Garden hedge trimmers need to be safe and easy to handle, reasonably light, and capable of dealing with the job you give them.

PAGE CONTENTS: Garden Groom For Fine Hedges Tougher Hedges How To Tackle Hedges Trim Hedges Safely

Garden Groom

Gathering up the trimmings is the worst part of cutting hedges. But the Garden Groom Safety Hedge Trimmer works like a hover mower cutting, shredding and sucking hedge cuttings into an integral bag. The cutting bay has a grill protector to prevent cutting electric cables and there are 2-hands-on safety switches.

But I do advise you to use the Garden Groom to cut small portions at a time and mainly for soft lighter growth. Of course that's ideal for neat regularly trimmed hedges, like Yew, Leylandii, Privet, Box...

American gardeners click image below V V

If the hedge gets too long reduce the length in small steps to avoid overloading the machine.

The small integral box compacts the cuttings 10:1. But for larger hedges - a volume bag holding 10x more cuttings is available. This rests easy on the ground and connects by air hose to the Garden Groom.
Price the Garden Groom at Crocus - U.K. where it may be on sale.
...compare price with **Mow Direct - Garden Groom - U.K.

My hedge trimmers get a lot of stick

When I cut hedges I'm usually up against tougher larger branches. So something that slices through branches up to 3cm thick is often very convenient for me. The sort of thing I'm looking for can be found in the selection of hedge trimmers at Crocus - U.K.

Links to hedge trimmers available in U.S.A. coming soon.

How to tackle hedge cutting

I usually cut an arc sweeping from bottom to top.

Tony's long handled hedge trimmer lets him tackle tall hedges with no ladder

Reduce hedge height to a level top by sweeping over the top, but a sawing action may also be used to catch tougher branches.

Don’t tackle branches too thick for the blades – it damages the hedge.

For hedge tops at the maximum reach, you can invert the hedge trimmer gripping the cross bar from below to give some extra height. See pole extensions.

If possible keep hedge down to a height you can cut from the ground.

Remember - an 'A' shaped hedge encourages wildlife. This shape allows the light penetration for a denser hedge. It helps ensure the hedge is thick right down to ground level so providing maximum cover. It is also more stable to wind.

More on types of hedges and their management coming soon …

How to use garden hedge trimmers safely

Always connect a trip-switch to detect current leakage, either as a separate plug or built into electric meter.

Keep a clear view of what you are cutting.

Keep the hedge cutter in front of you and the cable behind you.

Always stand on a firm preferably level surface.

Stand a comfortable distance from the job, don’t stretch on ladders.

Wear eye protectors.

Power trimmers with 2-hands-on safety switches are best.

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