The best way to Choose a Hedge Trimmer

Back in the 1970s, the choice of hedge trimmer on give was pretty straightforward.

When you were a home user and you wanted to help keep control of your privet hedge, you purchased a Black & Decker electric trimmer with a long lead.

On the other hand in case you had been a professional groundsman doing heavier work and often operating in a park well away from any power, you selected one of the early 2-stroke petrol-engined machines from the likes of McCulloch.

Nowadays, your selection is far greater. How do you determine which type of machine to buy, and what are the differences between brands?

In terms of types, you have three choices.

Cordless

This is the newest segment of the market and probably the fastest-growing. The revolution in battery technology, spurred on by automotive research, has brought us new types like Nickel Cadmium and especially Lithium Ion, which have lower weight, quicker charging, longer life and greater power than ever before, so that a whole new range of machines can now be effectively powered by these means.

Most cordless trimmer motors run on 18 volt batteries, but at the top end brands like Bosch and Makita give really powerful 36V models. The cordless trimmers offer a range of usable time from 30 to 55 minutes. Charging typically takes 3 hours but some models using the latest fast chargers and Li-ion batteries are achieving sub-1 hour times: a premium Bosch model claims just 45 minutes.

Although battery hedge trimmers are generally used for light duties, some do provide wider cutter gaps (of some 15mm rather than 10mm) which are normally more associated with powerful machines. In association with a strong motor, this allows mature hedges and shrubs with medium diameter stalks to be cut without jamming the machine.

The specialist short-cutter shrub cutting trimmers / garden shears are generally cordless devices and battery power is perfect for this application.

Corded

Machines with cables attached obviously have an Achilles heel when compared with their battery brothers, but if the work that you intend to do is likely to be within reach of a heavy-duty cable extension then you may elect for the traditional mains-powered hedge trimmer.

With 240 volts and much greater torque, these trimmers can cope with rougher treatment. They are also lighter to hold, not having to carry a battery: an average sub-18″ cutter-length machine is between 2 and 3 kg compared to 4 kg or more for an equivalent cordless.

This allows greater tooth spacing – from 16mm on smaller machines to as great as 34mm on the biggest Bosch machines, which permits small trees to be pruned. Hand in hand with this is the greater cutter bar length that can be offered: there is a range of sizes right up to 750mm / 29.5″

Check the length of cord supplied with a machine – many have 10 metres but some supply 12 metres. If using an extension, make sure it is a 13 amp one with a thermal cutout. And always purchase an RCD breaker to protect yourself against any accidental cable cutting.

Petrol

Petrol power (or gas power for US readers) is still popular because it offers the same go-anywhere capability as cordless electric, plus the ability to keep on working so long as you have brought along a relatively small amount of spare 2-stroke mix (of petrol and oil).

All the same features are on supply from manufacturers as within the electric sector of the market. The potential downsides are the pollution of the engine (despite recent improvements from most manufacturers) and sometimes, the difficulty of starting the engine with the pull-cord. Extremes of temperature, rain or snow, and high altitude can all adversely affect the willingness of the engine to start.

This makes the models that offer easy starting attractive. This includes those from Hitachi with its ‘S-Start’ or McCulloch who offer a fuel pump that reduces the starting effort.

Petrol machines with their self-contained power plant and tank are a bit heavier than any other kind, ranging from a lightweight McCullough model at 5.1kg to up to 7kg in some models.

One aspect to remember is that petrol-engined machines are noisy: they can be over 100dB beside the machine and operators must wear ear defenders. Those with nearby neighbours should also think about the noise nuisance factor.

Whereas most big-selling electric models are typically 400W in power, rising to around 700W for the most powerful Makita, petrol machines are all relatively powerful: the excellent 21.1cc Hitachi engine has 740W. And petrol machines top the size league, with bar lengths of up to 31″/780mm inside the case of an extra-long Hitachi 23.9cc/ 810W model.

When buying a machine, look at the fuel tank size: the domestic-use McCullough model has 0.2 litres but professional units have 0.6 litre tanks that allow long uninterrupted periods of use.

On all types of trimmer, a very useful feature is a swivelling rear handle that allows vertical or angled trimming to be carried out much more easily and accurately. There are various types of arrangement: Draper models have a patented 5-position rotating handle.

Long-reach models can be purchased in electric or petrol types: they are specialist machines but very useful for tall or awkward hedges and shrubs.

So within the modern market there is something for everyone: some makers like Bosch, who provide residence user and professional models, seem to cover every little niche. Get professional advice and you will find a machine that suits you and your hedge right down to the ground.

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