Hedge cutters

[heebeegeetee]

I want one. What do i need to know? It's for cutting a er, hedge. . Well, i say hedge it's actually as line of conifers that has amalgamted into a big divider twixt us and next door. There's other stuff in it too, a bit of lilac and another bush which for the life of me i can't name - oh, cotoneaster according to the wife, and i have no idea how to spell it.

Do i want battery/rechargeable or mains? Do i want it to be extendable? (the conifers are quite high). We have a birch hedge out the front too which is quite mature with thick growth, do i want to take that into account or is it best just to get someone in every couple of years or so to tackle that?

[mrmaggit]

I bought a big one a couple of years ago, thinking it would be quicker than a small one. Wrong. A smaller one would be much quicker, easier and less tiring to use. OK, you need more passes, but the big one doesn't catch everything first time by anyway.

[Iain328]

Ideally get a long handled thing (like a strimmer only with a hedgecutting blade on the end) and petrol/2 stroke perferably. Much safer to stay on the floor than climbing ladders with a hedge trimmer. (Don't ask me how I know!! )

[smifffymoto]

Buy a Stihl brushcutter and the hedge cutting attachment,not the cheapest solution but the best ones never are.

[Iain328]

smifffymoto said:

Buy a Stihl brushcutter and the hedge cutting attachment,not the cheapest solution but the best ones never are.

Indeed. That said, if its only going to get used 2 or 3 times a year (as mine is) then there are much less expensive solutions. Think mine is a "Shindaiwa" - never heard of it before I bought it but it works well & hasn't missed a beat since I bought it 3 or 4 years ago.

If you need to use thing regularly then Stihl is the way to go.

[heebeegeetee]

Thanks very much for your answers guys, gives me something to go on. I appreciate the advice to buy smaller rather than big. Mine will probably only get used once a year.

Cheers all.