Strimmer Safety for Families: Essential Tips for Parents with Kids in the Garden

Gardening is one of those jobs no parent surely loves when juggling children and chores. For me, the usual weekend garden tidy–ups usually involve dodging footballs while I mow, but there are only two tools I hate using with the kids around; garden power tools and secateurs.

Strimmers, also known as string trimmers or weed whackers, are excellent for neatening borders from overhanding grass and reaching areas your lawn mower can’t. However, they can pose risks if not used safely, particularly when children are nearby.

According to the Royal College of Surgeons, accidents involving gardening and DIY tools are more common than many people realise. Between 2014-2017 there were over 25,000 hospital admissions in just three years due to gardening or DIY-related accidents. 90% were male, but the other 8% were children and young people, including nearly 400 hospital admissions of children aged 0–4.

Strimmers use a rapidly spinning nylon line to cut through grass and weeds. Instead of blades, the cutting line rotates at high speed (often thousands of revolutions per minute), becoming stiff enough to slice through vegetation. I’ve never tested it, but pretty sure it would leave lacerations or deep cuts if you went over a bare foot.

The spinning motion can easily flick stones or debris at high speeds too, which is why I like to keep my children at a safe distance, preferably inside. And of course, most models have a simple button to hold down to turn on, so I don’t even like leaving it lying around when plugged in.

So, even if you are a seasoned gardener, here are essential strimmer safety tips and precautions to help you keep your space family–friendly and hazard–free.

Preparing for Safe Strimmer Use

Key Takeaway: Before starting, choose the right tool, inspect it, and make your setup kid-proof.

Choose the Right Tool for Your Garden

Strimmers come in electric, battery–powered, and petrol versions. For small to medium gardens with children around, a lightweight electric or battery–operated strimmer is often the safest and easiest to manage. Petrol models are powerful but louder and heavier, which may not be ideal with young children nearby. Cordless models also reduce trip hazards.

Store Tools Securely

Never underestimate a curious toddler’s ability to get into sheds or garages. Always store your strimmer out of reach and preferably under lock and key or at least a high handle or catch. Store batteries, extension cords, and fuel safely too.

Inspect Before Use

Always check the strimmer for damage, loose parts, or wear and tear. Ensure the guard is properly attached, it’s there for your protection, and the cutting line is the correct type for your model. If the model has a option to flip the angle, make sure it’s securely connected.

Dress Appropriately

I need to take my own advice on this one, even when it is hot weather, wearing just shorts and no footwear is a bad clothing choice. Children copy what they see. Model good safety practices by always wearing goggles, gloves, long trousers, and sturdy shoes. If using a petrol strimmer, consider ear protection too.

Keeping Kids Safe While You Work

Key Takeaway: Keep kids and pets away, and lead by example with proper safety habits.

Create a Safe Distance Zone

Children and pets should be kept well away from the working area. Even if your child is well–behaved, accidents happen fast. Set clear boundaries, such as keeping them indoors or in another part of the garden. You could assign a play task or indoor activity to keep them busy.

Watch Out for Debris

Strimmers spin quickly and can fling stones, sticks, and other debris at speed, hence the debris shield guard. Always scan the area for hazards before you start. Afterwards, sweep up and make sure the area is safe for barefoot play.

Aftercare and Long–Term Safety Habits

Key Takeaway: Safety continues even after you power off your strimmer.

Clean and Maintain Your Equipment

After use, unplug or remove batteries, clean off grass, and store your tool properly. This keeps your garden safe and ensures the strimmer is ready for next time and keeps your garden area safe for little ones.

Involve Older Children – With Caution

While toddlers must stay away from tools, older children can help with safe tasks like raking or sweeping. Never let children use a strimmer until they are strong, mature, and trained. Just remember it’s very easy to run over the cable too, so always supervise.

Turn Safety into a Family Rule

Make safety second nature. Let your kids remind you to wear goggles, or help put away tools (safely). The more they participate, the more they respect boundaries.

Strimmer Noise and Hearing Protection

Key Takeaway: Petrol strimmers can be extremely loud. Hearing protection helps protect you, and keeps children from distress caused by noise levels.

Petrol models can exceed 90 dB. Use ear defenders and keep children indoors or away while strimming. I use noise cancelling headphones.

What to Do in Case of Injury

Despite your best efforts, accidents can still happen. If someone is injured while you’re using a strimmer:

• Turn off the strimmer immediately and unplug or power it down to prevent further harm.
• Assess the injury calmly. For cuts or grazes, apply basic first aid: clean the wound, stop any bleeding, and cover with a sterile dressing.
• For more serious injuries (e.g. eye trauma, deep cuts, or any injury involving the face, head, or hands), seek professional medical help right away.
• Always keep a fully stocked first aid kit easily accessible in your home or garden shed.

Having a basic emergency plan in place ensures you can respond quickly and effectively if something goes wrong.

Bonus: Strimmer Safety Checklist

• Choose the right type (cordless = fewer trip risks)
• Inspect strimmer and guard before use
• Keep children and pets out of range
• Wear goggles, gloves, sturdy shoes, and ear defenders
• Clear debris from area before strimming
• Unplug/secure strimmer after use
• Store all tools and parts securely

Final Thoughts

Gardening is a joy and a healthy way to spend time outdoors as a family, but it also comes with responsibilities, especially when using power tools and trimming. Garden safety is key. Grass strimmers are handy for keeping your garden neat, but they require care and awareness when children are nearby. But if you wanted an easy life, you’d just go for artificial grass.

By choosing the right model, wearing proper gear, and making safety part of your routine, you can enjoy a tidy lawn without sacrificing family wellbeing. Whether it’s your front garden, backyard, or that overgrown side path you’ve been meaning to tackle, a tidy garden doesn’t need to come at the cost of peace of mind.

With just a few extra steps, you can keep your garden as safe as it is beautiful – one careful strim at a time.

What’s the Difference Between a Garden Strimmer and a Trimmer?

In the UK, we tend to use the term strimmer over trimmer, but in theory cutting intensity is a differential as well as regional variance (or what your dad called it). If you’re trimming lawn edges or small weeds, it’s a trimmer. Strimmers universally are the more heavy-duty versions (often with metal blades) the council use to clear thick brush or dense vegetation.