Ten top trimmers to tackle the summer hedges

Hedges are still growing strongly in spite of the lack of rain as their roots reach deep down into the soil and to keep a garden looking its best they need to be trimmed regularly.
For the smaller garden an electric hedgetrimmer is quite adequate and to help you make your choice we have selected ten top machines for you to consider.

First is the Einhell BG-EH 6051 Electric Hedgetrimmer with a 51cm dual reciprocating blade. The 600 Watt electric motor gives 4200 cuts per minute and the machine weighs just 2.98 kg.
The machine has been designed to be be well-balanced and easy to control so it can be used for longer periods.
As a safety measure it has a strong shield to protect the hands and a double safety switch stops the blades in less than a second. There is also an aluminium sheath to protect the blades when it is not in use.
It also has another handy feature which prevents accidental damage to the socket should you pull too hard on the cable.
The maker’s recommended price is £69.95 but we have it for sale for £49.95. Plus there is a two year warranty from Einhell and free next working day delivery.
This next little machine is a British design which collects the trimmings as you cut.
The Garden Groom ‘Midi’ Safety Hedgetrimmer takes in the clippings, shreds them to tenth their original volume and blows them into the free volume collecting bag.
The resulting mulch can be deposited on the compost heap or used around the roots of shrubs to protect them from winter snow.
Designed with young hedges and shrubs in mind, it weighs just 2.7 kg and provides a very neat manicured finish to hedges.
It runs on a 300 Watt electric motor and is very quiet in use.
The maker’s recommended price is £129.98 but we have it for just £79.95. We deliver it for free the next working day and has a one year maker’s warranty.
Now one from one if the country’s favourite brands.
The Flymo Easicut 6000XT Electric Hedgetrimmer has a 600 Watt motor powering double sided reciprocating blades with 27 mm tooth spacing.
The rear handle can be extended to reach the taller bits and it also has a 12 metre cable is self retracting with a clip to keep it well away from the blades.
It weighs 4.3 kg and is intended for larger domestic hedges and as a safety feature it stops very quickly – just .5 of a second.
It is supplied with a blade sheaf to guard against damage when in storage and costs £95.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year warranty from Flymo.
Hedge tops always present a problem – it’s no fun attempting this task on a wobbly ladder.
So here’s a machine which can make this loads easier. The Ryobi RPT-400 Articulating Pole Hedgecutter has a 400 Watt motor and 40 cm double-sided blades which can deal with clippings up to 17 mm diameter.
The cutting head can rotate through 135 degrees letting you trim the sides and difficult bits and the shaft can be extended from 65 to 100 cm. Given the reach of the person using the machine this gives a maximum length of 230 cm.
It also had an indicator to check that the machine is connected to the mains supply.
It costs £119.95 and is delivered free the next working day.
Now one from a German engineering company. The Al-Ko HT700 Flexible-Cut Electric Hedgetrimmer has 710 Watt engine and blades designed to stay sharper longer.
These blades have 24 mm tooth spacing for tougher thicker hedges the trimmer has a guard to protect the hands when in use.
This weighs only 4.5 kg and was designed to be simple and safe to use with a patented anti-cut cord. And the handle is adjustable to make it even more user-friendly.
A clever and very useful addition to this cutter is a built-in spirit level to make sure you get a level cut.
This one costs £129 and is delivered free the next working day.
Now, as they say, for something a little different.
The Greenworks 24v Cordless Hedge Trimmer with Twist Handle (22137AT) employs the latest battery technology to give excellent power and a light weight.
It is much more convenient to use as there are no trailing cables and the battery employed holds its charge for longer.
It has a running time of between 35 minutes to an hour and has 57 cm long blades and with rotating handles which turn through 180 degrees can tackle more difficult hedges.
Once you have this machine you can use the battery for all sort of other machinery in the Greenworks range.
The maker’s recommended price is £179.95 but we have it for sale for only £129.95.
Plus it has a four year guarantee and is delivered free the next working day.
One from the same manufacturers is the ideal piece of kit of high hedges.
The machine Greenworks 24 Volt Cordless Hedgetrimmer gives a great finish to hedge tops and is a far safer option than working from the top a ladder.
Using a lithium-ion battery it has a running time of 35 minutes and can be re-charged very quickly.
Plus with this type of battery there is no loss of charge of it is not used for a period of time.
It weighs only 3.6 kg and has an extending shaft giving an overall reach of 2.4 to 3.6 metres including the reach of the person using it.
The head pivots to seven positions making it possible to reach the difficult corners. And a lock-off switch is included as a safety measure measure.
This trimmer costs £149.95 compared with the maker’s recommended price of price of £199.95.
There is a four year warranty and free next working day delivery.
Here’s one from a manufacturer which produces equipment often the choice of the professional.
The STIHL HSE-61 Electric Powered Hedgetrimmer weighs only 3.6 kg and has 50 cm double-sided blades powered by a 500 Watt electric motor.
They have a 29 mm tooth gap making it suitable for heavier growth, helped by precision ground blades.
This machine has a triple safety switch which allows the user to change hand positions making it more comfortable to use.
And it also fitted with cable-strain relief so you won’t accidentally disconect from the main supply.
It has a two year warranty from Stihl, is delivered free and costs £125, £100 less than the maker’s recommended price.
Another manufactured by a top German engineering company is the WOLF-Garten HSA45V Li-Ion Cordless Hedge Trimmer, again using the latest battery technology.
The battery has an extra-long running time of one hour and can be re-charged in two hours.
There are two safety switches which stop the machine almost instantly when released and it has a cutting length of 45 cm.
The handle can be rotated through 180 degrees with five positions letting you tackle the difficult to reach bits.
It costs £199.95 compared with the maker’s recommended retail price of £229. It is delivered free within four to five working days and has a one year guarantee from the manufacturer.
And finally another favourite manufacturer and another top machine.
The Bosch AHS 54-20 Li Cordless Hedgecutter has a 36 Volt battery which can be charged in just 45 minutes and gives bags of power.
It weighs just 3.5 kg and is a really well balanced machine with a 54 cm cutting length and special blade ends which let the user cut through much thicker growth.
It also has Bosch’s own anti-blocking system which reverses the blades and stops the machine stalling if it encounters a particularly heavy load.
This really innovative machine costs £249.95.
For a fuller selection of cordless hedgetrimmers see our pages on the web site and if you need any further help please ring our team on 08565 588905.