Choosing a hedge trimmer: blade length, tooth spacing and reach

Blade length

The blade length is the part that cuts. On cordless hedge trimmers for the garden it is usually between 45 and 60 cm. The Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 has a 45 cm blade, the Makita DUH507Z 50 cm and the Makita UH004GZ 60 cm.

A longer blade cuts a long or wide hedge in fewer passes and reaches further across the top. It also makes the machine heavier at the front, and you often hold it at shoulder height for a long time. For a short hedge or a few shrubs a short blade is easier to handle.

Tooth spacing and cutting capacity

Tooth spacing is the gap between two teeth of the blade. The bigger the gap, the thicker the branches that fit in it. Manufacturers also give a maximum cutting capacity: the thickest branch the machine cuts through. Bosch gives the EasyHedgeCut 18-45 a tooth opening of 15 mm. Makita gives the DUH507Z 28 mm tooth spacing and 15 mm cutting capacity, and the UH004GZ 35 mm tooth spacing and 23.5 mm cutting capacity.

If you trim your hedge every year, the outer branches are thin and a small cutting capacity is enough. For a hedge that has not been cut for a few years, or shrubs with woody branches, choose a larger one. Branches thicker than the stated capacity are a job for secateurs or loppers.

The blade

A double-sided blade cuts on both edges, so when shaping a hedge you can sweep back and forth without turning the machine over. A single-sided blade cuts on one edge. The specifications say which kind a model has.

They also give the strokes per minute: 2,400 for the Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 and 2,700 for the Makita DUH507Z. That is how often the blade moves back and forth. How thick a branch may be depends on the tooth spacing and cutting capacity.

Battery and weight

If you already own cordless tools, first look for a hedge trimmer on the same battery platform. Many hedge trimmers are sold bare, without battery and charger, such as the Makita DUH507Z on LXT 18 V and the Gardena ComfortCut 60/18V P4A on Power for All 18 V. For heavier work there are models on a higher voltage, such as the UH004GZ on XGT 40 V max and the DeWalt DCMHT573X1 on 54 V Flexvolt.

Check what the manufacturer includes in the weight. Makita gives the DUH507Z as 2.3 kg without battery and 2.7 to 3.0 kg with one, depending on the battery. So compare models with the battery fitted.

Tall hedges: pole hedge trimmer

A pole hedge trimmer has the blade at the end of a long shaft, so you cut the top of a tall or wide hedge from the ground. The Makita DUN500WZ is 2.1 metres long and its blade tilts from −45° to +70°, for both the sides and the top. Makita gives 4.5 kg with battery. The Bosch GHE 18V-50 TP has a telescopic pole, and the Bosch UniversalHedgePole 18 is another hedge trimmer on a pole.

Box and edges: shrub and grass shears

For box, small shrubs and lawn edges a cordless shrub shear is easier. It is small and light and often has a second blade for grass, like the Bosch AdvancedShear 18V-10 with a 20 cm shrub blade and a 10 cm grass blade. Other examples are the Gardena Classic cordless grass and shrub shears and the Makita DUM604ZX, an 18 V grass and hedge shear. For a few shrubs a manual hedge shear is enough, such as the Gardena TeleCut with extending handles.

Safe cutting and nesting birds

Manufacturers write in their manuals that you remove the battery before clearing jammed branches, cleaning the blade or doing maintenance, and that you keep your hands and body away from the blade. The full safety instructions are in the manual of your own model.

In the Netherlands the Environment Act (Omgevingswet) protects the nests and eggs of wild birds. According to Vogelbescherming Nederland, pruning breaks the law if a bird is nesting in the hedge. The nesting season has no fixed dates: it runs from nest building until the young fledge, for some species from February to August. A nest in a dense hedge is hard to see, so Vogelbescherming advises putting off pruning until after the nesting season.

Comparing on ToolRango

Under hedge trimmers you find the models with prices from several shops. Many hedge trimmers come as a bare tool and as a kit with battery and charger, each with its own EAN or part number. ToolRango compares per version, so you see whether a battery is included.