How High to Trim Hedges: Height Guide by Shrub Type
There is no one perfect hedge height. Learn how high to trim hedges based on shrub type, purpose, growth habit, and the easiest way to keep the bottom full.
Outdoor & Garden Tools
Learn about lawn mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, and other outdoor maintenance tools.
String Trimmer Safety Tips: Use Your Weed Eater Without Injury
String trimmers are among the most common causes of lawn care-related injuries — primarily from flying debris striking eyes, legs, and ankles. The rotating cutting line spins at 7,000–12,000 RPM and launches stones, wire fragments, glass, and debris at high velocity. Following these safety practices eliminates nearly all of that risk. Required Personal Protective Equipment …
Leaf Blower for Deck Cleaning: How to Do It Right
A leaf blower cleans a deck faster and more completely than a broom — especially for clearing debris trapped between deck boards, blowing out corners, and drying wet surfaces quickly. With the right technique, you can have a clean deck in 5–10 minutes versus 20–30 with a broom. Here’s how to use a leaf blower …
Electric vs Gas Log Splitter: Which Should You Buy?
For most homeowners splitting firewood for a single fireplace or wood stove — 1 to 3 cords per season — an electric log splitter handles the job at a fraction of the cost, noise, and maintenance of a gas model. Gas log splitters outperform electric for commercial volumes, large-diameter rounds, and splitting on remote property …
How to Split Wood Logs: Technique for Log Splitters and Axes
Wood splits most efficiently when you work with the grain, not against it. Whether you’re using a log splitter or a splitting maul, the key is consistent positioning, targeting natural cracks, and matching your tool’s force to the log’s size and species. This guide covers correct technique for both mechanical log splitters and manual splitting, …
Leaf Blower Won’t Start: Fix Guide for Gas, Battery, and Electric
A leaf blower that won’t start is almost always fixable at home. For gas models, the issue is usually stale fuel, a fouled spark plug, or a clogged carburetor after storage. For battery models, it’s typically a charge, temperature, or safety lock issue. This guide walks through the fastest diagnosis path for each type, starting …
Gas vs Electric Chainsaw: Complete Side-by-Side Comparison
Gas chainsaws deliver more raw cutting power and full portability — the choice for felling large trees, storm cleanup, and remote work. Electric chainsaws (corded and battery) are quieter, lighter, lower-maintenance, and sufficient for most homeowner tasks including limbing, bucking, and small tree removal. For most homeowners with a single wooded property, a 40V–80V battery …
Cordless Chainsaw Battery Life: Runtime, Tips, and Maximizing Performance
A fully charged 2.5 Ah battery in a 40V cordless chainsaw typically provides 20–30 minutes of moderate cutting time. A 5.0 Ah battery in a 56V–80V saw extends that to 40–60+ minutes under similar loads. But runtime varies significantly based on wood diameter, species, chain sharpness, and temperature. Here’s what actually affects your cordless chainsaw …
Single Stage vs Two Stage Snowblower: Which Do You Need?
Single stage snowblowers are lighter, easier to maneuver, and ideal for flat paved driveways with up to 8″–9″ of snow. Two stage snowblowers handle heavy snowfall (12″+ inches), long driveways, and uneven or gravel surfaces where a single stage would struggle or stall. Your driveway length, typical snowfall depth, and surface type are the three …
How to Use a Snow Blower: Technique, Patterns, and Safety Tips
Using a snow blower effectively is about more than just pushing it through snow — chute direction, clearing pattern, overlapping passes, and knowing when to slow down all determine whether you finish fast with clean results or spend twice as long re-clearing blown snow. This guide covers the correct technique for both single stage and …