When you’re buying a hedge trimmer, there are several options to consider. One of the biggest choices is between electric, battery or gasoline-powered models. The overall type of hedge trimmer is also a big choice and is influenced by the kind of hedges you need to trim. Some models have double-sided blades and short handles that are useful for general hedge trimming. Others have single-sided blades designed for straight cutting and trimming things like Christmas trees. Pole hedge trimmers provide an extended reach for cutting taller hedges or trimming near the ground without bending over.
Double-sided Blades Hedge Trimmers
There are plenty of options when you want a hedge trimmer with double-sided cutting blades. Stihl offers two electric models. The HSE 52 is a lightweight trimmer with low noise levels, and HSE 70 stays lightweight while offering heavy-duty cutting performance. A lithium-ion model, the HSA 66, offers the advantages of electric with more mobility.
Richardson Saw offers a wide range of gasoline-powered models from RedMax, Stihl and Echo. Homeowner models include RedMax CHT220, Echo HC-152 with a 20-inch blade, Echo HC-155 with a 24-inch blade, and Stihl’s homeowner models HS 45 and HS 46 C-E. These are generally less expensive, and less powerful than commercial trimmers.
More powerful commercial models include the HS 56 C-E, HS 81 R and HS 81 T from Stihl, the 24-inch and 30-inch Shindaiwa DH232 models, Echo’s HC-165 and HC-185, and Redmax CHTZ 2460L. In addition to faster cutting performance, professional models typically offer better anti-vibration technology and improved features.
Single-sided Blades Hedge Trimmers
Single-sided hedge trimmers work great for straight sections of a hedge and often feature longer blades than double-sided models. The longer blades are combined with a handle part-way down the blade on the non-cutting side for increased control. Models like the 30-inch RedMax HTZ 2460 also have a debris shield for moving cut vegetation out of the way.
Other single-side hedge trimmers carried by Richardson Saw include the 30-inch Shindaiwa HT231-30, Echo HC-235 and Echo HC-245 models. These all feature powerful commercial-grade 2-stroke engines. Stihl’s single-sided hedge trimmers are designed for large-scale renovation of overgrown hedges. The HS 86 R has a 30-inch blade, and the HS 86 T offers both 30-inch and 40-inch blade options.
Extended Reach Hedge Trimmers
Pole hedge trimmers offer extended reach so you don’t have to climb a ladder when trimming taller hedges. Fixed shaft models and models with rotating cutting heads are both available. RedMax SRTZ has a 24-inch blade that can rotate 135 degrees, and the adjustable RedMax LRTZ 2460 has a 20-inch blade. The HL 100 is Stihl’s hedge trimmer with the longest reach, and the cutting head adjusts 135 degrees with 13 different locking positions.
Some of the fixed-position pole trimmers have shorter shaft lengths, like the Echo SHC-225S which has a 20-inch shaft and a 20-inch cutting blade. Stihl offers two different shaft lengths – 26-inch shaft with a 20-inch blade on the Stihl HL 45 and the Stihl HL 90, and a 42-inch shaft with a 20-inch blade on the Stihl HL 100 K model.
