- best buy
- Cutting hedges
- Comfort in use
- Manoeuvrability
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A good hedge trimmer can be a blessing, saving you time and preventing aching arms.
Although April is still too early to trim hedges, it's worth checking your trimmer is in a decent shape ahead to the season. Make sure batteries from your cordless tools have charge, perform general maintenance tasks and of course, make sure your hedge trimmer is still in working condition.
Need a new trimmer? Below, we run through the key hedge trimmer features to look out for, also explaining the differences between electric hedge trimmers and cordless hedge trimmers.
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Here's our pick of the best hedge trimmers for tackling large hedges, including cordless and corded electric models.
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Tables updated: April 2024
Cutting tall, long or overgrown hedges can be hard work. Their sheer size will mean they can take hours to trim, and it can be hard to reach the top of tall hedges. In addition, their twigs tend to be thick and woody as many are plants that would naturally grow into trees, such as conifers, beech or hawthorn. There are a few factors to weigh up:
If you have a tall hedge that needs cutting frequently it might be worth investing in a good long-reach hedge trimmer, so you can cut the tops without the risk of climbing a ladder.
Find out more: should I buy a long-reach hedge trimmer?
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Get this offerHere's our pick of the best hedge trimmers for tackling small hedges, including cordless and corded electric models.
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Small hedges often have small, tightly-packed leaves and a strong shape. They can look ragged and untidy if the hedge trimmer doesn't cut cleanly and neatly. There are a few features you should look for:
Not found the one for you? Browse all our hedge trimmer reviews.
If you have a small hedge and don’t mind a little exercise, a pair of hand shears might be all you need. They're better for the environment and much quieter in use so won't disturb your neighbours. Look for a model with extendable handles to help your reach the top of your hedge.
For situations where you have a limited amount of hedge to cut close to the house, a mains electric hedge trimmer with a cutting blade up to 45cm long is the best option. Our selection of Best Buy hedge trimmers are quick, leave a neat finish and are easy to use. If you hate the hassle of dealing with the power cable, consider a cordless hedge trimmer.
If you have lots of hedges to cut, look for a hedge trimmer with a longer cutting blade. We have Best Buy hedge trimmers with a blade length of up to 70cm or more, which will cut a significant amount in a single sweep. For hedges that are too far from the nearest power source, a petrol hedge trimmer is a sensible option. But also consider a cordless machine – some come with a spare battery, or you could buy an extra one to extend the cutting time.
If you're dealing with tall hedges, it might be worth considering a long-reach hedge trimmer, which will allow you to reach the top of a high hedge without a ladder. We've tested corded electric, cordless and petrol versions.
Watch our video for our expert tips on how to choose the best hedge trimmer for your needs and budget.
Electric hedge trimmers are usually lightweight, can be quite powerful and are useful in most gardens where you can reach all your hedges with the attached cable and possibly an extension cord.
As you will need to plug it into the mains, think about how far your hedges are from the house and whether you will need a long extension lead. Accidentally cutting the cord is possible, so work with the cable over your shoulder and out of the way of the blade. Always use a residual current device (RCD) to protect yourself from electric shock if you cut the cord.
See all of our corded electric hedge trimmer reviews.
Cordless hedge trimmers give you the freedom to cut hedges further away from the house, and there is no cable to accidentally cut through.
Now, cordless models with higher-powered 36V batteries rival petrol hedge trimmers. Batteries typically last around 20 minutes, but some will keep going for up to an hour. The best batteries recharge in about 60 minutes. If you have a larger hedge, think about buying a second battery to finish the job.
The results of our most recent reliability survey show that many cordless hedge trimmer owners find the batteries to be unreliable – either they don't hold the charge well or don't charge at all. You might want to consider the price of replacing the battery when you work out how much the hedge trimmer will cost to use over its lifetime.
Most hedge trimmer manufacturers also now produce a range of tools that all use the same battery. As a result, you can often see 'bare' hedge trimmers for sale. These do not come with either a battery or a charger. Be aware, though, that the battery is often as expensive, if not more expensive, than the hedge trimmer itself and so the price will rise sharply once these are added in.
See all of our cordless hedge trimmer reviews.
Petrol hedge trimmers are great for cutting large hedges, especially those with thicker branches that are away from a main power source.
Unlike electric hedge trimmers, you don't have to worry about the extension cord reaching or the battery running down. Instead, you just need a can of petrol, with the two-stroke oil mixed in, sitting ready to refuel and carry on.
It is generally recommended that unleaded fuel used for hedge trimmers does not have a higher ethanol content than 10% - this is because ethanol attracts water which can cause corrosion if fuel is left in the hedge trimmer for long periods.
E10 fuel is fine to use, but super unleaded with an ethanol content of 5% is better and what we would recommend.
It's good practice to empty the fuel tank as much as possible – and completely if not in use over winter. Petrol is better stored in a bespoke container rather than in the machine.
It's also worth considering that due to recent market shifts, we're seeing fewer launches of petrol-powered gardening tools, as manufacturers appear to be focusing their attention on cordless tools. These offer a better alternative for the environment and our health, as they’re quieter and produce zero emissions, while still being flexible and powerful enough to rival petrol tools.
If you have tall hedges, the safest and quickest way to cut them is from the ground. Long-reach hedge trimmers have a long shaft that can be adjusted in length, and the cutting blade sits at the end of this. The blade can be tilted to cut the top of the hedge or the side.
Long-reach hedge trimmers can be found as corded electric, cordless or petrol models. Petrol long-reach hedge trimmers can often be sold as or converted to a multi-tool, and the hedge trimmer head can be swapped for a strimmer head or a pruner. This means you can effectively have several tools without having to buy more than one motor.
Compare models by viewing our hedge trimmer reviews.
See the best hedge trimmer brands.
Keep your hedges looking their best by following our guide on how to cut a hedge.
Take your hedge trimmer to a local garden-machinery specialist to get the blades sharpened if they become blunt. They can also service more expensive petrol models.