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How to use an electric strimmer

Updated: October 2026

The first cut with a corded strimmer is usually a patio edge, a lead somewhere behind you, and a head that stops the moment grass wraps the spool. This is how to use an electric strimmer without cutting that lead, and how to stop when the head jams or smells hot. The steps follow Electrical Safety First, the Health and Safety Executive and the RHS, plus the feed each saved listing states. Product choice stays on the [electric grass trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/electric-grass-trimmer). A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Vertical edging is on [how to edge a lawn with a strimmer](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/electric-grass-trimmer/sub/electric-grass-trimmer-lawn-edging).

The first cut with a corded strimmer is usually a patio edge, a lead somewhere behind you, and a head that stops the moment grass wraps the spool.

Our top picks

Forte Forte 350 W 3-in-1

Best overall

Forte Forte 350 W 3-in-1
8.0/10about £29.99
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BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER GL7033-GB

Rank 2

BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER GL7033-GB
8.6/10about £66.99
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Bosch Bosch EasyGrassCut 26

Best value

Bosch Bosch EasyGrassCut 26
8.4/10about £29.94
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Before you plug in
  2. 2.Where the lead sits
  3. 3.How the line is meant to feed
  4. 4.When you stop

Before you plug in

Walk the edge before the plug goes in. Electrical Safety First wants the area clear of debris, with children and pets out of the way. The RHS adds a check of long grass for wildlife, including hedgehogs, before you strim. Shoes that cover the toes, long trousers and eye protection are the minimum. Heavy gloves and steel-toe boots are what the RHS names for strimming. HSE says an RCD used for shock protection should trip at not more than 30 mA, and you press the test button before you work. A trip is a fault. It does not license rain. Electrical Safety First says you do not trim in the rain or on damp ground. Line diameter is on the electric grass trimmer buying guide, not a guess at the spool.

Where the lead sits

Put the cable over your shoulder so it falls behind you, and cut away from that path. If you walk backwards into the lead, the line will find it. Keep the head off loose chippings. An extension is one outdoor reel, fully unwound, with a thermal cut-out. Do not daisy-chain a second extension into the first. The Bosch pack includes 6 m, and reviewers call that short. The Forte states 10 m. The GL7033 does not state a length. If the only way to the back fence is two reels plugged together, leave via corded or cordless strimmer.
Forte Forte 350 W 3-in-1

Testsieger

Forte Forte 350 W 3-in-1
8.0/10about £29.99
View offer

How the line is meant to feed

These three listings do not share one feed action, so bumping every head is the wrong tip. The Bosch pays line out when you release the trigger. The Forte states 1.5 mm double line that feeds when the trimmer is started. The GL7033 names automatic single-line feed. Snapped line on brick is wear, not a cue to fit a thicker diameter than the manual allows. A jammed head is not a feed problem you solve with the motor running.

When you stop

Unplug before you clear a wrap, open the spool, or change the line. Rotating a head for edging is an adjustment, so the plug comes out first. If you smell burning, you stop. One verified Forte review describes smoke from the head after about ten minutes. That is one account, not a failure rate. Unplug, let it cool, and contact the seller or the maker. A cut lead is not a DIY splice in this brief.

Common questions

Do I need an RCD, and where does it go?
Yes for a mains strimmer. HSE says an RCD used for shock protection should trip at not more than 30 mA, and you press the test button before use. Electrical Safety First puts that protection on the outdoor socket side of the job. A trip is a fault. Do not bypass it. Fitting a new outdoor socket or a consumer-unit RCD is an electrician's work, not a step in this cut.
Can I trim wet grass if I am careful?
No. Electrical Safety First says not in the rain and not on damp ground. An RCD reduces the shock risk if something goes wrong. It does not make a wet lawn an acceptable place to run a corded trimmer. Wait until the grass and the ground have dried, including a dusk session after rain.
What do I do if the head wraps with grass?
Release the trigger, then unplug, then clear the wrap. Do not pick at the spool while the plug is in, even if the motor has stopped. Grass built up around the feed is a stated complaint on the Bosch reviews, and a wrapped head on any of these tools is the same stop. If the line has snapped back inside, you refill only after the plug is out, at the diameter the manual allows.
How does the line feed, without one method for all three?
The Bosch pays line out when the trigger is released. The Forte states 1.5 mm line that feeds when the motor is started. The GL7033 states automatic single-line feed. Bumping the head on the ground is a method from other manuals, not from these three listings. If the automatic feed fails, you unplug and seat or replace the line. You do not hold the trigger and poke the spool.
What if I smell burning?
Stop, unplug, and do not restart to see if it clears. One Forte review describes smoke after about ten minutes. A hot plug or a smell from the Bosch or the GL7033 is the same stop. Contact the seller or the manufacturer. A burning smell is not a cue to fit thicker line or to keep edging for another five minutes.
Can I plug two extension leads together to reach the back fence?
No. Electrical Safety First says you do not daisy-chain extensions. Use one outdoor reel, fully unwound, with a thermal cut-out, and keep the run reasonable. The RHS warns that a very long extension from the house can overload and is a fire risk. If one proper reel still cannot reach, this corded category is the wrong tool.

Related pages

Best electric grass trimmer

Electric grass trimmer

Electric grass trimmer buying guide for UK gardens

How to edge a lawn with a strimmer beside the path

Corded vs cordless strimmer when the socket reaches

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings for this set. Prices saved 19 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

  1. Electrical Safety First — Grass trimmers (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. Health and Safety Executive — Electrical equipment (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. RHS — Electricity in the garden (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. RHS — Mowing (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. GOV.UK — Noise (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. Expert Reviews — Best grass trimmer (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. Which? — How to buy a grass trimmer or strimmer (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. B&Q — Grass trimmer and brushcutter buying guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)