How to Trim a Hedge With Electric Hedge Trimmers

The work of creating perfect formal hedges can be aided by electric trimmers.

Electric hedge trimmers bring speed and uniformity to the job of manicuring larger expanses of established hedging. While long-blade scissor shears often create the most perfect-looking hedge surface, they require more labor to operate and take considerably more time to cover the same area. Electric hedge trimmers can be corded or cordless and rechargeable, with blades of varying lengths and widths according to manufacturer or brand. The blade is covered on one or both sides with small articulated cutting blades that move against one another, much like scissors, to shear off the hedging material.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• GFCI power source
• Heavy-duty cut-resistant gloves

1. Don a pair of cut-resistant garden gloves to provide some protection for your hands should they accidentally come into contact with the trimmer blades.

2. Plug corded electric trimmers into a ground fault circuit interrupter, known as a GFCI, protected power outlet so that you will not experience shock or electrocution if the cord is accidentally damaged or severed by the blade.

3. Grasp the hedge trimmer with both gloved hands, ensuring a firm grip. Face the blade outward and away from your torso with the cord draped down to the side or behind you. Turn the trimmer on.

4. Hold the blade roughly parallel to the surface of the hedge to create flat, smooth planes of hedging. Make smooth, almost wiping cuts along the hedge surface, removing small amounts of plant material with each pass. Work in large sections at a time, advancing along the hedge slowly once each area is complete.

5. Create bevels, rounded shapes, undulations and other curvilinear hedge forms by tilting the blade slightly from parallel to an angle position relative to the plane of the hedge. The slight angle of the blade will help you to sculpt the hedge as you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• Cutting the cord of a hedge trimmer is not an uncommon occurrence. Just a moment's lapse in concentration or turning to speak to someone can be all it takes to entangle the cord and blade. As you work, focus constantly on keeping the cord down and behind your side or hip to avoid the loss of the tool and to prevent damage to your person.

References

• Lousiana State University: Selection and Use of Hedge Trimmers