I've recently had to switch to the Ego "electric" neon green stuff, and it's a definite step down from the red commercial Maruyamas. Electric weedwhacker (I'm

I've recently had to switch to the Ego "electric" neon green stuff, and it's a definite step down from the red commercial Maruyamas. Electric weedwhacker (I'm assured these don't exist on the West Coast, but they do have an alternative called the "weedeater") barely has any strength behind it. Will it knock down some tall spots in the hard spots of a non-artificially-planned backyard? Yes. Will it be quick? No. Can you edge with it? I've tried, but the lack of power means the cut is never clean. Same with the leafblowers. Gasoline-powered? That side-walk and driveway are free of leaves in 5 minutes tops. Electric? I'm slowly walking around like a bozo for a good 15-20 minutes just to get the bigger parts. It's almost impossible to get all the nooks and crannies with the hand-blower. Same with the trimmers. Hell. Those small Maruyama trimmers are all you need. Doesn't matter if you need a longer reach: a ladder and one-handing it always does the trick. Admittedly, they're also used as pruners (and they're damn good at it). I've tried those pole-trimmers, and the lack of power was palpable. You can barely even cut through Rhododendron without slamming that thing into the branches. Electric? Forget about it. They barely cut through my regular-variety hedge. Perhaps the "high-powered" stuff has spoiled me forever -- and I do miss them dearly. What I don't miss is my hands going numb, and a persistent ringing in my ears. I've also grown to be a fan of the "old" New England property landscapes and yards. The ones on the West Coast always seemed so artificial.