Our yard had become an overgrown tangle of vines, weeds, and dead trees after years of neglect by the previous owner. For both safety and curb appeal, clearing this space became a top priority. With the help of Stihl cordless outdoor power equipment, we set out to reclaim and restore our landscape.
By Los Angeles standards, our backyard is large. About one-third is occupied by a pool and deck; the remainder is divided into two smaller lawns and a larger area that includes a couple of orange trees and a small garden shed. Our front yard has a maintained lawn and basic landscaping, but the back yard had been left to the elements.
The back area was roughly half living lawn and trees and half dead branches, leaves, and brush. Our first objective was to remove as much dead material as possible: dismantle a dead tree, cut branches into manageable sections, and clear accumulated leaves and undergrowth. That work is where Stihl’s tools proved most valuable.
Last year we tried Stihl’s new Lightning cordless lineup at their Virginia Beach headquarters and were impressed by how close their performance came to gas-powered equivalents. Because we wanted to avoid gas—and the fumes, maintenance, and noise that come with it—the cordless tools were an obvious choice. We selected five Stihl Lightning tools to handle clearing and ongoing upkeep: a lawn mower, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, chainsaw, and pole pruner. Stihl’s AP series is designed for frequent to intensive use, making it a good fit for our large yard.
For the heavy lifting—removing fallen trees and cutting dead limbs—the MSA 200 C-BQ chainsaw and HTA 85 pole pruner were indispensable. Because part of our yard slopes down, many branches were difficult or unsafe to reach from the ground. The pole pruner allowed us to cut those limbs without climbing or risking a dangerous angle.
Safety is essential when working with chainsaws and pole saws. We always use proper protective gear: work gloves, safety glasses, chainsaw chaps, a helmet, and hearing protection. Stihl’s Woodcutter kit bundles the protective apparel you need, including a helmet and face shield, and is a convenient option for anyone tackling cutting work.
Our orange tree was particularly in need of attention: neglected limbs and deadwood left it vulnerable to disease and reduced its productivity. Pruning out the dead branches improved the tree’s health and appearance. For power and runtime, we relied on the AP 300 battery, which offered more than enough capacity for our tasks and is compatible across all our AP-series tools.
Clearing the yard has been a big undertaking, but our set of Stihl tools made the work far more manageable and even enjoyable. Battery-powered equipment also meant there were no gas fumes or complex startup routines, which made it easier for family members to help. In fact, Laura—nine months pregnant—joined in with the pole saw recently, showing how approachable the cordless tools can be when used with the right safety gear.
We’ll share an update soon about our continued progress and how we put the rest of our Stihl tools to work across the yard.
This post is sponsored by Stihl. All opinions are our own and reflect our experience using the tools. This content follows applicable disclosure guidelines.