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Yard Tools - Gas or Electric or...Pay Gardener? Yuck.

I googled about the state of electric yard tools in the context of professional landscaping crews, and how many batteries they needed, how it was working out.

The Interwebs consensus was that its possible, but not quite practical yet. That you must use the commercial grade tools, the quality and longevity is night and day, apparently. That you need, like a dozen batteries, and should have a charger on the truck as well.

The thing that tickled it for me was a video on fake batteries and the way the presenter chose to determine work and runtime was using an electric blower. And the blower was lucky to last 7 minutes. And that just didn't seem like a lot of time, especially for a professional landscaping crew.

If I could pay $1000 to electrify my gardener, I'd do it, but it looks like its a much larger investment than that.
 
Small yards/low maintenance go electric based on what you already have. You don't need the latest and greatest in yard tools to do yard work. My stuff is all a mix/match of middle/lower tier Home Depot/Lowes stuff and it works.
 
Dubs for what you've described go electric AND gardener.

Electric, especially now as batteries get better and better, can tolerate dormancy much better than gasoline engines.

You're going to need the chainsaw maybe twice a year.
Electric: charge battery and work
Gas: hope last year's gas is still good. It isn't
Pull cord till your tennis elbow lets you know you should have just ordered a replacement carb last week because you knew this was your only day to work on the yard this quarter.
Attempt to clean carb, but the jets are covered in tamper resistant caps which you destroy

In short, when you decide to go gas anyway only put ethanol free fuel in them unless you enjoy cleaning carbs and missing your kids sports games because you're working on small engines. Ethanol free gas is available at hardware stores. It's around $16/gallon last I checked
 
another bonus for electric is that when your kids ride on electric toys die because the bespoke battery dies and you don't want to pay the insanely marked up price for a glorified ATV battery you can get a cheapie adapter off of the jungle website and use your power tool batteries to revive the kids toys... and they'll probably be faster. THEN when the kids outgrow said toys you toss them on the curb and keep the extra batteries that will still work fine for the next decade or more
 
berth said:
I googled about the state of electric yard tools in the context of professional landscaping crews, and how many batteries they needed, how it was working out.

The Interwebs consensus was that its possible, but not quite practical yet. That you must use the commercial grade tools, the quality and longevity is night and day, apparently. That you need, like a dozen batteries, and should have a charger on the truck as well.

The thing that tickled it for me was a video on fake batteries and the way the presenter chose to determine work and runtime was using an electric blower. And the blower was lucky to last 7 minutes. And that just didn't seem like a lot of time, especially for a professional landscaping crew.

If I could pay $1000 to electrify my gardener, I'd do it, but it looks like its a much larger investment than that.
Click to expand...

There have been government state-wide and now local credit systems for years, subsidizing the transition, so really no excuse for the professional landscaping crews.

Most of these crews do a shit job anyway, just mow and blow, because some el heffe owns your account and subs it out to the cheapest bodies he can find. They blow dirt everywhere, ruining your top soil, and making everyone's windows and cars filthy. All so that suburbanites can sit on their fat butts instead of getting some fresh air, putting their hands in dirt, and improving their mental and physical health a bit. It's all such a scourge.
 
I have EGO tools. I also have a huge lot. The batteries are dead, and replacing them is almost as expensive as buying the set in the first place.

My two cents.
 
two wheel tramp said:
I have EGO tools. I also have a huge lot. The batteries are dead, and replacing them is almost as expensive as buying the set in the first place.

My two cents.
Click to expand...
put something like "pwer tool battery repair" in your favorite search engine. they're servicable even if the OE doesn't want the business
 
Dubbington said:
I just worry about the batteries crapping out. Seems easier to maintain a small 52cc motor and they should last longer than the batteries.
Click to expand...

Regularly used, batteries are good for about 5 years. If going electric, I suggest getting a Hummer EV and running all the foliage over 2X yearly. That's the best way to do electric yard work....or better; the $75/ visit guy.
 
What's in your yard will be a big determining factor.
My neighbor put in a fake lawn and doesn't need a mower anymore.
My other neighbor removed his lawn and installed drought resistant landscaping so he has very little maintenance to do other than blowing stuff away once in a while.

We had some big trees that belonged in a forest. Not good for a suburban setting. Had those removed. We still have a few smaller trees but they only need a "haircut" once every couple of years. I hire a tree trimmer for that so no need for a chainsaw.
 
Regarding power tool batteries that are seemingly dead...they might not be.

It may be akin to a dead motorcycle battery. A trickle charger won't work, right? Same with these batteries. Just need to get higher input to get the supposed dead battery to accept a charge. I've revived a few 18volt batteries that would not charge with that process. They went back to being normally charged by the usual dedicated charger.

Can Seemingly Dead Power Tool Batteries Be Revived?​

Yes — in many cases, a power tool battery that appears “dead” can be brought back to life, especially if the failure is due to deep discharge or mild degradation rather than severe physical damage www.collectons.org.

Why Batteries Can Be Revived​

Most modern power tool batteries are lithium-ion (Li‑ion), nickel‑cadmium (Ni‑Cd), or nickel‑metal hydride (Ni‑MH). Lithium‑ion packs often fail because they’ve been deeply discharged, which can reset the battery management system (BMS) and temporarily stop charging www.collectons.org. Ni‑Cd batteries can be “reconditioned” by cycling charge and discharge.

Signs It Might Be Revivable​

  • Deep discharge (0V or very low voltage) — common in lithium‑ion packs www.collectons.org.
  • No physical damage (no swelling, cracks, or corrosion).
  • Charger compatibility — using the correct charger for the battery type.

Effective Revival Methods​

  1. Jump‑Start Method – Connect the dead battery to a fully charged, compatible battery of the same type. This can reset the BMS and allow charging to resume www.collectons.org.
  2. Deep Discharge & Recharge Cycle – Fully discharge the battery (if safe), then recharge it fully. This can “reset” the cells in lithium‑ion packs www.collectons.org.
  3. Pulse Charging – Use a bench power supply to deliver short, controlled pulses to the cells. This is more advanced and requires safety precautions www.collectons.org.
  4. Single‑Cell Charging – For 18650 packs, charge individual cells with a proper Li‑ion charger to revive weak cells www.collectons.org.
  5. Cleaning Terminals – If the issue is contact‑related, clean terminals with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol howpowertool.com.

When to Replace​

Revival is unlikely if:
  • The battery is physically damaged (swelling, leaks, corrosion).
  • Voltage is permanently low (e.g., below 2.5V per cell in Li‑ion).
  • The battery is old and has no capacity left.

Safety Tips​

  • Always use the correct charger for the battery chemistry.
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves when handling cells.
  • Avoid DIY disassembly unless you have experience with battery safety.
Bottom line: Many “dead” power tool batteries can be revived with the right method, especially if they’re lithium‑ion and deeply discharged. If the battery is physically damaged or voltage is permanently low, replacement is the safer and more reliable option www.collectons.org.
 
wtf gardener for me would be like 300 a month, and i have tiny .13 lot with front yard and small backyard

how the heck are you guys getting gardener for like under 100 a month
 
You're missing travel time tho....
 
I'm probably going to get in on a Makita 36v combo kit with labor day deals. Their mower gets OK reviews but comes with 4 18v batteries, needs two to run for $600. Then for another $500 or so there is a combo 36v weeder, hedger and pole saw. All set there. My dad's got some old chainsaw, Mcculough, that need $17 carbs.

Reviews are the mower doesn't have good lift on the blade. I'll check it out. Could pass on the mower and get a $150-$200 gasser off marketplace and then then go makita on the other tools.
 
FXCLM5 said:
wtf gardener for me would be like 300 a month, and i have tiny .13 lot with front yard and small backyard

how the heck are you guys getting gardener for like under 100 a month
Click to expand...

Generally if you hire a gardener already serving your neighborhood, the prices are reduced because they are already in the area. Expect a shitty mow and blow job.
 
Gas marketplace mower is a good backup. the electric i have doesn't cut short enough for my likes

i had an 80s vintage honda commercial mower that i resurrected and sold it.... that was a bad idea but also i haven't had a need for it since i sold it
 
I was waiting for so long for my shitty Craftsman gas mower to die. No oil changes. No new plug. Never changed the air filter. Ran whatever gas. Left it outside. Nope, that fucker kept starting and mowing fine. Then the SIL gave us a better Toro gas mower, which will probably never die 😡. The Craftsman was gone in 2hrs on FB Marketplace.

Funny enough, the only gas that made it run really shitty was some VP 110 Octane unleaded race gas.
 
  • Haha
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