One More Lawn String Trimmer: Edging Without Damage
How to use the One More Lawn string trimmer: equip it, control the throttle, edge walls and fences cleanly, and protect the care score.
The string trimmer is the second most important machine in One More Lawn after the mower. It cuts the grass the deck cannot reach — wall bases, fence lines, flowerbed borders, tree rings — and it is the difference between a 96% coverage line and a 100% one.
Edging first keeps the mower away from walls and gnomes. The demo ↗ includes the trimmer; the 0.9.18 notes ↗ cover the remapping.
It is also the tool most likely to hit a gnome. This guide covers both sides.
Where the trimmer lives
The trimmer is carried on the mower; the official screenshot of the island mower shows it hanging on the side. Walk up and equip it when you need to edge.
The HUD changes to Throttle and Stop:
- Throttle spins the line.
- Stop releases it.
- The trimmer does not need fuel separately from the mower in the demo.
You can walk with the trimmer, which means you can edge places the mower cannot drive: narrow paths, around the lighthouse, between garden beds.
When to trim
There are two windows, and they do different jobs.
Before you mow: the perimeter
Trim the wall, fence and bed lines first. This:
- Removes the long grass the deck cannot reach.
- Gives the mower a clean boundary to follow.
- Keeps the mower away from walls and props.
- Prevents trimmer spray from covering fresh stripes.
This is the important pass. If you only trim once, do it before the mower.
After you mow: the details
A second, lighter pass catches the tufts the mower left at the edges. It is optional, but it is where the last 1–2% of coverage comes from.
Do not trim the whole lawn after mowing. The trimmer is slow; the mower is fast. Use each for its job.
How to edge cleanly
- Stand at a comfortable distance. Too close and you dig into the dirt; too far and you leave a strip.
- Hold the throttle and sweep in one direction. A steady sweep produces a clean line; a back-and-forth scrub produces a ragged one.
- Keep the head parallel to the ground. Tilting it scalps the lawn.
- Walk forward as you sweep. Do not reach; move.
- Stop before you hit the wall. The line is for grass, not masonry.
The demo screenshot shows the trimmer working a long uncut strip against Elvira's wall. That is the exact use case: the mower cannot get close enough without scraping, and the trimmer can.
Where the trimmer matters most
- Elvira's wall and fence. The long strip in the screenshot.
- Garden beds. Around flowers, pots and Gómez.
- The golf course. Bunker edges, tee boxes, the clubhouse.
- The island. The lighthouse base, tent lines, palm rings, the beach bar.
- Anywhere with a fence. Fences create a strip of grass the deck misses.
Protecting the care score
The trimmer is a precision tool, but it is not gentle. It can:
- Clip a gnome. Move Gómez before you edge the bed.
- Scar a fence. The line does not care about paint.
- Throw debris. It is cosmetic, but it looks bad in a timelapse.
- Scalp a border. Tilting the head digs into the soil.
The care line is worth about 20% of the score. A clean edge is worth points; a damaged fence is a penalty. Slow down near anything that is not grass.
Trimmer vs mower: the division of labor
| Task | Trimmer | Mower |
|---|---|---|
| Open lawn | No | Yes |
| Wall base | Yes | No |
| Fence line | Yes | Close, but risky |
| Flowerbed border | Yes | No |
| Tree ring | Yes | Wide turns only |
| Bunker edge | Yes | No |
| Long grass | Slow | Yes |
If you are spending more than a few minutes with the trimmer on open grass, you are using the wrong tool.
Trimmer in co-op
The trimmer is the least glamorous co-op role and the most valuable. One player can close the coverage gap while five mowers work the middle.
- Trim ahead of the mowers, not behind them.
- Announce when you move Gómez.
- Do not trim through another player's lane. The spray and the noise are distracting.
- Hand the trimmer to the newest player if they want a low-pressure job.
The co-op guide→ has the role split.
Common mistakes
- Mowing first, trimming last. The wall line stays uncut and the spray ruins the stripes.
- Using the trimmer on the whole lawn. Slow and unnecessary.
- Tilting the head. Scalped borders.
- Trimming near Gómez without moving him. The care line remembers.
- Forgetting the second pass. The last tufts are at the edges.
FAQ
How do you equip the string trimmer?
Walk to the mower and equip it. The HUD changes to Throttle and Stop.
Does the trimmer use fuel?
It runs from the mower's equipment in the demo; I have not seen a separate fuel meter for it.
Can the trimmer damage the lawn?
It can scalp the border if you tilt the head, and it can damage props. Used flat and carefully, it produces a clean edge.
Should I trim before or after mowing?
Before, for the perimeter. After, for the details. If you only trim once, trim before.
Official source: One More Lawn on Steam ↗ and the official Elvira and island screenshots showing the trimmer in use.
