Nothing spoils the appearance of a garden like a straggling hedge and they should now be given their first trim.
Start with the top and if you find it difficult to cut it straight fix a line between two stakes hammered in to the ground at either end.
You can then cut the sides and ends leaving a perfect straight finish which tells all around that here lives a garden with an eye for detail and smartness.
Traditional hedge trimmers still have their place in the gardener’s armoury but most people now prefer to use a powered hedge trimmer, and here are ten top machines from simple domestic models to those used by professionals.
For a smaller garden have a look at this one from the USA, the MTD HT55B Petrol Hedgetrimmer.
This has a 24.5cc engine and double-reciprocating 55cm blades. And with 26mm tooth spacing it can trim thicker stems as well as new green shoots.
It weighs 5.3kg and has a rotating rear handle to make trimming sides and tops easier.
It costs £189, £10 off the recommended price and has a two year warranty. And we deliver it free the next working day.
This one has been a best-seller for some time.
The Mountfield MHJ2424 Double-Bladed Petrol Hedgetrimmer (61cm Blade), on special offer, is the machine you might consider for larger hedges.
With its longer 61cm blade and 28mm tooth spacing it will tackle wider and taller hedges and can also cope with thicker stems.
The engine is Mountfield’s own 24.5cc which is both powerful and easy to start and weighing only 5.5kg and being well balanced you can you it for longer periods without getting too tired.
The rear hand grip has three positions so you can make light work of hedge sides and tops.
It costs £139.95 a saving of 40 on the RRP, and is delivered free the next working day. There is a one year warranty from Mountfield.
This next one is from a Japanese manufacturer whose equipment is increasingly popular with professional gardeners.
The Tanaka TCH22E-AP2 (50) Petrol Hedgetrimmer, on special offer, is light and easy to use but has terrific cutting power with its highly efficient 21.1cc engine.
Using the company’s PureFire technology it is easy to start, men on fuel and produces fewer emissions than many similar engines. The exhaust is to the front making it more comfortable for the user to operate.
This has twin 50cm blades and a wider 30mm tooth gap so it can deal with thicker, older stems and a 180degrees twist grip rear handle making it easier for left-handers.
It costs £219, £70 less than the recommended price and has a five year warranty. Delivery, the next working day, is free.
This one is from another leading manufacturer and also has a five year warranty.
The Echo HCR-1501 Hedgetrimmer has a 21.2cc engine has a commercial-grade air filter to enhance its working life and electronic ignition to give easy starting.
The blades are 50cm long and as it weighs only 5.1kg it is easier to use for longer periods.
It costs £219, £90 less than the maker’s recommended price and is deliver free the next working day.
Anyone who has tried cutting the tops of hedges while teetering atop a tall ladder wile no that it is not only tiring but not the safest of gardening tasks.
So the Mitox 26LH-SP SELECT Long-Reach Hedgetrimmer could be the answer.
With a 24.5cc reliable engine and 40cm blades it can clip tall hedges with little effort and it also has an articulating cutter head which you can adjust to suite the job in hand.
It costs £169, is delivered free the next working day and has a two year warranty.
Here’s another from Tanaka and one designed to take on the toughest hedges.
The Tanaka TCH22E-BP2 (62) Petrol Hedgetrimmer (Special Offer)r, currently available at a very keen price, is well balanced and has low vibration levels.
But with its 21.1 cc engine, low fuel costs and emissions it is well balanced and often chosen by professional gardeners.
Weighing just 5kg it has 62cm blades and a tooth gap of 35mm and has a rear handle which rotates through 180 degrees with five settings.
It costs £269, £80 less than the recommended price and has a five-year domestic warranty and free next working day delivery.
The name Kawasaki is synonymous with hard-working garden machinery and this one, the company’s HTK-60X Petrol Hedgetrimmer is built with the professional in mind.
It has a 22.5cc engine and a starting system designed to fire up at the first tug.
Well balanced, it weighs 5.8kg and has 55cm blades with a fast-acting blade brake.
It costs, £339, £40 off the recommended price and has a five-year domestic warranty, two years for commercial use. We deliver it free the next working day.
This next one is often the style chosen by the professional.
The Lawnflite-Pro TME3100M Mitsubishi Hedgetrimmer currently on special offer, has a 23cc Mitsubishi engine with fuel-saving and emission-cutting and CDI ignition for easy starting.
You can cut large hedges quickly thanks to its 69cm-long blades.
It weighs 6kg and has an advanced anti-vibration system to protect the hands and arms from excessive stress and make it comfortable to use for long periods.
It costs £419, £80 less than the recommended price and has a five year warranty and free next working day delivery.
Here’s another long-reach hedgetrimmer from Mitox to tackle the problems of high hedges.
The Mitox 28 LRK Kawasaki Long-Reach Hedgetrimmer55c, blades and a cutting head which turns through 22 degrees.
On this one there is a 26.3 Kawasaki engine with a full crank and high torque designed to be powerful and to last.
It weighs 7.4kg and has a full vibration damping system.
It costs £349, a £50 saving on the RRP, and has free next working day delivery and a three-year warranty.
And finally another one for the tops of tall hedges.
The Echo HCA-265ES Long-Reach Hedgetrimmer which gives a reach of around two metres and eight blade angles. The blades are 50.4cm long.
This one is powered by a 25.4 cc engine engineered for easy starting and has been designed to be extra comfortable and easy to use.
It costs £689, has a five-year warranty. And we deliver it free the next working day.
You should cut hedges three times a year at least to show them off to their best and if you’re still undecided about which machine to choose call our team on 020 3026 8712.
And see these pages for a comprehensive selection of hedgetrimmers, both petrol powered and electrically.
Edited by Drew Hardy 2.6.17
