hedge and lawn trimmers
Electric hedge and lawn trimmers are cheaper, more energy efficient, safer and easier to use than gas units. Corded trimmers are the best solution for most homeowners. Gas units are powerful units designed for large and very large yards.
Hedge trimmers
String Trimmers
String trimmers are excellent to manicure lawns and flower beds and for precise trimming in obstructed places where lawn mowers can’t work properly; they are excellent for rocky places, edges along walks, flower beds, places too irregular or too narrow to mowers and for non-maintained and weedy lots…
Hedge trimmers come in three main varieties: cordless electric, corded electric and gas-powered trimmers.
Electric corded hedge trimmers are by far the most popular units, but cordless units are also increasing their market share for lighter garden trimming tasks.
Electrics have many advantages over gas units, but their limited capacity makes them a poor choice for very large yards.
See, for details: Electric vs. gas hedge trimmers
Lawn trimmers: String & Blade...
String trimmers – as the name suggests – use a nylon string (or other ‘equivalent’ type of string) to cut the weeds and the grass, contrary to blade trimmers, based on a system of blades.
String and blade trimmers, like hedge trimmers, come in three main classes: cordless electric, corded electric and gasoline/propane…
All have advantages and drawbacks, but electric line trimmers are by far the most popular, and those that respond better to the average needs of most homeowners.
See: String vs. Blade Trimmers
Electric trimmers are more energy efficient than gas trimmers. Gas trimmers are very gasoline guzzling - only newer units with 4-stroke engines (and propane trimmers) are relatively energy-efficient (they can reduce your gasoline bills up to 80%, but are expensive).
Manual and electric shears
Power trimmers are increasingly popular, but they are overkill for minimal hedge and grass trimming. Good quality hand shears can be a better and much more economical option for many small and average yards.
In small yards, also consider the new improved hand shears, and also electric cordless shears and tools like hand trimmers. They are cheap, and can replace without much more physical effort the much more expensive electric and gas powered hedge and lawn trimmers.
See:
Hedge and grass trimming shears
The best of lawn and string trimmers
Lousiana State University String Trimmers Safety Guide.