Here’s how to choose the best hedge trimmer and how to use it safely and effectively, with advice from professional gardeners.
        What is the best hedge trimmer? It depends on what you are looking for. Electric trimmers are inexpensive and easy to use, but their performance is limited by the length of the cord. Wireless models offer more freedom, but work smoothly as long as the battery is charging. Gas hedge trimmers are the most powerful, but they are noisy and require regular maintenance. Each one is available in a variety of sizes to help you understand what type of work you will be doing with your hedge trimmer.
        We turned to Ludmil Vasiliev of Fantastic Gardeners, who has been cutting hedges for ten years, for advice. If you’ve read our guides to the best lawn mowers, best trimmers, and best pruning shears, you know that professional gardeners have strong opinions when it comes to cutting, and Ludmil is no exception. He likes a gas-powered Stihl HS with two-foot blades, but at £700 that’s probably more than most gardeners need. He recommends Mountfield as a more affordable gasoline option.
        Below we have tried several brush cutters and recommend the best Vasiliev models. In the FAQ section below, we will also answer whether a petrol hedge trimmer is better and how thick branches can be cut. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick overview of our top five trimmers:
        “Power is important, but size is equally important,” Ludmir said. “I don’t recommend long blade petrol trimmers for most homes as they are heavy and can be dangerous if your hands get tired. 55 cm is the ideal blade length. I think anything more should be left to the professionals.
       ”Many people prefer battery powered hedge trimmers. You can get a good hedge trimmer like the Ryobi for less than £100, they are lighter and easier to operate. In my opinion, a cordless electric hedge trimmer is better than a corded hedge trimmer. Electric hedge trimmer better for hedges. Rope is a hazard when you go up and down stairs. I would also be concerned about safety if the hedge was wet.”
       Ludmil says the main reason for choosing petrol is the ability to handle tougher branches, but the more powerful 20V and 36V cordless hedge trimmers can be just as good or even better.
        The recommendation group doesn’t have a hedge big enough or bad enough to test the best gas-powered monster trimmer on the market. To do this, we took the advice of a professional gardener Ludmir. The rest were tested on a mixture of coniferous, deciduous and thorny hedges found in most gardens. Because hedge trimming is a labor intensive job, we were looking for a product that was clean, easy to cut, well balanced and light.
        If you want to beautify your garden, read our guides to the best blowers and the best garden umbrellas. As for brush cutters, read below.
        The 60cm Stihl recommended by Ludmil costs over £700 and isn’t cheap, but it can cut through just about anything from large mature hedgerows to aggressive brambles and overhanging branches. That’s why you’ll find it in the back of any serious gardener’s van.
        Two-stroke petrol engine with a capacity of 1 hp. gloves, headphones and goggles, enough fuel. You can turn the handle 90 degrees when switching between vertical and horizontal bars, but that’s probably the only compromise in terms of comfort.
        As you would expect from a well-known chainsaw manufacturer, the blades are extremely sharp and are very widely spaced on this R model. Combined with relatively low RPM and high torque, they are designed for thick branch and clearing work. Trimmers may prefer the HS 82 T, which has more closely spaced teeth and cuts almost twice as fast as a precision cutter.
        For most gardeners, the cheaper, quieter, lighter hedge trimmers below will be your best bet. But if you’re asking what advice the experts give, here it is.
       What we don’t like: It’s not powerful enough to handle thicker branches (although you wouldn’t expect that for the price).
       The Ryobi trimmer is lighter and quieter than the powerful Stihl and uses the same 18V battery as an electric screwdriver, yet is powerful enough for the vast majority of gardening jobs.
        The linear sword-like design makes storage easy and comfortable to use. It is especially good for repeated gentle passes – the best way to care for a well-groomed garden fence, says Lyudmil. In this regard, the biggest advantage is the hedge sweeper, which removes the trimmings as soon as you finish cutting them, just like a barber blowing lint off your neck.
        The teeth are slightly spaced apart compared to most cordless trimmers, which in theory means you can handle thicker branches, but the Ryobi doesn’t have the power needed. Also, it’s not the most durable, making it a great choice for general garden use, but not for overgrown mature hedges.
        B&Q told us that their top-selling brush cutters, as well as their own MacAllister brand, are made by Bosch, and this 18V cordless model is a popular choice. It uses the same batteries as cordless drills, electric washing machines, lawn trimmers and even lawn mowers – so you only need one £39 battery and a £34 charger for a whole shed of power tools not only from Bosch, but and any Power Union manufacturer. from the region uses the same system. This must be an important reason for its popularity.
       Another feature is that it is extremely light (only 2.6 kg), it is comfortable to hold, it is easy to turn it on and off, and it has a support bar around it, on which you can put a 55 cm blade. It has an interesting design: the teeth at the end taper to more resemble a hacksaw when working with wider branches – although, as Ludmir suggests, loppers and loppers are often the best choice for these people.
       While Bosch may not be the best choice for larger jobs, it is great for privet hedges, conifers and slightly stiffer hawthorn hedges and is the best choice for most gardeners.
        This petrol trimmer has slightly less power than the STIHL, with 2.7 cm tooth pitch instead of 4 cm, and is a slightly more domestic petrol trimmer at a more reasonable price. Ludmil recommends it as a reliable alternative to serious hedge trimming.
        Although it is larger and heavier than the electric model and is the loudest trimmer we have tested, it is well balanced and reasonably comfortable to use, with a three-position rotary knob and reasonable vibration damping. You’ll choose it for its rugged construction and ability to cut through all but the hardest branches, as well as, let’s be honest, the manly joy of owning a gasoline-powered blade.
       “When cutting hedges over 2m long, I would definitely recommend getting a platform,” Ludmil advises, “but I use extended hedge trimmers that are up to 4m long. The slope is up to 90 degrees, and if you want the hedge to be pointing up, you can tilt it up to 45 degrees.”
        The best tools we found were made by Swedish professional tool manufacturer Husqvarna. While they don’t recommend cutting branches more than 1.5cm wide, the 36V battery makes it almost as powerful as Ludmil’s favorite Stihl petrol, but much quieter. It’s easy to use, weighs 5.3kg with batteries (lighter than many pull-out models) and is very well balanced, which is important when dealing with tall hedges, which can be one of the toughest gardening jobs.
        The stem can be extended up to 4m in length and the 50cm blade can be tilted to seven different positions or replaced with a chainsaw attachment sold separately for £140. You will have to factor in the following additional costs when purchasing: £100 for the cheapest battery (which lasts two hours) plus £50 for the charger. But this is a solid kit from a 330 year old company that will probably last a long time.
        According to Ludmir, cordless hedge trimmers are generally easier to use and, in his opinion, safer. But if you have a small garden with medium sized hedges, you may be better off using less expensive net trimmers.
        Flymo may not be the coolest brand, but it is known and trusted by those of us who fit the description of a small garden (and maybe even older ones). The 18″ blade of the Easicut 460 is short but sharp and powerful enough to cut through yew, privet and even tougher-stemmed laurel hedges. The shorter arms tire your arms much less than the others we’ve tried.
        Weighing just 3.1kg, the Flymo’s lightness and good balance are a big plus, but the T-bars for hand support, which should make it more comfortable to use, aren’t really enough to add any control. However, this makes the trimmer narrower and easier to store.
       Flymo also makes wireless models starting at £100, but this is an option for those who don’t want to think too much about work.
        To trim thicker branches, you’ll need a wider tooth pitch (2.4cm versus the usual 2cm) and you’ll also need a plan to help you stay out of trouble when the trimmer inevitably gets stuck. Makita’s answer is a blade reverse button that sends the blades back briefly and releases them securely.
        It’s a good addition to a well-equipped trimmer, and the more powerful 5Ah battery and vibration control justify the higher price. It also makes it quieter to use – in fact, it’s surprisingly quiet (aside from the intense clipping sound) at the slowest of the three speeds. Another semi-professional feature is the adjustable handle, which can be rotated 90 degrees to either side for vertical cutting or 45 degrees for angled carving.
        The blade is slightly shorter than the average at 55 cm, but this is an advantage for more complex work, and it weighs less. An upgrade makes sense for those who need more extensive pruning, or those who need to deal with thick and thorny hedges.
        DeWalt is known for producing durable and efficient tools. In our review of the best cordless drills, we rated their SDS drill very highly. If you already own this tool, or any other DeWalt tool that uses a high capacity 5.0Ah battery, you can use that battery in it and save £70: the base option at Screwfix is ​​£169.98.
        This battery is the secret to an impressive maximum run time of 75 minutes, making it a worthy alternative to petrol trimmers in the high end market. It is definitely easier to use, lightweight, well balanced, compact and has an ergonomic handle.
        The laser-cut hardened steel blade is another reason to buy: it can cut through tough branches up to 2 cm thick in short strokes – just like Bosch, Husqvarna and Flymo – and it’s a solid alternative to the base model at the same price. It’s a pity that a long-lasting battery leads to such a high price.
        “The thickest branches I tried were one inch,” says horticultural expert Ludmie, “and this was done with a professional electric trimmer. Even then, I had to put pressure on him for about ten seconds. it is better to use hedge shears or pruners. Trimmers are not designed for cutting real branches.
        “Before, when my arms got tired and I dropped the trimmer on my feet, I got injured,” he said. “It was off, but I was so badly hurt that I had to go to the hospital. The teeth of a trimmer are essentially knives, so always use the trimmer you are comfortable with.”
        As for technique, Ludmir’s advice is to trim often and in small amounts, and always start at the bottom. “Walk carefully and stop when you see a brown old tree. If cut too deep, it will no longer turn green. It is better to cut the hedge lightly three or four times a year than to try to do it once a year.”