Hedgetrimmers

Reports from Which?
Expert advice from an independent source

WHICH? REVIEWS: Hedgetrimmmers

Find the best hedgetrimmer for your garden. Mains electric and cordless models rated by our experts - grab yourself a Best Buy to keep your hedges tidy.

If you have a small hedge and don't mind a little exercise a pair of hand shears might be all you need. If, on the other hand, you have lots of boundary hedges a powered hedgetrimmer will certainly take the effort out of this regular chore.

If you have lots of hedge to cut or far from the nearest power source, consider a cordless machine - some come with a spare battery or you could buy an extra one to extend the cutting time. Consider one with a rapid charger if you want to cut a lot of hedge in a limited period.

If you have a number of tall hedges, it might be worth considering a telescopic hedgetrimmer, which will allow you to reach the top of a high hedge without having to use a ladder.

You can find out our Best Buy recommendations by taking out a £1 30-day trial to www.which.co.uk Below, we explain more about the features of hedgetrimmers.

Types of hedgetrimmer

There are three main types based on their power source.

Mains electric
Mains electric hedgetrimmers have a power cable so you can only use them close to a power socket or with an extension lead. They're fairly light and easy to use, though the major drawback is keeping the power cord out of the way of the blade.

Cordless
Cordless hedgetrimmers have a battery that can be removed and re-charged indoors. They're more convenient to use than mains electric machines because you don't have to worry about the power cable. The best cut for around 20 minutes on one charge and some come with a spare battery to prolong the cutting time.

Petrol
Petrol hedgetrimmers by comparison are large, heavy machines. They're useful if you have hedges far from a power source. But as with all petrol machines they are noisy, create exhaust fumes and can be tiring to use for long periods.

We've tested cheaper models in the past but have not been particularly impressed with them. If this is your best option, you may have to buy a more expensive model from a specialist machinery dealer and seek their advice.

Features to look for

Blade
This consists of a long bar with fixed teeth. A bar which moves with a reciprocating action bears lots of sharp teeth that cut against it. Any twig that will fit between these teeth will be cut. Obviously the longer the blade the more you will cut with each sweep. But the heavier and harder to manoeuvre the machine becomes. For most gardeners a blade 450 - 600mm is suitable.

Blade extensions
These are fixed teeth that project beyond the moving cutters. Although they allow branches to enter they will prevent serious injury if you accidentally brush the machine against your leg, say. The wider the opening the bigger the branch that can be cut, but it will need a more powerful motor too.

Two handed switches
You have to press switches on the front and rear handles for the blade to operate, which means both hands must be on the two handles. If you let go of one handle the blades stop instantly, preventing injury to the free hand.

Hand guard
This prevents debris being thrown back towards you as you're using the hedgetrimmer. A translucent one allows a clear view of the full length of the blade.

Blade sheath
A blade sheath protects the blade, and your fingers (the cutting teeth are extremely sharp) when carrying or storing the machine.

Wrap-around front handle
A wrap-around front handle with multiple switches makes it easy to change from cutting horizontally to vertically.

Features for cordless models

Charger
This plugs into a power socket. The batteries can be charged away from the machine, so you don't need power in the shed.

Cutting time
Most run for at least 20 minutes, which may not sound that long, but it was long enough for our testers to cut a hedge 2m high and 40m long!

Spare batteries
Some cordless hedgetrimmers come with a spare battery, so you can have one charging while you use the other, or cut for twice as long. The Flymo SabreCut and Ryobi are part of a multi-tool system, so you can use the same battery for several tools.

Charging time
This can be anything from 24 hours to as little as an hour. So even if you have a lot of hedges, don't rule out cordless trimmers.

Weight
Conventional cordless trimmers aren't usually particularly heavy, even including the battery. Telescopic versions tend to be heavier.

Telescopic handles
Some cordless hedgetrimmers have extendable handles and blades that can be angled for cutting the top of hedges up to about 3m.

So what's the best hedgetrimmer for you? By taking out a £1 30-day trial to www.which.co.uk you can discover all you need to know about hedgetrimmers and find out our Best Buy brands.

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