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Such a thing as a hand strimmer?

ManderMander Posts: 335
in Tools and techniques
I've got a fairly large area of brambles and garden escapees along an empty field next to my house that I'd like to try and clear. The council won't do it even though it's their land and I'm getting tired of looking at it and thinking about doing it myself.

However, I don't own a strimmer or a lawn mower since I don't need them for my own garden. I mostly have hand tools except for a hedge trimmer. Getting access to electricity in the spot in question might also be tricky.

Is there such a thing as a hand powered strimmer or other tool that can cut down a lot of unwanted shrubs? I'm hoping to cut them back and then possibly wage a bit of chemical warfare to try to keep them under control.
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,134
    edited September 2021
    Commercial gardeners use petrol strimmers. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,189
    You'd probably need a battery strimmer but they're quite expensive I believe. Otherwise a hand machete? You might have to be wary of using chemicals on council land.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ManderMander Posts: 335
    Fairygirl said:
    Commercial gardeners use petrol strimmers. 
    I know, but I'm not going to buy one for this job. I've got nowhere to store it, for a start. 
  • ManderMander Posts: 335
    Lizzie27 said:
    You'd probably need a battery strimmer but they're quite expensive I believe. Otherwise a hand machete? You might have to be wary of using chemicals on council land.
    Given the history of this particular bit of land they won't notice or care if I spray some SBK back there. I could probably do it from my side of the fence, even. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,189
    @Mander, just had a thought, you could probably hire either a battery or petrol powered strimmer.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ManderMander Posts: 335
    Lizzie27 said:
    @Mander, just had a thought, you could probably hire either a battery or petrol powered strimmer.
    I'll have to look into that. No idea where I could get one from that would deliver it to me but perhaps someone does? Not sure I'd be allowed to bring a petrol powered machine on the bus! 😁
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 395
    What about a scythe if you don't want to use powers tools?
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Can you borrow a cordless strimmer from someone local?
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 155
    Many years ago I was clearing huge bramble patches with access to much machinery but found the most effective tool was a slasher. Long handle with a long straight blade was easier to use than the clearing saws. The hooked variety like a billhook would be second choice but needs a long handle.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,652
    You can certainly hire all this sort of stuff from Jewson - trimmers, strimmers, shredders, etc - and they do deliver (for which they charge). [I have no interest in the company.] There will also be local tool hire companies that do the same if you google 'landscape equipment hire near me', there'll be a few, I imagine
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
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