Hedge Trimmers

A hedge trimmer can be powered in 3 ways: mains electricity, rechargeable battery or petrol. These hedge trimmers all have their advantages and disadvantages. Electrical hedge trimmers provide a clean lighter weight option with the convenience of immediate and continual use. However you may be restricted by cord length, not ideal if the hedge row is a long way from your power source and having a cord can be obtrusive and dangerous. Rechargeable hedge trimmers give you the best of both worlds. They're clean to use and have no cord so they can be used anywhere, without the danger of accidentally cutting the cord. They are less powerful than petrol models and you do need to plan ahead though and make sure your batteries have been charged. 5-7 hours of charging will give you just 30 minutes use. Petrol hedge trimmers can again be used anywhere, there's no cord so they're safer.

A powered hedge trimmer makes hedge maintenance a much quicker and easier job than with traditional shears, especially if you have anything more than a small hedge to keep under control. Choosing the right hedge trimmer depends mainly on the amount of hedging you have to maintain but there are many products to choose from.

Hedge trimmers have two blades, or flat metal plates, that use a reciprocating, or rapid back and forth motion, to cut. Beyond that, the blades work differently in various models. Some less expensive electric models use single-action cutting. They have a stationary bottom blade and reciprocating top blade, which is not the most effective cutting situation. Also, single-action units vibrate more than dual action units, which is one reason why more hedge trimmers use dual action cutting. Dual action means both top and bottom blades reciprocate, making cutting more efficient than single action models. Dual action blades reduce vibration because both blades move at the same time. Landscapers say dual action blades leave plants healthier because they make a cleaner cut than single action blades.

Hedge trimmers come in either single-action or double action models. Both have a pair of blades but on the double action models both blades move in opposite directions to each other. On single action hedge trimmers one of the blades is stationary while the other moves. Don't confuse single action with single sided. Single-sided means only one side of the blade has teeth. Double action blades tend to be more effective, and because the blades are moving in opposite directions they cancel out most of each other's vibration, a major concern if you're using a hedge trimmer for an extended length of time.

Garden Machinery