Trimming the trees and hedges is undeniably a daunting task. Especially if you are getting it done with shears, you will spend a significant time needlessly. Many people use hedge trimmers in this regard and are happy with their investment in the right product, as it’s an absolute time saver.
Whether you like the home landscape to look more like Disney World park or have large shrubs, a hedge trimmer can be a sweet spot for you. Simply get one with top-notch features that make complete sense for your yard, and you will never be disappointed with the purchase anyway.
All in all, the reliable machine will make the work more efficient, fast, and safe. Despite their popularity and advancement, some people are unfamiliar with these tools and are unable to get huge benefits from them.
To help the newbies in the town, I am here with a detailed guide on what is a hedge trimmer, its types, major applications, hedge trimmer parts, and the factors that should be considered before opting for a final product.
What is a Hedge Trimmer?
A hedge trimmer is a device that prunes and cuts shrubs and hedges. The blade generally ranges from 5 – 26 inches long, perfect for cutting through branches with a thickness of 1/2- to 3/4 inches. If you want to cut out anything that’s thicker, a pruning tool will be required.
This gardening tool can be efficiently used for trimming tasks, like cutting solitary shrubs or hedges. Different designs, manuals, as well as powered versions also exist to ensure versatility and ease. In addition, they vary between larger trimmers mounted on tractors to small hand-held devices. Overall, they are all-inclusive tools that can shear hedges into the appropriate shape.
Related: How to Use a Hedge Trimmer in Simple and Easy Ways
Types of Hedge Trimmers
Hedge trimmers come with three main power sources: gas, electricity, or battery. Your first valuable decision in selecting this machine is which type of power you would prefer.
Dive into all three types to determine which one is best suitable according to your needs:
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Battery-powered
Battery-powered hedge trimmers have had a significant impact on the market, especially when compared to gas-powered ones. Nowadays, battery tools are as powerful as others and provide almost the same amount of flexibility. They can run for more than 2 hours smoothly when completely charged. Plus, they have a weight of nine to ten pounds, cost between$140 and $400, and need little or even no maintenance.
Overall, a beautifully trimmed hedge is really easy to use and can be a joy or pride of any garden. The best way to get a strong battery-powered tool is with a cordless from a trustworthy company. Most battery hedge trimmers are perfectly balanced and are really lighter than petrol hedge trimmers. It makes them easier to handle and comfortable to operate. But wait—things don’t end here! They also feature a convenient access keypad on their handles for smooth stopping and starting.
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Electric-powered
This kind of hedge trimmer requires an outlet and an extension cord but can run for as long as needed. If the hedges are around 100 – 200 feet from the house and you are using it just a few times a year, an electric tool can be the most reasonable choice, as their average cost is around $40 to $200. Furthermore, these machines are less than ideal if the hedges are over 200 feet away. This is because the trimmer will begin to lose its power after a while or at long distances.
They come in either cordless or corded options. With the corded ones, you will need to deal with the particular extension cords while working and stay within a specific distance from its outlet every time, which is definitely inconvenient. On the contrary, corded hedge trimmers are easy to use, and they make the work really smooth as you can go conveniently as far from its outlet as you require at that time. You do not even need to trail cords behind you, & can use it for as long as its battery charge lasts.
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Gas-powered
This type is ideal for professionals or homeowners who trim hedges on a regular basis. They are of higher maintenance than electric and battery-powered trimmers because the gas-powered hedge trimmer engine runs on a mixture of oil and gas. These trimmers can usually cost from $150 – $600. If you are using the hedge trimmer for any sort of commercial purposes, or you’ve edges that are thick, unruly, and large, then a gas hedge trimmer can be your final destination.
Without a shadow of a doubt, these tools come with so many incredible benefits, but we cannot deny the fact that they are a bit hard to use. Well, this factor can be totally ignored as they can take on even the heavy and tougher jobs really faster without any hindrance. If you are a beginner, it’s recommended to avoid using them and try electric hedge trimmers instead, as they are easy to manage. But if you think that you are going to perform a heavy task, consider upgrading to gas.
Related: How to Start a Hedge Trimmer?
What Is a Hedge Trimmer Used For?
While hedge trimmers are usually used to maintain shrubs and hedges, they have many other applications as well. As long as the trimmer is in a nice operating order & contains sharp blades, it can actually go through more than you may even expect.
No more talk; let’s dig into what is a hedge trimmer used for!
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Branches Cutting
Hedge trimmers are utilized to keep bushes and hedges looking fine. However, cutting giant branches with them can be highly tempting, specifically when in a hurry to complete the yard work. They are designed to trim the tips of smaller branches and don’t have sufficient power to cut through really thick branches.
Hedge trimmers provide a comfortable cutting depth of up to half an inch. Even though most machines come with sharp blades, they are not powerful enough to trim thick branches. So, it’s better to get a chainsaw if you have to cut hard or large tree branches, as chainsaws are made especially for that.
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Bamboo Cutting
As bamboo grows super fast, many homeowners often wonder how they’ll keep it under control around their yards. Using reliable hedge trimmers can be highly helpful in this case, but only in specific conditions. People who want to clean their garden bamboo will not be able to accomplish it utilizing these tools as hedge trimmers lack the strength and force to cut through the thick bamboo.
Additionally, their blades are too small, and mature bamboo is too thick to be moved. In this sense, mature and thick bamboo resembles branches, and even the powerful products will struggle a lot to cut them out. On the other hand, homeowners who really wish to manage the top of branches or bamboo may accomplish it using pole hedge trimmers.
Note: You should always take into account the thickness and strength of the bamboo tips. Make sure you do not try any experiments because they can damage your machine badly.
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Grass Cutting
Clearing areas of grass with the help of a hedge trimmer can undeniably make short work of the trimming task and enable you to mow down extra grass efficiently without making so many passes over the same respective area. Ensure that the area is clear of all obstructions, including branches or rocks, before attempting to trim the grass with it since these may cause the tool to break.
Tie back your hair and wear protective clothes for additional care. All important precautions should be kept in mind as using the hedge trimmers with long hair or loose clothing can get trapped in your machinery and can result in disasters. When the grass is not long, kneeling is more convenient than bending over.
Now that you have explored its basic applications and probably decided to buy one for your garden, read on to explore the factors you need to consider before purchasing it;
Factors To Consider Before Buying Hedge Trimmer
Wondering how you can find out the most fantastic product for your yard? While shopping for a final hedge trimmer, simply consider the following features:
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Double- or single-action blades
The blades of hedge trimmers are single-action or double-action. Double-action hedge trimmers are beneficial if you are shaping the hedges or if you will be using them for prolonged periods, as they vibrate less compared to single-action machines.
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Blade teeth
The teeth can be easily spaced 1-1/2 to 1/2 inches apart. Plus, if its blade teeth are very close, they will not be able to tackle unruly hedges. So, do not purchase a hedge trimmer with narrow teeth if you are specifically cutting through a 3/4 to 1/2 inches growth of hedge.
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Weight
Electric and battery-operated hedge trimmers are more convenient to use compared to gas-powered ones as they weigh half as much. Generally, they have a weight of five pounds with sharp blades of five inches.
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Safety
Look for the lock buttons, blade guards, and auxiliary handles. The lock button assures that your tool does not turn on unless any other button is pressed.
Related: How to Sharpen a Hedge Trimmer? A Complete Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What do you use a hedge trimmer for?
A bush trimmer, shrub trimmer, or hedge trimmer is a machine that is used for cutting hedges as well as solitary shrubs. Different designs of hedge trimmers also exist to meet the needs of different customers and tasks.
2) What is the difference between a hedge trimmer and a hedge cutter?
Typically, hedge trimmers are utilized for light work on bushes and branches. Tidying up & shaping shrubs is also one of their main functions. Anyhow, heavy-duty work is even more suited to these cutters, for instance, breaking down thicker bushes or big branches.
3) Can a hedge trimmer cut through big branches?
Even the most efficient and heavy-duty hedge cutters with wide grooves do not come with the horsepower to cut through big tree branches. All in all, they cannot do the jobs of trimming tools like loppers or pruning shears at all.
4) Can a hedge trimmer cut grass?
When it comes to the tasks like cutting grass, hedge trimmers have many advantages. As they are motorized, you can cut very long grass effectively and quickly. Moreover, a level cut is also convenient to achieve with them compared to other alternatives.
5) When should you not cut a hedge?
I recommend avoiding the use of hedge trimmers during the nesting birds’ breeding season, which mostly runs from March to August every year. This can also be dependent on weather, as some birds may make their nests outside in this period. Therefore, it’s always important to check for active nests carefully before cutting.
6. Is hedge-cutting good exercise?
Doing up to only half an hour of weeding can incredibly burn over 100 calories, and different tasks that handle super heavy electrical equipment, like hedge trimming, will also give you an ultimate heavy workout. Using the manual cutters can assist in stimulating muscles in your shoulders and forearms, too, improving your mobility and strength.
Final Thoughts
That’s all about the hedge trimmers, folks! In the above guide, I have covered all the important aspects you need to know about these all-inclusive gardening tools. They have been powered traditionally by gas, but most of them are now powered by batteries or electricity.
Gas-powered machines make it easier for people to maintain all the hedges around their house & yard neat and also ensure that the work is done effortlessly. Always spend time looking through the options and consider how efficient and well-matched every option is.
Hope this enlightening guide will be super helpful for you in exploring a hedge trimmer!
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