Whether it’s a simple traditional privet hedge, or a more creative native arrangement, keeping your hedges in check isn’t a skippable job. It’s something you need to keep coming back to time after time, year in, year out, so buying the best petrol hedge trimmer you can afford should be a no-brainer.
However, finding the best doesn’t necessarily mean spending the most. It all depends on some basic factors, like the type of hedge you’re working with, its height, shape, and the style of pruning you prefer.
Whatever finish you’re after though, our guide to finding the best petrol hedge trimmer should have some helpful hints for you along the way.
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Top Pick
Best Value
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Hyundai HYPT330 33cc Petrol Pole Hedge Trimmer | | | |
2. Baumr-AG SMX920 65cc Multi Tool Pole Hedge Trimmer | | | |
3. BAUMR-AG HTP400 24cc 2-Stroke Petrol Hedge Trimmer |  | ||
4. Hyundai HYT2622-3 25.4cc Petrol Hedge Trimmer |  |
Petrol Hedge Trimmers Buyer’s Guide
What are Petrol Hedge Trimmers?
Petrol hedge trimmers are brilliant power tools, able to shave off stray shoots from any hedge. They are designed to work with branches up to about 15 mm thick, but some work on more mature growth, and others on less, so check the tooth distance and power ratings before buying anything to make sure it’s suitable for your hedging plants.
What to Look for When Buying a Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Hedge trimmers might look like basic tools, but there’s a lot going on both beneath the surface and right there in front of you. There are the same standard questions as with any power tool, like whether 4-stroke or 2-stroke engines are better (short answer: it depends on what you’re using it for), and the materials used to build it.
Aside from that, basically, it’s all about whether or not they work, and whether they’re capable of the finish you want for your garden.
The most extreme hedging situation, which we’ll use as a base here, is a formal maze. Obviously, you’re not going to have one of them in your garden (kudos if you do!) but if we use that as our baseline, the hedge trimmers in this article are going to work on a typical domestic hedge for sure.
For that, we need three things: a decent tank that runs for at least half an hour, blades that are capable of cutting neat edges, and something that’s comfortable to use both vertically and horizontally.
We’ll run through the basics below, but if you can get the right engine, a good blade, and a well-weighted tool from a reputable brand, you’ll have a hedge trimmer that will last a lifetime and be enjoyable to use.
Power & Engine
22cc is a pretty standard engine capacity on hedge trimmers, but they do go up to 65cc if you want something really powerful. In reality, nearly all hedges can be trimmed with a smaller engine.
2-Stroke engines are more powerful, but more can go wrong. 4-stroke engines are more efficient, so over longer working times use less petrol and have fewer problems longer term, so we’d always suggest a 4-stroke petrol hedge trimmer if you can afford it. If not, 2-Stroke petrol hedge trimmers are more than adequate for 99% of hedging plants.
Blade Type
Hedge trimmers have toothed pulsing blades, which run cutting teeth over a second set of teeth. The blade material is surprisingly important when it comes to lifetime guarantees and maintenance.
You can save money with a basic blade, but in a world of false economies it’s one of the biggest as buying replacement blades is often just as expensive as buying the tool, so aim for carbon steel blades.
They nearly always come diamond cut for immaculate and disease-free hedge maintenance and are easy to sharpen when needed.
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Weight
A standard-sized hedge trimmer should weigh about 5-6 kg with a full tank (product weight will be 4-5 kg). Long pole hedge trimmers are heavier for obvious reasons but can be just as comfortable to use, provided they have good shoulder straps or handles set in the right place.
Even a small garden can have 60 ft of hedge to keep tidy, and that will (if you’re taking care) take about half an hour to cut, so consider your own comfort over that time.
Brand
As with most petrol garden tools, there are a handful of well-known and respected brands, where the price reflects their reliability, and a few great budget brands out there too. If you’re looking for reliability, Stihl will nearly always come top, but Baumr-AG and Hyundai make outstanding hedge trimmers too.
Some more standard power tool manufacturers like Bosch and Stanley have great hedge trimmers for sale, which are just as reliable, but typically less powerful, and very much designed for home gardeners rather than pros.
Different Types of Petrol Hedge Trimmers
You might think that a hedge trimmer is just a hedge trimmer, and you’re not that wrong, but there are still a few extra considerations to take in. For example, how tall are your hedges?
If you don’t want to be up a ladder with petrol power tools, maybe consider a pole hedge trimmer.
One sided blades Vs Two sided blades
Twin sided hedge trimmers are more efficient but can give you false confidence, leading to uneven and untidy cuts. Single sided blades, while less efficient, are ideal for trimming tall hedges, as you should only ever cut in one direction.
Personally, I like standard, double edged hedge trimmers. They just work, and while I get the need for the single-sided blades, they don’t offer the same reliability, particularly if you want to have a go at cloud pruning and working more gently with the natural curves of your hedging plants.
Pole Hedge Trimmers
Pole hedge trimmers are essential for tall hedges. Cutting hedges on ladders, whether it's with corded electric, cordless or petrol hedge trimmers is a nightmare and, frankly, dangerous.
Pole hedge trimmers allow you to work safely from the ground, but do take some getting used to. If you do go for a pole hedge trimmer, remember to step back regularly and inspect your work as intuitive, unchecked, cuts tend to lean backward, making for a really unnatural-looking finish.
Short Hedge Trimmers
Standard, short, hedge trimmers usually have a blade length of under 1 m, and a simple handle front and back to control their movement. They are easy to use, making cutting any hedge easy, but don’t offer much reach.
For a standard 2 m tall hedge though, you save a small fortune by buying something simple.
Multi-tool Hedge Trimmers
OK, so multi-tools aren’t strictly hedge trimmers, but they come with literally everything you can ever need to maintain your hedges and lawn edges in the process. Most petrol garden multi tools will have a chainsaw attachment, hedge trimmer attachment and whipper snipper as standard.
They use locking poles to connect the tool head to the engine, and those from decent brands tend to be just as good at hedge trimming as purpose-made pole trimmers.
The other big benefit of multi-tool hedge trimmers is that once you’ve cut your hedges, you can use them to clean up path edges and trim away any untidy brush from beneath your hedges, all with one tool.
How to Use a Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Petrol hedge trimmers are simple to work with, using them well is an art form. To use any hedge trimmer, all you need to do is pull the cord, start the engine and engage the blades. After that, it’s just a case of cutting against the direction of the wood to reduce tearing.
However… if you really want to get the perfect finish, whether it’s on cloud pruned hedges, topiary, or formal box hedging, there are a few very simple rules to follow:
- Always cut into a slight A-shape, so the top of your hedge is narrower than the base. This allows light and rain to pass to the base more naturally and reduces potential infection from moisture held higher up the hedge. It also looks better from the ground.
- Cut against the direction of the branches. So if you’ve left any branches slightly longer than you should have if they’re pointing left, cut from left to right. That way you’ll get a good clean cut, without lacerating the bark, which can allow infection in.
- Use a simple string line to mark the top of your hedge before you cut it. The most common mistake made when trimming hedges is cutting by eye. You’ll end up with dips and divots, and in the worst case, a hedge that’s lower on one side.
- For wide hedges, cut an angle at the top, so the side facing into the garden is lower than the side facing out. In some gardens, this can be the difference of an extra hour of sunlight for border plants in winter.
Petrol Hedge Trimmer Safety Guide
Petrol hedge trimmers are powerful engines attached to sharp, pulsing, blades. They are dangerous tools if used incorrectly.
- Wear thick gloves, good shoes and remove any jewellery before using them as they rarely have automatic shut-offs, and catching loose clothes or jewellery is a real risk.
- Never use petrol hedge trimmers on a ladder unless it is on stable ground. If you are on stable ground, cut within reach, and move the ladder rather than stretching, before cutting the next section.
- Wear safety glasses or a visor to protect your eyes. If you catch semi-mature branches, particularly of deciduous hedges, bark chips and branches can flick out at quite a speed.
Best Petrol Hedge Trimmer Reviews
1. Hyundai HYPT330 33cc Petrol Pole Hedge Trimmer
One of the most comfortable pole trimmers we’ve found is the Hyundai HYPT3300. Given that most hedge trimmers use Hyundai or Honda engines, it’s worth considering using a tool designed and manufactured right at the source to the exact specifications of the engine.
Its 2-stroke engine isn’t the most efficient, but it packs a punch and we’ve never found it to catch on anything, even reasonably mature branches. The 1.2L capacity fuel tank runs well too, and offers brilliant balance – important given its slightly bulky weight.
If you’re after a petrol pole hedge trimmer, there aren’t many that are reliable.
Pros
Cons
2. Baumr-AG SMX920 65cc Multi Tool Pole Hedge Trimmer
Baumr-AG makes brilliant garden tools. It’s a simple fact. The 2-stroke engine (pretty standard on any multi-tool like this) is well put together, and easy to start too.
The well-balanced central handle on the extendable pole offers great flexibility, but nothing will outshine the rotating blade on both the chainsaw and hedge trimmer attachments.
If you’re working with tall hedges, and trying to keep an entire garden tidy on a budget, there are few more flexible tools than this extending multi-tool hedge trimmer from Baumr-AG.
Pros
Cons
3. BAUMR-AG HTP400 24cc 2-Stroke Petrol Hedge Trimmer
For a simple hedge trimmer that does the job, with a few bells and whistles to get excited about too, check out BAUMR-AG’s HTP400 hedge trimmer. The swivel head means you can cut comfortably at 90° to yourself with reduced risk, and for longer too.
Its triggers are automatic releases, so shut off if you drop the tools, or need to stop quickly, and the blades, while powerful, are connected to a great anti-vibration system, which makes it infinitely more comfortable to use than most hedge trimmers on the market.
Pros
Cons
4. Hyundai HYT2622-3 25.4cc Petrol Hedge Trimmer
The double reciprocating blade on Hyundai’s more basic hedge trimmer is actually pretty effective, with a reach of 66 cm.
The engine and handle section of the tool are well equipped with anti-vibration features, making it comfortable as well as reasonably light weight, and just to add a bit more magic, they’ve designed the whole thing so the handle can be rotated by 90° for more comfortable cutting.
Pros
Cons
Aussie Green Thumb Petrol Hedge Trimmers Top Picks for 2024
Top Rated Petrol Hedge Trimmer
There has never been a pole petrol hedge trimmer with better balance than the Hyundai HYPT3300. It’s not even the most efficient hedge trimmer, and it’s far from the lightest, but it’s beautifully comfortable to use, and has a reach of up to 3 m when fully extended, making it easy and safe to cut tall hedges from ground level.
The hinged hedge trimmer head makes it super simple to cut the tops of your hedges too, with a locking and adjustable angle so you can get precise finishes every time. And all this for less than most standard hedge trimmers.
Best Value Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Baumr-AG’s pole hedge trimmer multi-tool takes our best value spot for the simple reason that you will never find a more adaptable tool, with this many fittings from a brand like Baumr-AG for this sort of price.
It comes with an impeccably put-together hedge trimmer, as well as brush cutters, whipper snippers, edgers and even a chainsaw attachment. And if that wasn’t enough, the hedge trimmer and chainsaw attachment can both be angled to 90° for beautifully clean tops on all of your hedges.
If you’re stocking a new shed, and want to save space and money, Baumr-AG’s Hedge Trimmer Multi-tool is very, very, worth considering.
Petrol Hedge Trimmers Frequently Asked Questions
What petrol should I use in my hedge trimmer?
Nearly all hedge trimmers can be used with E10 petrol, but ethanol-free petrol is usually advised. We’ve used standard gas station petrol in all our power tools for decades and never had a problem, even on modern tools.
Is a petrol hedge trimmer more powerful than electric?
Petrol hedge trimmers are, without exception, more powerful than cordless electric hedge trimmers. However, some corded electric hedge trimmers can outperform cheap petrol hedge trimmers, despite being hard to use with trailing wires.
Check out our detailed guide for electric hedge trimmers to help you choose which is a better fit for your needs.
Can you sharpen a petrol hedge trimmer?
Sharpening petrol hedge trimmers is a skill in itself, but once you get the hang of it it can actually be pretty therapeutic. For most domestic hedge trimmers, sharpening once a year, or every once every two years is enough.
Just use a flat file, followed by a whetstone in the same direction on each blade.
How often should I oil my hedge trimmer?
Hedge trimmers clog up with sap with every use, so should ideally be oiled after every use. Clean your hedge trimmer with a stiff bristled brush, before applying lubricant and wiping down.
The oil will protect it from rust, and the process helps to remove unwanted fibres and sap.
Wrapping Up Our Guide for the Best Petrol Hedge Trimmers for 2024
Technique is more important than tool when it comes to trimming hedges, but if you get both on point, you’re on to a winner. We use hedging and basic topiary shapes around our garden to offer year-round structure, and create divisions. It’s not a huge garden, so the neater we keep it, the more those structures lead you through the space.
Not everyone trims their hedges quite as regularly as we do here, but it’s still worth finding the best petrol hedge trimmer you can afford to make sure you actually enjoy doing it.
The more you enjoy it, the more you’ll do it, and the more you use your hedge trimmer, the better they’ll look. Simple, but very, very, true.
Published on August 16, 2023 by Gary Clarke
Last Updated on October 4, 2024
