Standard, short, hedge trimmers usually have a blade length of under 1 m, and a simple handle front and back to control their movement. If you do go for a pole hedge trimmer, remember to step back regularly and inspect your work as intuitive, unchecked, cuts tend to lean backward, making for a really unnatural-looking finish. Pole hedge trimmers allow you to work safely from the ground, but do take some getting used to. Cutting hedges on ladders, whether it's with corded electric, cordless or petrol hedge trimmers is a nightmare and, frankly, dangerous. Pole hedge trimmers are essential for tall hedges. They just work, and while I get the need for the single-sided blades, they don’t offer the same reliability, particularly if you want to have a go at cloud pruning and working more gently with the natural curves of your hedging plants. Personally, I like standard, double edged hedge trimmers. Single sided blades, while less efficient, are ideal for trimming tall hedges, as you should only ever cut in one direction. Twin sided hedge trimmers are more efficient but can give you false confidence, leading to uneven and untidy cuts. Some more standard power tool manufacturers like Bosch and Stanley have great hedge trimmers for sale, which are just as reliable, but typically less powerful, and very much designed for home gardeners rather than pros. If you’re looking for reliability, Stihl will nearly always come top, but Baumr-AG and Hyundai make outstanding hedge trimmers too. BrandĪs with most petrol garden tools, there are a handful of well-known and respected brands, where the price reflects their reliability, and a few great budget brands out there too. Long pole hedge trimmers are heavier for obvious reasons but can be just as comfortable to use, provided they have good shoulder straps or handles set in the right place.Įven a small garden can have 60 ft of hedge to keep tidy, and that will (if you’re taking care) take about half an hour to cut, so consider your own comfort over that time. WeightĪ standard-sized hedge trimmer should weigh about 5-6 kg with a full tank (product weight will be 4-5 kg). They nearly always come diamond cut for immaculate and disease-free hedge maintenance and are easy to sharpen when needed. You can save money with a basic blade, but in a world of false economies it’s one of the biggest as buying replacement blades is often just as expensive as buying the tool, so aim for carbon steel blades. The blade material is surprisingly important when it comes to lifetime guarantees and maintenance. Hedge trimmers have toothed pulsing blades, which run cutting teeth over a second set of teeth. If not, 2-Stroke petrol hedge trimmers are more than adequate for 99% of hedging plants. 4-stroke engines are more efficient, so over longer working times use less petrol and have fewer problems longer term, so we’d always suggest a 4-stroke petrol hedge trimmer if you can afford it. In reality, nearly all hedges can be trimmed with a smaller engine.Ģ-Stroke engines are more powerful, but more can go wrong. Power & EngineĢ2cc is a pretty standard engine capacity on hedge trimmers, but they do go up to 65cc if you want something really powerful. We’ll run through the basics below, but if you can get the right engine, a good blade, and a well-weighted tool from a reputable brand, you’ll have a hedge trimmer that will last a lifetime and be enjoyable to use. Obviously, you’re not going to have one of them in your garden (kudos if you do!) but if we use that as our baseline, the hedge trimmers in this article are going to work on a typical domestic hedge for sure.įor that, we need three things: a decent tank that runs for at least half an hour, blades that are capable of cutting neat edges, and something that’s comfortable to use both vertically and horizontally. The most extreme hedging situation, which we’ll use as a base here, is a formal maze. There are the same standard questions as with any power tool, like whether 4-stroke or 2-stroke engines are better (short answer: it depends on what you’re using it for), and the materials used to build it.Īside from that, basically, it’s all about whether or not they work, and whether they’re capable of the finish you want for your garden. Hedge trimmers might look like basic tools, but there’s a lot going on both beneath the surface and right there in front of you. What to Look for When Buying a Petrol Hedge Trimmer
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