If you have a garden that has lots of hedges or bushes, then one of the most important tools you’ll need in your arsenal is a hedge trimmer. These tools help you keep your garden in the best possible shape and provide a level of accuracy most tools are not able to achieve.
A hedge trimmer is a gardening tool that comes in a variety of different configurations to fit different requirements. They can be electric or gas-powered and in some cases, even manually operated.
Hedge trimmers also use different types and sizes of blades as well as different speed variations. These different configurations allow the user to efficiently and quickly get the desired size and shape of the bushes and hedges in any garden.
What Is a Hedge Trimmer Used For?
Hedge trimmers are primarily used for cutting and trimming all kinds of shrubbery like bushes, hedges, and shrubs. A hedge trimmer’s function is to provide ease in tasks where traditional gardening tools might not be as effective either due to the amount of work that needs to be done or the complex shape requirements that might only be achieved using specialized hedge trimmers.
Much like the uses of grass shears, hedge trimmers are also used for a similar purpose. The main difference between the two is that hedge trimmers are considered industrial machines and can perform the tasks of multiple similar machines like grass shears, brush cutters, and garden shears.
If we consider pruners’ uses, they include the removal of unwanted, out-of-shape, and dead leaves, branches, and shrubs. This can be accurately done using a pruner, but this would take a long time in a garden that is somewhat large in size. The time it takes to achieve the gardening goal would make this instrument lack-worthy and time-consuming.
The same task can be easily completed in a short amount of time with a hedge trimmer that trims off unwanted bushes and shrubs with ease and in no time at all. Using hedge trimmer to cut weeds is also a smart idea as the rotating blades can ensure a fine and even cut and all you’ll have to do is point the trimmer in the required direction.
How Does a Hedge Trimmer Work?
A hedge trimmer has a number of blades attached to a straight edge. These blades alternate from side to side, mimicking the function of a pair of scissors. This ensures that any item stuck between the alternating blades gets cut down. This is how hedge trimmers are able to cut grass, shrubs, branches, and weeds.
The person operating this machine can choose from a range of different presets that are there for different types of cutting jobs. Since some hedges and bushes are stronger than the rest and have more growth and material to trim, the speed of the alternating blades can be adjusted between slow, medium, and fast to ensure that all materials get trimmed properly without fail.
The angle of cutting can also be varied by releasing the lock and twisting the grab handle to the direction that is required. This ensures that the person operating is always at a safe angle from the blades and that the required shape is actually achieved.
In the case of a gas-powered trimmer, putting the proper standard fuel in the hedge trimmer is something one must always ensure. These machines come with instructions and user manuals which should be consulted for gas requirements before operating them.
In the case of an electric-powered trimmer, one should always ensure that the machine is not operated when low on battery. Doing so would put unnecessary strain on the battery and would lead to the battery condition diminishing eventually leading to the machine not performing optimally.
Related: Can You Use Electric Hedge Trimmer In The Rain
How To Use a Hedge Trimmer Properly?
As with any industrial machine, there are certain things that one needs to be wary of before using it. Since these trimmers come equipped with fast-spinning blades that can cut bushes, branches, and shrubs, it is important to consider certain safety precautions when operating them.
The use of eye protection goggles is highly recommended when operating these machines. Since the finely cut grass and small wooden particles are dispersed at high speeds away from the blade, it is recommended to be wearing eye protection so that you keep your eyes safe from any foreign element that might harm them at high speeds.
Secondly, safety gloves should also be worn when operating a hedge trimmer. The vibrating nature of the hedge trimmer makes it difficult to maintain a proper grip on the machine which can lead to problems if. For that purpose, safety gloves should be worn so that you always have a firm grip on the machine.
As with any machine, these machines should always be kept clean. Any dust or vegetation that gets stuck inside the machine should be removed after the machine is stopped. The accumulation of dust and other material can cause the motor to clog over time and reduce the lifespan of the machine.
They should be frequently oiled and lubricated so that the moving parts continue to move as they are designed to. A well-lubricated hedge trimmer will last significantly longer than one that is not since it will not be subject to the same wear and tear.
Lastly, it should always be ensured that these machines are not used by inexperienced people and should never be used in close proximity to another person. The spinning blade can be very sharp and cut through very strong materials as well. This is why proper protection and work ethic should be followed when operating this machine.
When it comes to specialized tools like hedge trimmers, it is important to have an idea about their operation and safety precautions before you purchase one. They are versatile tools and can last you a long time, provided you purchase one that is constructed using durable materials.
Can a Hedge Trimmer Cut Branches?
Hedge trimmers are an all-purpose garden cutter. This means that its use cases include any and all vegetation found in a regular garden. This includes branches and other hard wooden objects. Therefore, they are able to cut branches easily.
There is one caveat though, which is that despite the hedge trimmer’s ability to cut branches, those branches have to be under a certain diameter requirement for the trimmer to be able to cut them. We can look at it this way; the trimmer will be able to cut the branches as long as the branches come inside the blades.
If the branches are large enough and do not make their way inside the alternating blades, they will not be cut. This does not however mean that hedge trimmers cannot cut branches. A hedge trimmer with larger blades will be able to power through with even larger branches and will be able to cut them all the same.
What Is the Difference Between a Hedge Trimmer and a Hedge Cutter?
Although both of these machines are used for the same purpose, which is trimming and cutting branches and bushes, where they differ is the size requirement. So hedge trimmers are usually used for light cutting and trimming work. Branches and bushes up to a certain size are cut using hedge trimmers.
Most gardens will be more than well suited to using a hedge trimmer because normal household gardens do not contain branches that are too big for a hedge trimmer to cut. However, in the event of a large park or wildlife sanctuary that has plants wildlife will not be properly cut using a hedge trimmer. In that case, a hedge cutter will be required to get all of the work done.
Hedge cutters are able to trim and cut larger branches and objects that the smaller hedge trimmer is not able to cut. This is because of the larger blades in hedge cutters and the larger gap between the blade of a hedge cutter.
In the event of more accuracy and proper shape during cutting, it would be better to use the smaller hedge trimmer because of its smaller blades that are able to get more accurate and precise results as compared to the hedge cutter which focuses on powering through with the most difficult of foliage with thicker branches and tangled weeds and vines.
Related: Can a Hedge Trimmer Cut Through Small Branches?
Are Electric Hedge Trimmers as Effective as Gas-powered Ones?
A standard electric hedge trimmer lasts somewhere between 40 minutes to an hour of continuous use. Depending on the amount of work and the strength of the materials you are cutting with it, this time may vary.
There are obvious differences and some pros and cons when working with an electric hedge trimmer as compared to a gas-powered one. In most cases, they are both able to achieve similar results since they both use the same kind of blades and blade sizes.
Gas-powered hedge trimmers are the most powerful trimmers compared to their electric and cordless counterparts. They run on fuel, which means that you will need to refuel them every now and then to make them work.
The drawbacks of gas-powered hedge trimmers are that they are difficult to operate and can produce a lot of noise, which can cause disturbance to both the user and other people nearby.
Electric hedge trimmers come in two variations: corded and cordless. Corded hedge trimmers need to be connected to a power source at all times during operation, which can make them a little inconvenient. Cordless hedge trimmers run on batteries, and you need to recharge them fully before operating your hedge trimmers.
The disadvantage of electric hedge trimmers is that they cannot provide the same level of power as gas-powered ones. Also, cordless ones can be quite expensive because of the added convenience and portability that they provide.
Related: How To Trim a Hedge With a Hedge Trimmer
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