Hedge Trimmer Buyer's Guide

Technically, the only tool a barber needs to do his job is a pair of scissors.

He won't make much money, though. He'll spend all his time delicately snipping away at even the thickest hair.

With an electric hair clipper in hand, however, a barber becomes much more efficient. Long strands of hair get cut down to size in no time.

The same idea applies to hedge trimmers.

With a hedge trimmer, you'll groom and sculpt all your bushes in a fraction of the time, so you can spend less time trimming and more time enjoying your yard. All you have to decide is which is better for you, electric or gas?

Electric Hedge Trimmers

With no need for gas and oil, electric hedge trimmers take the mess and equipment maintenance out of trimming your hedges. They offer other benefits as well:

• Quiet
• Environmentally friendly
• Lightweight

Whether you choose a battery-powered or a corded plug-in hedge trimmer, you'll find it's incredibly user-friendly and convenient. If you're looking for something that's easy to carry and doesn't require knowledge of small engines, this is the tool for you.

Gas-Powered Hedge Trimmers

Gas hedge trimmers provide more power than their electric counterparts. They also have more features to make trimming pleasant, including some of the following examples:

• Vibration dampening systems
• Adjustable handles that rotate up to 180 degrees
• Exhaust systems designed to direct exhaust away from the user

Gas hedge trimmers use 2-cycle engines, so you'll have to mix gas and oil in the fuel tank. However, they're ideal for large yards that require more heavy-duty trimming. Because there's no cord, you're free to roam wherever the hedges take you.  Hedge Trimmer BladesHedge trimmer blades come in one of two styles:

• Single-sided blades
• Double-sided blades

Double-sided blades are more common and also cut more efficiently. Single-sided blades are safer because you can always keep the cutting edge away from you.A wide range of blade lengths provides different user experiences. Longer blades allow you to trim bushes more evenly but may be tougher to wield. Smaller blades, such as 18" are sufficient for trimming average-sized hedges and bushes.