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What is the best hedge trimmer to buy? It depends on what you’re looking for. Electric trimmers are cheap and easy to use but are constrained by their length of cord. Cordless models give greater freedom but only last as long as the battery charge. Petrol hedge trimmers are the most powerful, but are noisy and need regular maintenance. With each available in a variety of sizes, it helps to know what kind of job you’ll be using your hedge trimmer for.
For advice, we went to Ljudmil Vasilev of Fantastic Gardeners, who’s been sculpting hedges for a decade. 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. 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. He recommends Mountfield as a more affordable petrol option.
Below, we’ve tried and tested several hedge trimmers and recommended Vasilev’s top picks. 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. If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at our top five trimmers:
The best hedge trimmers in 2024, at a glance
Are petrol hedge trimmers better?
“Power is important, but so is size,” Ljudmil says. “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. 55cm is the ideal blade length. Anything over that I think you should leave to professionals.
“A lot of people prefer a battery hedge trimmer. You can get a good one, like a Ryobi, for under £100 and they are lighter and easier to control. Cordless ones are better than electric hedge trimmers with a cord, in my opinion. When you are going up and down ladders the cord is a hazard. I would also worry about safety if the hedge is wet.”
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.
How we tested the best hedge trimmers
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. For that we have taken professional gardener Ljudmil’s advice. The rest were tested on a mix of conifer, deciduous and thorny hedges found in most gardens. Because hedge-trimming is a strenuous job, we were looking for a clean, easy cut, good balance and light weight.
If you’re looking to spruce up your garden, read our guide to the best leaf blowers and best garden parasols. As for hedge trimmers, read on below.
The best hedge trimmers
1. Stihl HS 82 R
Best overall, 10/10
We like: weapons-grade performance, if you can afford it
We don’t like: it doesn’t come cheap
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