Best long reach hedge trimmers
Discussion
Hi guys,
We've got a bunch of old mixed hedgerow around most of our garden. It needs bashing a couple of times a year and it's a job that takes a very long afternoon and I hate.
We did get our local handyman to do it last year for £100 a time which was OK by me, but he's buggered off somewhere and the other local mower guy quoted £260 a go, which is silly.
I've been doing it with a B&Q's finest electric hedge trimmer which is a PITA as the hedge is a good 8' high or so in places, pretty wide across the top, and the ground is wonky so getting the ladder near enough the hedge and up high enough to reach across the top with the trimmer is ... interesting ... at times (I have been known to tie off the top switch so I can stretch out with it one handed #cough#), not to mention the wobbles.
NB, I did do a search, couldn't find anything recent or 100% applicable though.
So if the quotes are coming north of £200 a pop, I think it's worth investing in a trimmer that will do the job properly and easily.
I know sod all about anything other than wired cheapy ones though! I do know that moving the flex along with me is a fair chunk of the faff, so cordless and petrol both on the table. I worry a cordless one won't last the several hours the job takes, and I have seen comments that the petrol ones can be heavy.... not even considered looking at any versions of longer blades or longer reach yet, just thought I'd come and ask the guys who know!
Thanks in advance....
We've got a bunch of old mixed hedgerow around most of our garden. It needs bashing a couple of times a year and it's a job that takes a very long afternoon and I hate.
We did get our local handyman to do it last year for £100 a time which was OK by me, but he's buggered off somewhere and the other local mower guy quoted £260 a go, which is silly.
I've been doing it with a B&Q's finest electric hedge trimmer which is a PITA as the hedge is a good 8' high or so in places, pretty wide across the top, and the ground is wonky so getting the ladder near enough the hedge and up high enough to reach across the top with the trimmer is ... interesting ... at times (I have been known to tie off the top switch so I can stretch out with it one handed #cough#), not to mention the wobbles.
NB, I did do a search, couldn't find anything recent or 100% applicable though.
So if the quotes are coming north of £200 a pop, I think it's worth investing in a trimmer that will do the job properly and easily.
I know sod all about anything other than wired cheapy ones though! I do know that moving the flex along with me is a fair chunk of the faff, so cordless and petrol both on the table. I worry a cordless one won't last the several hours the job takes, and I have seen comments that the petrol ones can be heavy.... not even considered looking at any versions of longer blades or longer reach yet, just thought I'd come and ask the guys who know!
Thanks in advance....
I use one of these http://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/Hedge-Trimme...
I note thought that there is also a cordless version available.
I note thought that there is also a cordless version available.
If it's for occasional use I've found this one to be pretty good, I have 12 ft hedges all round my property and it's coped well for 2 years
http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb427gtm-45cm-400...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb427gtm-45cm-400...
Again, if for occasional use search Google for "52cc 5 in 1". Many companies selling there own variation of the exact same Chinese product. Ive got a timberpro one and its been perfect. Parts are cheap on ebay, a whole engine is about £40 of the worst happened. Ive not needed anything for it.
The Stihl ones are, I'm sure, great, and I'd have one in a flash f this was my full time job, but it's just twice a year so they're priced out.
Trying to get away from corded electric if possible, but might consider the Screwfix one - their tools have always been OK for me, if not exactly great.
The 5-in-1 lark... quite a few negative reviews, and I've got to the stage where I'm concerned about cheap "do-it-all" tools, far too often they're "do-it-badly-then-break" tools; I prefer to spend a bit (not Stihl much!) on a decent dedicated tool.... up to £200 for this one, I think. Although I see SGS do one, and they generally sell decent stuff. Also, I already have a strimmer, and a (between other jobs) lumberjack mate who comes complete with a variety of chainsaws and all his fingers, toes, arms, legs etc so I tend to give him a bell when I need something properly chopped
Trying to get away from corded electric if possible, but might consider the Screwfix one - their tools have always been OK for me, if not exactly great.
The 5-in-1 lark... quite a few negative reviews, and I've got to the stage where I'm concerned about cheap "do-it-all" tools, far too often they're "do-it-badly-then-break" tools; I prefer to spend a bit (not Stihl much!) on a decent dedicated tool.... up to £200 for this one, I think. Although I see SGS do one, and they generally sell decent stuff. Also, I already have a strimmer, and a (between other jobs) lumberjack mate who comes complete with a variety of chainsaws and all his fingers, toes, arms, legs etc so I tend to give him a bell when I need something properly chopped
Joe M said:
Again, if for occasional use search Google for "52cc 5 in 1". Many companies selling there own variation of the exact same Chinese product. Ive got a timberpro one and its been perfect. Parts are cheap on ebay, a whole engine is about £40 of the worst happened. Ive not needed anything for it.
I have the Trueshopping one - it's fine. The strimmer head is mediocre but there are better aftermarket ones available. Oregon Jet-fit
Gah!
Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time....
I don't strim much either, which could mean a multi-tool version could get more regular use; we have some fairly harsh looking stone walls to the lawns (in my eyes) and I quite like a bit of long grass softening them up.
Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time....
I don't strim much either, which could mean a multi-tool version could get more regular use; we have some fairly harsh looking stone walls to the lawns (in my eyes) and I quite like a bit of long grass softening them up.
defblade said:
Gah!
Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time....
I don't strim much either, which could mean a multi-tool version could get more regular use; we have some fairly harsh looking stone walls to the lawns (in my eyes) and I quite like a bit of long grass softening them up.
The screwfix one is so long the head is always a good distance from the cable so you don't have to worry much. Plug it in to an extension and away you go. Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time....
I don't strim much either, which could mean a multi-tool version could get more regular use; we have some fairly harsh looking stone walls to the lawns (in my eyes) and I quite like a bit of long grass softening them up.
It's worked well for two years and seems to manage with some pretty thick branches. For what you've described it sounds ideal.
defblade said:
Gah!
Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time...
Now I also read about alkylate petrol which comes pre-mixed and shouldn't go off when stored... it's a lot more expensive than regular petrol, apparently, but might be perfect for me as an occasional user...Reading now about storing petrol machines, needing to empty them and run them dry and petrol not being stored more than a month or 2; I only do this job twice a year, so now I'm leaning back towards a corded electric trimmer and a much longer extension cable.... the hassle of cable awareness/handling being balanced by not having to run through a storage routine after each time and not having to lay hold of fresh fuel each time...
... back to the petrol models
I'd get your mate in first with the chainsaw and get them down to 5 or 6 foot, unless you really need the height for privacy.
I have a hedge that got to 9 foot,last year I took 2 foot off the top,this year I intend to take another 2 foot off.
And I do have a long pole trimmer,but they are hard work and soon make your back and arms ache.
I have a hedge that got to 9 foot,last year I took 2 foot off the top,this year I intend to take another 2 foot off.
And I do have a long pole trimmer,but they are hard work and soon make your back and arms ache.
netherfield said:
I'd get your mate in first with the chainsaw and get them down to 5 or 6 foot, unless you really need the height for privacy.
It's the width that's really the problem rather than the height. I can't reach across (even half way!) with a standard trimmer. Compounded by the trouble getting a ladder to sit safely next to some parts. Think I'm going to give the SGS version of the 52cc 5-in-1 a go; if I don't get on with it as a pole trimmer (that is, if I discover I don't get on with a pole trimmer at all), the other tools might come in useful from time to time as well, so not too much money wasted.
BlackZeD said:
Why is it that wide, is there a reason or has it just been left to get wider.
Cut it back so you can manage it, width wise and length wise.
We've cut it back as far as we can, reasonably, on our side. Next door seem happy with where their side is, too. The bits between us are the really troublesome ones. House is an early 1700s Welsh farmhouse, so these hedges are long established on fairly wide earth banks (that I think contain old stone walls) around the plot. The previous owners took out a fair bit of it around the far end of the garden (upsetting the house that side in the process) and fenced instead... we much prefer the hedgerow, just I'd like it more if it didn't grow so well Cut it back so you can manage it, width wise and length wise.
defblade said:
BlackZeD said:
Why is it that wide, is there a reason or has it just been left to get wider.
Cut it back so you can manage it, width wise and length wise.
We've cut it back as far as we can, reasonably, on our side. Next door seem happy with where their side is, too. The bits between us are the really troublesome ones. House is an early 1700s Welsh farmhouse, so these hedges are long established on fairly wide earth banks (that I think contain old stone walls) around the plot. The previous owners took out a fair bit of it around the far end of the garden (upsetting the house that side in the process) and fenced instead... we much prefer the hedgerow, just I'd like it more if it didn't grow so well Cut it back so you can manage it, width wise and length wise.
I bought one of these re-chargeable and £59 in the sale http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2... , it works ok but not great it doesn't have the power of the corded / petrol one but its quick and easy to get and use with no farting about, I get 20mins from the battery, at £59 I'm ok with the average performance. The Titan one from Screwfix is probably best option if you don't want petrol and if you don't mind the cable, I tend to the sides I can reach with a 60cm cabled hedge trimmer then just the long reach for other the bits.
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