Hedge Trimmer Review

Introduction to Hedge Trimmers

Powered hedge trimmers are handy tools that help you trim shrubs and hedges into shape in a fraction of the time it would take with manual hedge clippers. Gas hedge trimmers are the most powerful, while electric hedge shears are quieter and easier to use. Cordless electric hedge trimmers are the least powerful but handiest for small jobs. We found two excellent hedge-trimmer reviews based on objective tests, comparing models of all three types.

Consumer Reports compares 14 hedge trimmers, ranking them within each type based on performance, ease of use and safety. The 2004 review at Popular Mechanics tests fewer models, but goes into more detail about each. Both reviews test each trimmer for cutting ability, handling and safety, with safety being crucial since hedge trimmers have sharp exposed blades that can slice through fingers as well as branches.

Since user reviews often evaluate hedge trimmers based on actual trimming use over months or years, they are especially useful in assessing durability and ease of use. They also point out features users find especially desirable, such as a lock-on switch so you don't have to keep your fingers on the trigger the whole time you're trimming.

Garden Groom hedge trimmers have won several awards in the United Kingdom, but they've received mixed reviews in the United States so far. They're definitely safer than most hedge trimmers because the rotary blade is completely enclosed, and they're also unique in that they shred and collect the trimmings, ready for mulch or compost.

We haven't yet found a review that compares the Garden Groom Pro (*Est. $190) to other hedge trimmers. At the QVC website, which sells this trimmer, four customers give it the highest rating and four give it the lowest rating. A lighter 6-pound Garden Groom Midi (*Est. $150) collects the clippings in a bag that can sit on the ground, but it's even less powerful. A handful of users have given it mixed reviews at Amazon.com. Most report that it does a good job on bushes, but almost all add that they encountered problems. One says a blade bent, another said the thin blades didn't cut well, and one user reported that the blades spin for a few seconds after the motor is shut off, which he felt was a safety concern. Clearly the jury's still out on these hedge trimmers.