Trimming your hedges is an essential part of maintaining a tidy-looking yard. Whether you’re growing boxwoods as a low foundation hedge. Or larger shrubs as a screen for providing backyard privacy. There are plenty of tools available that make hedge trimming much easier. Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
“Using a hedge trimmer achieves instant results,” says Bill Marmaduke. Product manager for Troy-Bilt, a lawn and garden equipment manufacturer.
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“It can almost be mesmerizing to watch someone take a scruffy hedge and transform it into a perfect round sphere in a matter of seconds.”
Hedges are a classic garden feature. They’re a beautiful way to mark a boundary that avoids the blandness of garden fences and these living walls can dampen noise pollution. Soak up groundwater, and provide a windbreak.
Hedgerows are also a vital habitat for British wildlife. Providing both food and shelter, so proper maintenance is an ecological as well as aesthetic necessity.
We researched the most popular hedge trimmers on the market and rigorously tested them to bring you our list of the 15 best hedge trimmers, including cordless and petrol.
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Each model has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and storage, handling and performance, quality and features and value for money.
Every hedge trimmer in the list below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars. So you can be assured of their quality and performance.
Best Gas: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Poulan Pro 2-Cycle Gas Dual-Sided Hedge Trimmer
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Poulan Pro’s gas-powered hedge trimmer has a powerful two-cycle engine and a 22-inch dual-sided blade that can cut through thicker branches (up to 1 inch in diameter).
This hedge trimmer has a rotating handle that makes it comfortable to hold and easy to control at various angles.
One shopper said this feature “makes a big difference” when they’re trying to cut in hard-to-reach areas. “I used this to clear a property I am buying of some pretty heavy shrubs,” another wrote.
“[It] cuts very nicely for shrubs up to 1 inch thick. I cut quite a number of larger shrubs and this machine went right through them. Saved me hours of work.”
Best Electric: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Greenworks 4 Amp 22-inch Corded Hedge Trimmer
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If you don’t want to worry about running out of gas or battery life while touching up your garden, then a traditional electric hedge trimmer, like this corded one from Greenworks, is your best bet.
Its powerful electric motor and 22-inch steel blade make it easy to trim branches up to 5/8 inch thick.
Even shoppers who were initially skeptical about this affordable hedge trimmer describe it as a “workhorse.” One wrote, “It is lightweight and easy for me to use, but also quite efficient on hedge-sized trimming.
It is pretty quiet and all it needs is a long extension cord to make it quite usable for a normal-sized yard.” The cord comes with a lock to prevent it from accidentally disconnecting, but you’ll need to purchase an extension cord separately.
Best Overall: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Hedge Trimmer
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With more than 2,200 five-star ratings, this 22-inch hedge trimmer from Black+Decker is the best-selling option on Amazon.
Shoppers love that it’s so easy to use, and multiple people said it trims so well that it “cuts like butter.”
The cordless hedge trimmer comes with a 20-volt lithium-ion battery that can tackle up to 3,000 square feet on a single charge. It’s designed to cut through branches up to 3/4 of an inch thick, but there’s also a convenient feature that helps out with jams.
When you press the Powercut button, the blades move back and forth with extra force so they can cut through tougher branches.
“I had an old trimmer that used an electric cord, but I couldn’t reach all our bushes,” wrote one customer.
“This trimmer freed me to move on to bushes around our pond and house that I’d had to trim with a pair of hand clippers before (or just let go ‘natural’) and I can’t get over how fast and easy this trimmer makes my work.”
Small Hedges: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Sun Joe 2-in-1 Cordless Handheld Trimmer
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This versatile hedge trimmer from Sun Joe is a great option for anyone with a small garden.
Not only is the handheld option small and lightweight (just 2.5 pounds), but it has a two-in-one design that takes the place of another gardening tool.
The 6-inch hedge trimmer also functions as a grass shear thanks to its interchangeable blades.
Overall, customers are very pleased with how well this compact hedge trimmer works on their small gardens, and they appreciate that it’s very comfortable to hold.
“The Sun Joe helped me buzz through my entire row of boxwoods, and it was easy to maintain the shape and evenness I like,” said one reviewer.
“Then I attacked a huge vine that grows on one side of the house—I wanted to trim everything!”
Best Lightweight: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Worx Power Share 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer
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Carrying heavy tools around your yard can be tiring, but this cordless hedge trimmer from Worx is lightweight enough to make yard work less exhausting.
Even with the battery attached, the tool weighs just 5.5 pounds. But it’s still a full-size hedge trimmer: It has a 22-inch dual-action blade that cuts twigs and branches up to 3/4 inches in diameter.
The 20-volt battery and charger are included, and they can even be used with the brand’s other Power Share tools. “I got a quote on trimming my shrubs for $150.
I bought this instead, and I was able to nicely trim every shrub by myself in maybe an hour,” wrote one customer.
“I’m 68 and don’t love doing outdoor work, but this was pretty easy since it’s lightweight. When I finished, I was very happy I didn’t pay someone to do my hedge trimming.”
Best Heavy Duty: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Black+Decker 60V Max Cordless Hedge Trimmer
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If you need a hedge trimmer that’s tough enough to cut through the thickest branches on your hedges, try this heavy-duty tool from Black+Decker.
Just like our best overall pick, this cordless model has the Powercut feature to cut through stuck branches.
Its 24-inch blade comes with a saw blade at the end, which tackles branches up to 1.5 inches thick—the biggest cutting capacity on this list.
“We do a lot of gardening in our overgrown yard, and I took a chance paying much more on this unit instead of cheaper corded or cordless ones,” said a shopper.
“Now, after using it all over our yard on some pretty large overgrown shrubs, I am so glad that I paid more for this powerful cordless model.
It works like a charm. Hasn’t gotten stuck once on any good-sized branches [and] mows through thick shrubs like butter.”
Best Manual: Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying
Tabor Tools Telescopic Hedge Shears
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Unlike the other tools on this list that require gas or electricity, this manual hedge trimmer is powered solely by you.
While it’s definitely more labor-intensive to trim your hedges by hand, Marmaduke says some people find it a “relaxing way to connect to their yard and feel like they are a sculptor and less of a gardener.”
This particular set of hedge shears has plenty of features to maximize comfort, like shock-absorbing bumpers and nonslip grips on the handles.
Not only does it have telescopic handles (that go from 25 to 33 inches in length), but it also has an adjustable tension knob so you can easily control the blades.
“I never knew hedge clippers could be this good,” said one customer. “They’d be wonderful even without the extendable handles, but those save me an armful of scratches on my sharp-leaved hedges.”
How To Choose The Best Hedge Trimmer
Types Of Hedge Trimmers
There are three types of hedge trimmer available, each with their own pros and cons:
1. Petrol Hedge Trimmers:
These are powerful and, like cordless versions, can be used anywhere. However, petrol has an environmental impact, is expensive and messy and trimmers are heavy, noisy and require regular maintenance.
2. Electric Hedge Trimmers:
Affordable, low maintenance and lightweight these trimmers do require a power source and have cables that are potentially hazardous.
3. Cordless Hedge Trimmers:
These are lightweight, quiet, environmentally friendly and have no need of petrol, engine maintenance or electricity plus there are no trailing cables to worry about. Expensive batteries and chargers however, can increase costs.
What To Consider When Buying A Hedge Trimmer
While corded and petrol trimmers are powerful, they have their drawbacks.
Corded hedge trimmers often need extension cords. And watching out for the power cord can be frustrating and potentially dangerous.
Petrol hedge trimmers don’t have the irritation of a cord. But do have the added inconvenience of buying petrol, which is also smelly and a pollutant.
They’re loud, expensive, and require a temperamental pull start. Cordless hedge trimmers avoid all these problems. You just add a battery pack and you’re good to go.
Without the cord or a petrol tank. you aren’t limited to where you can cut and these trimmers are also a lot lighter and quieter. Traditionally, these were pretty pricey, but recent advances have lowered their price.
3 Of The Best Petrol Hedge Trimmers On Test
Husqvarna 122HD60
The Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer
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Pros:
- Fast, efficient cut
- 3-position handle
- Powerful with a brushless motor
- Rigid guard with hanging option
- Lowest noise level of the petrol models
Cons:
- Highest price petrol model(in our 2018 test)
This hedge trimmer is compact and light but still delivers a powerful and efficient cut.
The rotating handle makes awkward angles easier and the anti-vibration system means it’s comfortable to manoeuvre.
The tool is quiet, so there’s minimum disruption for your neighbours, and would be best for high hedging and large shrubs.
There is also a two-year warranty on the product and we rated this a Best Buy for a premium petrol tool.
Mitox 600DX
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Pros:
- Cuts efficiently
- Anti-vibration system
- 4-point rotating handle
- Longest warranty in our test
Cons:
- Hard to start
- Thin plastic guard
The Mitox model is a heavier petrol-powered trimmer. Despite the weight, it’s well-balanced and has a handy rotating handle and anti-vibration system to help make handling comfortable.
The trimmer was harder to start than other models we tested and the plastic hand guard felt quite flimsy, although it does come with a generous five-year warranty.
The long blade is great for tall hedges and offered an almost professional cut.
Webb HC600
Pros:
- Tip guard
- Easy to start
- Widest tooth spacing
- Handles and cuts well
- 5-position rotating handle
Cons:
- dB rating (117) higher than others in our test
An easy-to-start model with a five-position rotating handle. This is a versatile trimmer which suits most sized and shaped hedges while the wide tooth spaces make it tough on wider, mature stems.
The tool is heavy but felt well-balanced to hold and cut powerfully through hedges. A well-placed tip guard protects the blade and it comes with a two year warranty, making this product great value for money.
We judged this a best buy in the well-priced category as the best petrol hedge trimmer.
How We Tested Hedge Trimmers
To see how well budget cordless hedge trimmers perform, the GW reviews team tested 12 models across a range of hedges with different stem thicknesses, including privet, yew and laurel.
The hedge trimmers were compared, and the following criteria used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:
1. Set-up & storage
We looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, the battery charge time and any storage features.
2. Handling
We assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features.
3. Performance
Here we focused on the quality of cut, blade length, the maximum stem thickness it can cut and run time.
4. Value for money
We considered all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP including battery and charger, and the length of warranty.
Best Hedge Trimmers Today For Buying.
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