![]() ![]() Single- or double-sided: Blades can be either.It is generally in the range of 20 to 24 inches, which is enough for a great many hedges, but up to 40-inch versions are available. Shorter shafts are available, but for us that seems to negate the benefits of a shaft in the first place. The drawback with this kind of hedge trimmer is that while you’re more likely to be able to stand on the ground, which is safer, the tool isn’t as easy to control because it can be difficult to see exactly where the blades are cutting. The pole gives you greater reach, and the head is usually articulated so you can set the blades at the required angle. It also makes for a more manageable tool for general trimming duties on low hedges and plants.Įnd blades: The other format looks more like a pole saw or string trimmer, with blades on the end. This gives you a machine that’s well balanced and easy to manage, which is particularly important if you have tall hedges that you have to stand on a ladder or scaffold to cut. The most popular is a unit similar in appearance to a chainsaw, but with the blade running horizontally rather than vertically. Horizontal blades: There are two basic configurations for gas hedge trimmers. There are now 15 states that ban tools that don’t meet the CARB standard. The only real difference between the budget and premium brands is component quality and thus durability.Įmissions: Some manufacturers have put considerable effort into reducing emissions, and the best two-cycle motors are now California Air Resources Board ( CARB) and/or Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) compliant. That would suggest they all produce similar output, which is true, and the weight only varies by a pound or two. Four-cycle motors tend to be more durable and slightly quieter, and they run a little cleaner, but they have one major drawback: weight.įor that reason, gas hedge trimmers invariably have a two-cycle motor, and most of the models we looked at were somewhere between 21 and 25 cubic centimeters (cc). Key considerations MotorĬycles: With many types of gas-powered garden equipment, you have a choice of four-cycle or two-cycle motors. Always use a measuring jug or other calibrated container. In addition, we assess handling, weight, and balance, and evaluate run time and charge time, along with noise at the ear of the operator.ĬR members can also explore our comprehensive hedge trimmer ratings of battery and corded models.Two-cycle machines rely on an accurate mix of fuel and oil for proper performance. ![]() We also size up safety, looking for features like a protective sheath for the cutting bar, blade brakes to stop cutting in an emergency, and designs that would prevent the tools from being a danger to children (for instance, interlocks, or cutting bars that keep small fingers away from the cutting path). And while we focus our testing on corded and battery hedge trimmers, we use a single premium gasoline model for reference to make sure the battery tools pack the same punch and can hold their own against a gas tool. They start with small growth, about a quarter-inch in diameter, working all the way up to inch-thick pieces, noting how quickly and cleanly each tool works. Corded electric and battery options are also better for the environment.Īt our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters, huge swaths of invasive bamboo shoots dominate much of our outdoor space, but that creates an opportunity for our testers to put hedge trimmers into use, testing for cutting capacity. But they’re likely overkill in most residential yards. Gas hedge trimmers: These powerful tools are often used by pros and on large properties.Most outdoor cords max out at around 100 feet. You’ll need an outdoor outlet, though, and you’ll be limited by the length of your extension cord. Corded electric trimmers tend to be far cheaper than battery and gas models-some are only about $50-and can run indefinitely as long as they’re plugged in. Corded electric hedge trimmers: These trimmers are all you need for lighter trimming close to your house.“When measured without a load, some of the trimmers we tested were able to run nearly 2 hours on a single charge,” says Misha Kollontai, who is in charge of hedge trimmer testing at CR. ![]() Our engineers found that battery models can deliver impressive performance.
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