* Note, I've always trimmed first because I like the looks of the cut when trimming first. After I started using the walk behind more and more it seems I'm missing more areas then with my 30", which leaves me with more to trim. So I started mowing first on all lawns I use the walk behind on. It seems like my areas are much larger to be trimmed using the walk behind, rather then the 30", hence another reason my trim times are so much higher.

 

I'm also thinking about changing heads. I currently use the Echo Speed Feed heads. I've used them for so long, but I'm ready to try something different. I love the Speed Feed by Echo, but it seems bulky. The head seems wide "top to bottom." I'm thinking about switching or trying out the Echo Matic Pro or the U-turn head. Notice on this website how much "bulkier" the speed feed is in comparison to the two mentioned at the bottom. I'm not saying this would help with trim time any, just stating I'm ready for something "smaller" and not so bulky.

 

I just switched over to the new lower head off the new PAS Echo series after my SRM210 bearings went out after 8yrs of brutal use.

I went with the speed feed head from a quick change head I always used and will never touch quick change again this speed feed head helps me get done like 25-30% faster.

They have a small one and a larger one.

What is causing the larger area to weedeat is it just not used to the controls yet fully?

 

Since these are tiny lawns, ya that's a long time..... Question, do you treat the trimmer like a pushmower, or something that has to sway side to side? It takes me 2 months to get new people out of the side to side motions when trimming along buildings. Just out the head down on the ground and walk backwards as fast as you can and the trimmer will keep up. Also I take guards off so I can run more line and cut more area while using more of the 360 circle of string instead of being limited.
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I've tried to teach a new individual the tricks that took me 14 years to learn, it doesn't work that way. It boils down to practice, the guys who are really good with an instrument are the same guys who have been doing it for quite some time, best to approach this subject one day at a time, best to concentrate on doing a good job instead of speed. You want to race but first you need to get around the track in one piece, so slow down and practice, practice, and practice some more... One lawn, one step, and one day at a time.

 

* Note, I've always trimmed first because I like the looks of the cut when trimming first. After I started using the walk behind more and more it seems I'm missing more areas then with my 30", which leaves me with more to trim. So I started mowing first on all lawns I use the walk behind on. It seems like my areas are much larger to be trimmed using the walk behind, rather then the 30", hence another reason my trim times are so much higher.

I trim first for a few reason . 1' is to chew up any dedri from trimming . 2' i get a walk thru to see anything that need picked up before mowing. 3' i have more energy when i first get to the property. i have to walk with the 36'' or 48" wbs, (no sulkey). And at times i feel like i'am spending too much time trimming . but when i look at the time spent on the property . i right on the time there payen for . Some weeks depending on growth and the timing on the days route i will mow first and trim min

 

Are you walking all around or do you know you're route around the property!
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Are you walking all around or do you know you're route around the property!
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That's the other thing people don't get.
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After 2-3 initial mowings; I've "sprayed" & "edged" the lawn in a manner that requires very little future trimming. The initial work far outweigh$ the future time, energy(gas/sweat) & wear/tear on your equipment.
Of course, each property is a little different.
I tend to "Push" some initial clean-up work. Especially, if it's a Mow, Blow & GO property.
These places tend to be hard on every a$pect of the business.

My $.02.

 

The thing I don't like about trimming first is if you miss something you have to go back after mowing. I agree it can look nicer, but if its going to take longer make sure you charge more for it. What size are these properties? I can do some alone in 20- 25 minutes, but mine are all small.
Other advice to consider is getting a helper- even just temp to try it out, but someone with experience. you can probably make more money.

 

PPL, first let me congratulate you on your work ethic, and desire to improve. Second, don't make the mistake of not being able to see the forest for the trees. If your lawns are priced so that you are earning a good profit, don't stress over a couple of minutes. Perhaps you are a bit slow on the trimming, perhaps you aren't. None of us can see your lawns, so we are only guessing.

 

PPL, first let me congratulate you on your work ethic, and desire to improve. Second, don't make the mistake of not being able to see the forest for the trees. If your lawns are priced so that you are earning a good profit, don't stress over a couple of minutes. Perhaps you are a bit slow on the trimming, perhaps you aren't. None of us can see your lawns, so we are only guessing.

He just got a new Gravely WB the other day the adjusting to the controls could be throwing him off from cutting closer they take a bit to adjust to, older vs newer controls are like night and day.

 

I'm also thinking about changing heads. I currently use the Echo Speed Feed heads. I've used them for so long, but I'm ready to try something different. I love the Speed Feed by Echo, but it seems bulky. The head seems wide "top to bottom." I'm thinking about switching or trying out the Echo Matic Pro or the U-turn head. Notice on this website how much "bulkier" the speed feed is in comparison to the two mentioned at the bottom. I'm not saying this would help with trim time any, just stating I'm ready for something "smaller" and not so bulky.

Seems to me, if I have the specifications right...
That the speed feed heads only hold HALF the string of standard heads.
Because the spools on mine hold 30 feet...

You want to know how I save time?
I don't load spools when it runs out, every dang time.
First I use standard loaders, then I "pre-load" spools by winding them 2 and 4 at a time.
I stick the loaded spools in the truck box, with the string ends caught in the little indentations.
Then when my trimmer runs out of string I simply swap spools.

Because speed feed heads are for people who don't know how to load their own string.

 

I appreciate all the help from everyone. There's times I feel like I should just ride it out and let the speed come under time, then there's times I hate spending so dang long trimming. As for my style, I don't do the side to side thing. I put the trimmer my starting point A and walk backwards all the way around the fence, and same against all other hard surfaces. It just seems rather then walking fast, I do the slow walk, ensuring that I trim everything. I taught myself from day one the fundamentals, kind of like crawling before walking. I walk with the trimmer, I taught myself to trim high according to the hoc of the particular grass I'm cutting, and so forth. I'm actually good with the trimmer, I can lay down perfect edges with it, my trims look neat. I don't do the lost walk when trimming going from random area to random area like mentioned by someone. I pretty much have a route for every lawn. It usually consist of something like for example, starting at the gate entrance on a lawn, backwards walking around the inside of the fence all the way around. As soon as I finish the fence, I move to the back of the house, go all the way down the house, then I shoot to the middle area and start grabbing everything in the middle. I always keep moving with the trimmer, I just think my problem is moving to slow. I think I'm going to practice moving a little faster while still staying consistent. As for the walk behind and leaving larger areas to trim, that's possibly my issue is still getting use to the newer controls. Out in open areas I don't have a problem, it seems when I start maneuvering around ac units, fences, back patios, pools, etc. I always leave about 5"-6" wide of trimming that needs to be done rather then a small line all the way around the surfaces. Sometimes my lines will be wide enough that I need to make two passes around an ac unit or down a fence line to trim all the grass, UNLESS I do the helicopter with the trimmer which I don't like doing. I don't use guards and sometimes put a little extra line out there so I can catch everything without having to make a second pass, because of the missed grass from the new wb. Maybe it's something I'll get used too over time with the controls I'm sure I'll get better.

 

Seems to me, if I have the specifications right...
That the speed feed heads only hold HALF the string of standard heads.
Because the spools on mine hold 30 feet...

You want to know how I save time?
I don't load spools when it runs out, every dang time.
First I use standard loaders, then I "pre-load" spools by winding them 2 and 4 at a time.
I stick the loaded spools in the truck box, with the string ends caught in the little indentations.
Then when my trimmer runs out of string I simply swap spools.

Because speed feed heads are for people who don't know how to load their own string.

That is funny you can load up a speed feed head in 10 seconds and be gone.

 

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. You'll get faster over time. The good thing is, you're getting the end product right and now are focused on efficiency. You can't have efficiency without being effective first, so I think you're on the right track. Just keep that time in mind and you'll get better. Trimming is one of my best attributes personally I believe. I worked hard it getting good at it because I knew it was one of the places most capable of on-site time gain, and of course time=money. Also, a good quality trim like you're going for can make all the difference on the end product and customer satisfaction.

As far as your yards- according to your equipment and time figures there, it sounds like you have small yards with lots of trimming to do anyways. I don't think a yard should necessarily have to take 5 minutes of trimming per hour of mowing or anything, they're all different. I have several that take me as long to trim as they do to mow, and I'm a freaky fast trimmer. Just lots of crap and fences to go around. The good news is, rather than using a $8,000 gas guzzler for 95% and a $400 gas getter for 5%, I'm now using the $400 gas getter for 50% and conserving fuel and usage on my guzzler but still getting paid the same. So there are positives to high volume trimming.

As for technique, I understand that you guys might walk backwards to clear your grass as you trim, but as long as I'm staying on top of my yards I can walk forwards, counter clock-wise (across my body to the left) around obstacles and the grass clears just fine, and I can trim at a near run and still have it looking fantastic. Of course that comes with a steady hand and lots of experience I guess. A lot of my movement I do with my legs, shoulders and scapulas even less than arms, like a dance. It's all about being smooth. Oh but with sidewalks and flat edges, I trim to my right side.

I definitely like what someone said about no swinging. If I'm trimming a flat...well it's hard to put into words but the best way I cam explain it is you have to picture the string as a saw blade. Wherever you tip that saw blade is where it will be cutting, and you only want it to be cutting one point at a time or you'll lose control of it. So on my back and forth I am basically just aiming that blade in the direction I want to go. Sort of the same idea of pitching your mower blades, keeps the back end of the deck from beating up the grass after it's already been cut.

Don't know if any of that helps, I don't get the chance to train much or explain these things as a solo mow man like yourself

btw I use a Stihl 100RX and let me tell you, it's phenomenal

 

You're walking too slow and nit picking too much. There's no money in perfection in this business. Churn em and burn em. Your customers won't even notice most things. This is not to say to do a crap job, but you're just being too anal. My father was the same way. People DO NOT notice. Most don't even care anyways. They're paying you so they don;t have to sweat their nuts off. They probably don't even set foot in their lawns.

 

Seems to me, if I have the specifications right...
That the speed feed heads only hold HALF the string of standard heads.
Because the spools on mine hold 30 feet...

You want to know how I save time?
I don't load spools when it runs out, every dang time.
First I use standard loaders, then I "pre-load" spools by winding them 2 and 4 at a time.
I stick the loaded spools in the truck box, with the string ends caught in the little indentations.
Then when my trimmer runs out of string I simply swap spools.

Because speed feed heads are for people who don't know how to load their own string.

Speed feed heads work great. When it runs out, I pull my pre cut line out of my back pocket, spend 15 seconds winding it, and I'm back to trimming. I'd say the time difference between having a spool in your back pocket to trade out and put the empty spool back in your pocket, and having pre cut line in your back pocket and winding it is negligible at best. I can get 25 feet of line into a 450 head and 20 into a 375, so the refills aren't as often as you would think either.

 

learn to walk forwards when trimming. that may help you go faster. hold trigger in left hand and hold right hand on the handle and walk right to left walking forwards. i learned to do it this way a long time ago.

i'd say most people i've seen do the opposite and hold trigger in right hand and handle in left hand and they walk backwards as you are doing.

 

Every time I see a guy walking backwards I yell "you're doin it wrong!" as I drive past. Such a waste of time...as well as an increased risk of stepping in poop.
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I mow first so when I trim it will be the same height of mower cut. I use a 10lb. trimmer, 375 spd head, and .085 string. With the smaller string you get more on the head, the smaller diameter allows faster rpm, less stress on the head and trimmer and it cuts better. Walk foward or backward down fence rows. And.... I use an edger not the trimmer to edge sidewalks and driveways. It is faster and prettier. Time it and take pictures if you want proof.

ALSO!! Keep your mouth closed trimming sewer lines and around septic tanks!!

 

I always walk forward, and switch hands trimming counter clock wise and then about 1 in 4 cuts go the opposite direction. I always surprise myself at the stuff I miss in corners and shadow fences when I go the other direction. I am always disappointed with myself if I have to stop walking at all. I also one hand under trees and bushes to reach some stuff. The others are right, most of our customers really never look at what we trim, especially on the back yards. Keep the front looking "tight" and your good!

 

Since these are tiny lawns, ya that's a long time..... Question, do you treat the trimmer like a pushmower, or something that has to sway side to side? It takes me 2 months to get new people out of the side to side motions when trimming along buildings. Just out the head down on the ground and walk backwards as fast as you can and the trimmer will keep up. Also I take guards off so I can run more line and cut more area while using more of the 360 circle of string instead of being limited.
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I don't walk backwards often, pretty much forward, with the trimmer tilted at an angle so the leading string cuts some off and the trailing string cuts the rest… kinda like a poor mans mulch kit.

 

The thing I don't like about trimming first is if you miss something you have to go back after mowing. I agree it can look nicer, but if its going to take longer make sure you charge more for it. What size are these properties? I can do some alone in 20- 25 minutes, but mine are all small.
Other advice to consider is getting a helper- even just temp to try it out, but someone with experience. you can probably make more money.

Mow first, trim second.

The cut sets the height for the trimmer, so you don't trim too high or too low.

When with two guys, the mow guy goes around the outside first, traveling faster than the trim guy.
The trim guy now sees what there is to trim.
after the mow guy has framed the property he stripes it.
when he's done striping, he goes around and reframes it, getting all the trim bits and cleaning up his turn around tire marks.

when mow/trim an area solo.

Mow everything, stop before the final frame/racetrack.

trim, then mow your racetrack. done.
It's still faster than trimming first.

It works really well in areas where there is one mow guys and one trim guy.

 

Mow first, then trim. You may prefer the way it looks trimming first but, you are bound to cut down your time trimming. Most of my trimming generally takes as long as mowing. Just the way it is.