I have several maples, a few oaks and dozens of pines around my property. Just a quick swivel of the front-mount deck underneath the lower branches and whoosh! they're groomed!
I very rarely even pull out the weed eater anymore. The 'Hopper has a neat (optional) feature on their decks... a side-mounted "guide" wheel on the side opposite the discharge chute that allows you to literally run it right up against curbs, buildings, etc. as you mow and it will cut within a 1/2" ...sure beats having to walk around lugging a vibrating weed eater, getting covered in shredded grass - and risking breaking a blade tip against a curb, rock or whatnot and having it fly into your shin. Yes, that's happened and man! does it hurt!!!:confused2: