Those of you how are homeowners understand how important hedges, bushes and shrubs are to enhance the appearance of your property. It may be a time-consuming task, but they must be well-maintained.
If you’re like me, you get busy. Sometimes, you realize that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. If hedges and bushes are not trimmed regularly, they not only become shabby in appearance, but their branches become quite thick.
While trimming thick branches can be aggravating, with the right trimmer, you can get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. Many homeowners these days prefer electric trimmers.
What is the best electric hedge trimmer for thick branches? There are many excellent units available on the market, but the model I believe to be the best is the BLACK+DECKER HH2455 3.3-Amp HedgeHog Hedge Trimmer.
You can get it from Amazon.com.
This hedge trimmer has many good attributes, which I will cover in great length in this article.
BLACK+DECKER HH2455 3.3-Amp HedgeHog Hedge Trimmer
No doubt you’re wondering why this particular model is best-suited for trimming hedges with thick branches. This trimmer has so many good things going for it.
For starters, in order to get the job done right, it is imperative to have a powerful tool. The Black and Decker HH2455 features a 24-inch precision ground dual-action blade that is incredibly sharp and is able to cut through any branches with ease regardless of how thick they are.
In fact, these shearing blades are designed to cut branches that are up to ¾ thick. When you’re doing lots of trimming, you want to be comfortable. The HH2455 has a soft grip handle and is very lightweight.
Furthermore, there is another feature that should get you excited. The rear handle rotates at 180 degrees that allows for excellent hand positioning. You also get extended reach design and a very powerful motor.
I have used various models of hedge trimmer and one thing I absolutely love about the HH2455 is the fact that it has a built-in cord retainer designed to keep the extension cord in place when you’re working. There is nothing more annoying than a cord that continually comes out when you’re in the middle of a busy task.
Lastly, this model has a lock-off switch that prevents the machine from accidentally starting up.
Yes, this unit comes fully loaded with all of the best features you’d come to expect in a hedge trimmer.
If you want to see it in action, check out this video:
What do the customers say?
The Black and Decker HH2455 has gotten many rave reviews from customers who need it for doing a high volume of trimming. Some have stated that it is perfect not only for light and moderate use, but also some heavy use.
Others have praised this hedge trimmer for being able to cut upwards of five hours continuously. Five hours seems like a long time. I know my arms would be quite tired after that. But being able to cut for two or even three hours unabetted is a very good bonus in and among itself.
Another feature that users enjoy is the anti-vibration technology that is built into the trimmer. If there is one thing I despise, it is the heavy vibrations that come from using a trimmer for an extended period. They really tire out your forearms.
Furthermore, the trimmer comes with a two-year warranty as well as an instructional manual. There are a few cons, but they are minor. There is no blade removal wrench included in the trimmer. But overall, this is undoubtedly the best hedge trimmer you can buy for cutting through thick hedge branches.
The challenges of cutting hedges/shrubs with thick branches
It is quite common for homeowners to trim and prune their hedges and shrubs into specific shapes. When your hedges and shrubs become overgrown and branches thick, they lose their shape.
It is recommended that you begin pruning shrubs and hedges not long after you’ve planted them. As stated above, if hedges are not trimmed and pruned on a regular basis, they become unsightly and branches grow thick.
Many folks just aren’t up to the task of doing this. Trimming hedges with thick branches is a time-consuming task – not to mention energy-consuming. Hedges that become overgrown require major renewal work.
If you do have to trim a hedge with thick branches, the same rules apply. You must trim the hedge(s) to make the bottom wider than the top. Also, make sure that the top branches of the hedge do not hang over the lower branches. When this happens, the lower branches get little to no sunlight and will eventually die.
There is a tried-and-true method for trimming thick branches on hedges. First, you should cut the limb you’ve selected five inches above the spot where the final cut will be. This distance depends greatly on the size of the limb.
Two inches away from your first cut, move out further and slice through the branch. The first cut helps to prevent damaging the tree or the branch ripping. With only a short limb remaining, you can do the final cut.
Find the exact spot where the limb meets the trunk. Use your hedge trimmer to cut roughly a quarter inch away from the collar.
Electric vs. gas and battery powered trimmers
While electric hedge trimmers have their drawbacks (notably the risk of stepping over or cutting a cord) they are favoured amongst homeowners for the fact that they can be used almost continuously.
When operating an electric hedge trimmer, you don’t need to be concerned about changing batteries every 40 minutes or so. Furthermore, unlike gas-powered models, these are environmentally – friendly and don’t give off emissions.
Conclusion
Trimming thick branches from hedges can seem like a daunting task. While other models are very good, none come quite as close as the Black and Decker HH2455.
In my opinion, the best feature of this unit are the blades. They are sharp – very sharp. And yes, they can be potentially dangerous if you do not follow safety procedures such as wearing protective gear. But they make slicing through those heavy overgrown branches a smooth and even enjoyable task.