lounge chair 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 it comes to scythes, you don’t have a whole lot of other options. They’re typically sold piecemeal; all-in-one kits like the Lee Valley set are rare. Wooden models such as those from Scythe Supply look excellent but are considerably more expensive, costway patio furniture as are the pieces and kits available at Lehman’s and the sets at One Scythe Revolution. If scything is completely new to you and you’re not sure whether it will “take” or not, we like the idea of starting with the less expensive Lee Valley set.
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.
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 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 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 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.