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What are the Different Types of Yard Machines?

Norma Jean Howland
Norma Jean Howland

When it comes to working outside, there are yard machines for every season. For homeowners who enjoy being outdoors in the summertime, there are weed whackers, lawn mowers, and tree trimmers. To clean up during fall months, there are leaf blowers, outdoor vacuums, leaf mulch machines and wood chippers. When winter blows in, there are snow blowers and snow throwers to assist in snow removal for both driveways and sidewalks. During spring, when many turn to gardening, there are tillers to help prepare the soil for planting.

In the warm summer months, one of the more popular yard machines is the lawnmower. Some people enjoy driving a tractor-style mower, which comes in a variety of sizes, with attachments such as tillers, rolling carts and baggers for grass clippings. A homeowner also may prefer the exercise afforded by walking behind a more traditional-style push mower. This mower may run on gasoline or electricity; electric mowers typically are used for smaller lawn areas, because of the limitations of an electrical cord. There are many different types of gas-powered lawnmowers, some offering features such as side discharge, adjustable wheel heights, attachable bags for grass clippings and automatic start systems.

A leaf blower helps clean leaves from a large outdoor area.
A leaf blower helps clean leaves from a large outdoor area.

During the change of seasons when autumn leaves fall, there are yard machines to help with cleanup, such as leaf blowers and outdoor vacuum systems. Leaf blowers come in different sizes and weights, depending on how powerful they are. These blowers may be hand held or backpack style, which may be easier to maneuver. For those who want to mulch their leaves, there are electronic leaf mulch and wood chip machines designed to create mulch from lawn debris.

Lawn mowers are commonly used yard machines.
Lawn mowers are commonly used yard machines.

As winter rolls in, there are yard machines to assist with snow removal, such as snow blowers and snow throwers. Generally speaking, a snow blower has a dual-stage machine and a snow thrower has a single-stage machine. For heavy snowfalls, most homeowners turn to a snow blower, as it may have more capacity to deal with deeper snow. Either system, however, may take some of the hard work out of cleaning off driveways and sidewalks, making shoveling snow a thing of the past. Snow removal machines come in different sizes, with some units offering movable snow chutes, headlights, forward and reverse gears and single hand operation.

Tillers are used for soil cultivation.
Tillers are used for soil cultivation.

In spring when it is time to plan for a garden, there are automatic tillers to help prepare the soil for the growing season. There are different sizes and types designed to work with various sized gardens and soil types. There are tillers that are walk-behind types for smaller areas and those designed to be pulled by some sort of tractor for large-scale gardens.

Discussion Comments

Sporkasia

@Feryll - I have a electric trimmer and it works fine, but I do have one big issue when using it. When I bought the trimmer I wanted electric because I thought it would be better for the environment. I also knew I did not want to be attached to a cord as I worked in the yard. I have a large yard.

I ended up buying a weed trimmer that is battery operated. I simply plug the battery in to charge and then pop it into the trimmer. I even bought a backup battery so I could always have one ready to go.

Even with two batteries, I can't get over my entire yard. So I seem to be always waiting for a battery to charge. And when the battery drops below 80 percent charged there is a noticeable difference in the power level.

Drentel

Feryll - Maybe you need to buy a different brand of gas powered weed trimmer. Not all of them are as difficult to start as you described. With older trimmers and all yard machines for that matter you need to be sure to replace all of the yard machine parts with high quality parts when needed.

You can really cut the performance of any machine when you use second rate replacement parts. Something as simple as a cheap spark plug can make a world of difference in the way your grass trimmer or lawnmower performs.

Animandel

@Feryll - I agree that some weed eaters are difficult to start. If you are not one of those folks who has an aversion to any yard machine not powered by some type of fossil fuel then you should try an electric weed eater. They may not be as powerful as the gas trimmers, but they start with much less effort and you can devote all of your energy to actually trimming the grass and not tire yourself out starting the machine.

Feryll

Yard machines make yard work much easier and quicker. However, I have one question. Why are gas powered weed whackers so difficult to start? Even with a new one there are way too many steps you have to complete just to get started.

With the old weed whacker I have, my arm is worn out from pulling the starter rope before I even start trimming grass. Seriously, you would think somebody could make one that is easier to start.

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    • A leaf blower helps clean leaves from a large outdoor area.
      By: Fotolia RAW
      A leaf blower helps clean leaves from a large outdoor area.
    • Lawn mowers are commonly used yard machines.
      By: Horticulture
      Lawn mowers are commonly used yard machines.
    • Tillers are used for soil cultivation.
      By: Dmitry Vereshchagin
      Tillers are used for soil cultivation.
    • Some lawn mowers have a bagging attachment to collect grass clippings.
      By: eag1e
      Some lawn mowers have a bagging attachment to collect grass clippings.
    • Many homeowners use a snow blower to deal with deep snow.
      By: Vladimir Badaev
      Many homeowners use a snow blower to deal with deep snow.