It’s that time of year to start thinking about your hedges, with the winter months being the most ideal time to carry out formative pruning.
Hand-held hedge shears are fine for smaller hedges, but for large hedges you'll probably find it easier to use an electric or petrol hedge trimmer.
Here at Sunshine Coast Mowers, we have a large range of trimmers for a range of projects. Our team of experts can guide you in the right direction when it comes to choosing a trimmer right for the job.
Here are a few options available.
Stihl HLA 65 Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer
Quiet long reach cordless hedge trimmer with a powerful lithium-ion battery. Adjustable gear head 105°. For horizontal or vertical cutting, it handles comfortably in any position. Tall and wide hedges are its specialty. Ideal for use in noise-sensitive areas.
STIHL HSE 61 Electric Hedge Trimmer
Five position rotary handle for flexible, easy cutting. Integrated cut protection, screwed on tip protector, shaft extension, single-sided cutting blades, low vibration, strain relief. The STIHL electric Hedge Trimmers HSE 61 and HSE 71 come with the practical triple switch system to increase working range. It also has a cable strain relief, which prevents the power cable from becoming accidentally disconnected. Each blade is laser cut and ground using diamond discs. The hardened cutting edges are highly resilient and remain sharp for a longer period.
Stihl HS45 450mm Blade
Compact and lightweight hedge trimmer for trimming and shaping hedges in domestic and light-commercial applications.
Follow these tips to ensure an even, symmetrical hedge:
Always think of your safety when using a powered hedge trimmer. Wear safety goggles and sturdy gloves. Before starting, remove any obstacles on the ground.
- Cutting straight, crisp edges by eye can be difficult. Use a taut horizontal string tied between two pickets to act as a guide to cut the top of the hedge level.
- To shape the top of the hedge, cut a template of the shape required from cardboard or plywood. Place the template on the hedge and cut following the line of the template, moving it along as you proceed.
- When using shears, ensure that the top of the hedge is cut level and flat by keeping the blades of the shears parallel to the line of the hedge.
- When using a hedge trimmer, keep the blade parallel to the hedge and use a wide, sweeping action working from the bottom of the hedge upwards, so that the cut foliage falls away.
Maintenance trimming
Annually, during May to September, trim back the top and sides every four to six weeks to maintain the desired shape.