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The 1bhp two-stroke petrol engine starts with a short yank on the cord and, although it’s heavy and very loud, the anti-vibration system makes the HS 82 R reasonably comfortable to work with, although perhaps not for the 90 minutes a tank of fuel will last and not without gloves, ear protectors and goggles. That’s why you’ll find it in the back of any serious groundskeeper’s van. We like: weapons-grade performance, if you can afford itĪt over £700, the 60cm-long Stihl recommended by Ljudmil is not cheap but it can tear through almost anything, from big mature hedges to invasive brambles and overhanging branches.
If you're looking to spruce up your garden, read our guide to the best leaf blowers and best garden parasols. Because hedge-trimming is a strenuous job, we were looking for a clean, easy cut, good balance and light weight. The rest were tested on a mix of conifer, deciduous and thorny hedges found in most gardens.
#RYOBI BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMER REVIEWS PROFESSIONAL#
For that we have taken professional gardener Ljudmil’s advice. The Recommended team does not own a hedge big or bad enough to test the petrol-powered monster trimmers at the top of the market. The main reason for choosing petrol, Ljudmil says, is to tackle tougher branches, but more powerful 20V and 36V cordless hedge trimmers can be just as good or better. I would also worry about safety if the hedge is wet.” When you are going up and down ladders the cord is a hazard. Cordless ones are better than electric hedge trimmers with a cord, in my opinion. You can get a good one, like a Ryobi, for under £100 and they are lighter and easier to control. “A lot of people prefer a battery hedge trimmer. Anything over that I think you should leave to professionals. “I wouldn’t recommend a long-bladed petrol trimmer for most domestic use because they’re heavy and can be dangerous if your arms get tired. “Power is important, but so is size,” Ljudmil says.
Best electric hedge trimmer (corded) – Flymo Easicut 460. Best extendable hedge trimmer – Husqvarna 120 iTK4-H. Best cordless hedge trimmer – Bosch AHS 55. Best light hedge trimmer – Ryobi OHT 1845. If you're in a rush, here's a quick look at our top five trimmers: The best hedge trimmers in 2023, at a glance In an FAQ section at the bottom, we've also answered whether petrol hedge trimmers are better, and how thick a branch you can cut through. He recommends Mountfield as a more affordable petrol option.īelow, we've tried and tested several hedge trimmers and recommended Vasilev's top picks. He’s dedicated to his petrol-powered Stihl HS with its two-foot blade, but at £700 it’s probably more machine than most gardeners need. If you’ve read our guides to the best lawnmowers, best strimmers and best secateurs, you know that professional gardeners have strong opinions when it comes to cutting and Ljudmil is no different. With each available in a variety of sizes, it helps to know what kind of job you’ll be using your hedge trimmer for.įor advice, we went to Ljudmil Vasilev of Fantastic Gardeners, who’s been sculpting hedges for a decade. Petrol hedge trimmers are the most powerful, but are noisy and need regular maintenance. Cordless models give greater freedom but only last as long as the battery charge. Electric trimmers are cheap and easy to use but are constrained by their length of cord. However, it only comes with one - which means you will have to wait for the battery to recharge if it runs out in the middle of your task.What is the best hedge trimmer to buy? It depends on what you're looking for. The battery is compatible with other 40 volt Ryobi products, so it's ideal if you already have other Ryobi tools. While the Ryobi RY40610A V40 Hedge Trimmer does not offer the same power as electric or gas hedge trimmers and is comparatively heavy, it is suited to light- and medium-duty tasks, has a removable battery pack and is easy to use, making it a useful cordless hedge trimmer. Should you try the Ryobi RY40610A hedge trimmer? It also has a hedge sweeper attachment that allows you to easily clear away the debris as you cut, which saves time. For safety, the Ryobi 40610A has a debris shield at the base of the blade to help protect you from flying off-cuts from vegetation. It has a secondary handle at the rear of the machine to provide balance and stability. This cordless hedge trimmer does not feature a rotating handle, but it does have a large padded grip for a comfort, regardless of the cutting angle.