Pole Pruners

Hedge trimmers for overhead work

For very tall shrubs, experts say using blades mounted on a long shaft is safer than standing on a ladder with shorter trimmers. In an article for Grounds Maintenance magazine, Jane Autler suggests using long-reach trimmers with rotating heads for this kind of work. Several manufacturers make hedge-trimming attachments that fit on string trimmers, but reviews say they don't work nearly as well as dedicated pole hedge trimmers. (These are often called by other names, such as extended-reach hedge trimmers or pole pruners.)

The 18-volt cordless electric Black & Decker NPT318 Pole Hedge Trimmer (*Est. $120) gets high marks -- an average of 4.1 stars out of five -- from more than 80 users at Amazon.com. It provides a reach of up to 10 feet and has an 18-inch, double-action blade. A pivoting head locks this Black & Decker pruner into five positions for greater maneuverability. At just over 8 pounds, this pole hedge trimmer should be manageable for most people; one 82-year-old user posting at Amazon.com says he found it easy to handle. Most users say the Black & Decker NPT318 is great for light-duty trimming but won't handle thick or tough limbs. Some complain that the battery needs frequent recharging and that it takes too long to do so; they recommend having more than one battery on hand. We found no expert reviews of the NPT318. Like other Black & Decker outdoor power tools, it comes with a two-year warranty.

The Homelite UT44160 (*Est. $100) is a lower-cost 2.7-amp corded electric pole hedge trimmer. Weighing more than 10 pounds, it's a little heftier than the cordless Black & Decker NPT318. This Homelite pole pruner features a 10.5-foot reach and a 17-inch cutting blade. Only two users have reviewed it at HomeDepot.com, however, with each giving it a perfect score. It has a two-year warranty.

Echo makes a gas-powered pole hedge trimmer with a 59-inch shaft and 20-inch double-sided, double-reciprocating blades, the Echo HCA-265 (*Est. $550). Other features include a 25 cc engine, the i-30 starting system (which makes the engine 30 percent easier to start, according to the manufacturer), vibration dampening, and a cutting head with 180 degrees of articulation. We could find no reviews of this pole hedge trimmer, and its high price as well as its heavy weight -- almost 16 pounds -- mean that you might want to try it out in person before buying.