Your hedge is one of your yard’s crowning achievements. It affords you and your family privacy and allows you to enjoy spending time in your home or garden without needing to worry about the prying eyes of nosy neighbors. But your hedge is not just purely practical. It’s also stunning to look at. That perfectly manicured sculpture of verdant greenery draws admiring glances from guests, neighbors and passers-by alike. Yes, it’s safe to say that you love your hedge. But the time and effort that go into maintaining it… Those you could do without.
In an age where we’re all working harder and for longer hours than ever, as therapeutic as some can find garden maintenance, you certainly don’t want to spend the lion’s share of your day off trimming and tidying your hedge. And if you’re going at it with garden shears, maintaining even a modestly sized garden hedge can be an ordeal. If your garden boasts a larger than average hedge, trimming it can be a sweaty, time consuming and frustrating chore.
There’s good news, though. A hedge trimmer can make short work of even the tallest and densest of hedges. If you always assumed that a hedge trimmer would be too expensive for your budget or too difficult to use or maintain, think again. Here we’ll look at 5 of the best hedge trimmers on the market today. Whatever your price range and whatever your garden or yard needs, you’re sure to find the hedge trimmer for you below…
1. BLACK & DECKER LHT2436
If you’re looking for a reliable combination of power and precision, look no further. The Black % Decker LHT2436 gives you all the power you need combined with ease of use. This makes it perfect for seasoned gardeners or those who are looking to invest in their first hedge trimmer alike.
The sleek, black and orange design is in keeping with the company’s branding yet is not as boxy as some of their other products and the lightweight and compact design makes even long trimming jobs comfortable.
What’s more, the full wrap-around front handle and soft rubberized grip offers users a comfortable gripping area no matter which direction they’re cutting in. This is a real boon for users with larger hedges to cut who would rather not get sore hands or blisters. There’s also a built-in
The 24” dual action blades offer superior cutting power and can take on two branches at a time without complaint. It can even cut through branches up to ¾ inch thick without even slowing down.
The hedge trimmer comes with built-in cordless functionality so you’ll never need to worry about whether your cord will reach to the far ends of your hedge. It’s as mobile as you are! It is powered by a 40 volt lithium-ion battery and fast charger so that even if you should use battery life while trimming your hedge, you’ll be able to get the LHT 2436 back up and running in a matter of minutes.
A great all-rounder at an eminently reasonable price point.
- Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs
- 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration
- Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time
- Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge
- Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application
2. DEWALT DCHT820B
DeWalt are one of the most reliable tool brands out there and have a knack for delivering professional grade quality combined with an ease of use that’s perfect for household and garden maintenance. As devotees of the brand might expect the DCHT 820B delivers great cutting power yet is a light and compact unit that makes cutting even large hedges a breeze.
Everything about this hedge trimmer is designed with ease of use in mind from the simple design of the easy-start trigger to the virtually maintenance-free operation. It’s designed to be a low-maintenance hedge trimmer with no need for air filters or carburetors (after all, it’s a hedge trimmer not a family saloon)
Like Black & Decker’s effort it is light and compact, weighing just 7.5 lbs. Its ergonomic design is engineered to maximize maneuverability while also minimizing the strain on your hands and forearms when operating. Nonetheless, it also brings the power when you need it most with a motor that provides at least 2,800 spm.
The 22” dual blade has excellent cutting capability and can work its way through 3⁄4” branches like a hot knife through butter. The powerful high-output motor is powered by a 20V chargeable high capacity 5 Ah Lithium-ion battery (sold separately).
DeWalt is a brand that brings great peace of mind to users, and this hedge trimmer is backed by a 3 year warranty. On top of that, the brand also offers 1 year’s free servicing and a 30 day money back guarantee.
This should be more than capable of attending to most garden hedges while the guarantees and assurances make it an ideal purchase for those interested in buying their first hedge trimmer.
- Powerful high output motor of the cordless hedge trimmer is designed for cuts up to 3/4-inch thick
- The battery powered hedge trimmer has 22-inch laser cut, hooked-tooth blade design
- Trimmers for plants have a compact and lightweight design
- Part of the 20V max system of tools
3. Makita XHU02Z
Makita may not be as well known a brand as previous entries on this list, but as this hedge trimmer ably proves, they bring tools that deliver on performance at very reasonable prices. This entry into the list is as ergonomically advantageous, light and versatile as its predecessors and is also powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery (both battery and charger are sold separately).
There are a number of measures in place that make this arguably the most comfortable tool to use in our list. The hedge trimmer’s anti-vibration structure is engineered with five cushions within the motor’s housing to help minimize vibration despite its impressive 1350 SPM cutting speed.
It’s quieter than most hedge trimmers on the market, too. It operates at a noise level of just 87 dB. That’s 25% quieter than most cordless units.
The 22” dual blade brings very good cutting power which should prove more than adequate for all but the most stubborn hedges and because it’s cordless, you have the luxury of complete maneuverability.
Although neither the battery nor charger is included, the performance of both makes them money well spent. In fact, the charger can fill a 2.0 Ah depleted battery to capacity in just 20 minutes. So even if the battery life indicator warns you that you’re getting low on juice, by the time you’ve had a quick break and a coffee you’re ready to go once again.
- 22" dual action double-sided shear blade for precision cutting
- Makita-built motor delivers 2,700 SPM for fast cutting speed
- Up to 1-1/2 hours of run time using an 18V LXT 4.0Ah battery
- Anti-vibration design (five cushions within the housing) for operator comfort
- Compact and ergonomic design for easy maneuverability
4. Greenworks 22262
We’re not sure if its the vaguely 90s retro feel of the housing (remember when luminous shades of lime green were everywhere) or the raw power of the 24” dual action steel blade, but there’s something about the Greenworks 22262 that lends it an idiosyncratic sense of cool.
Of course, there’s more to this tool than gnarly looks. It also offers powerful performance that belies its weight (just 8.3 lbs). With a motor capable of busting out 3,200 spm and 180 degree rotating rear handle, this is the perfect hedge trimmer for refining those awkward and hard-to-reach areas of your hedge with total precision.
Its easy electric start makes it an easy tool to use and master while the 40V, 2.0 Ah lithium ion battery (included) has a lifespan of around 60 minutes. This should be more than adequate for most residential hedges, although jobs that require a little more of your time and effort shouldn’t be too much of a challenge since the battery charges in just 20-30 minutes.
With a cut capacity between ⅔ and ¾ of an inch, this is a lightweight and versatile hedge trimmer that also brings powerful cutting to those stubborn plants, bushes and trees that less powerful trimmers can struggle with.
5. Sun Joe HJ604C
By rule of thumb, the fewer power tools you have to fork out for, the better. Thus, if a garden tool can double up its function it can make a great contribution to a stunning garden that won’t break the bank in terms of maintenance costs. The Sun Joe HJ404C is the only hedge trimmer on our list that offers dual functions and can switch seamlessly from hedge trimming to grass shearing functionalities with ease and speed.
All for a price that’s extremely appealing and backed by a 2 year hassle free warranty.
It’s by far the smallest tool on our list and weighs in at just 2.5 lbs. But don’t let its diminutive size fool you. It’s more than capable of cutting most household hedges to size with a decent yet compact motor powered by a 7.2 V lithium-ion battery. Battery and charger are included here.
Designed for single-handed use, the light and compact design is intended to make trimming your hedge as easy as getting crumbs out of the carpet with a handheld vacuum cleaner.
Whether you’re trimming your hedges or keeping those patches of long grass at the borders of your lawn under control, this compact yet sturdy little tool makes a great addition to your garden shed.
- VERSATILE: Best used for small gardens, hedge grooming and areas your mower cannot reach
- 2 TOOLS IN 1: Convert from grass shear to hedger quickly and easily. Blade Length (inch.) - 4(Shear) | 6(Hedger)
- BATTERY LIFE: Rechargeable, 7.2 V lithium-ion battery for hassle-free, cordless operation (battery charger included)
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Durable and lightweight design (Only 2.5 lbs.) with ergonomic handle for easy control and handling
- WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED : Your new grass shear/hedge trimmer is backed by the Snow Joe. We will warrant new, powered products for two years from the date of purchase. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Contact Snow Joe
Whatever your hedge-trimming and garden maintenance needs, and whatever your budget, keeping your hedge under control is easy, stressless and strain free with these high quality and versatile hedge trimmers. Go ahead and treat yourself!
Gas Hedge Trimmer Vs. Electric Hedge Trimmer
This is a good YouTube video comparing gas-powered hedge trimmers with electric powered hedge trimmers:
