A well-trimmed hedge is the finishing touch on a neat and pretty garden so taking the time to get the right equipment is well worth the effort and investment. 

New hedges don’t need trimming in the first few years after planting, though once you have established plants you’ll need to work on them at least once, or possibly twice, a year. The best times to shape and trim them is usually either in winter or spring, or both. 

How to trim garden hedges

Some small trimming jobs can be dealt with using hand-held shears but larger jobs will need more serious equipment. Thankfully, you don't have to invest in these yourself and can instead hire them for the time you need them. Plantool Hire Centre’s double or single-edged blade hedge trimmers are heavy-duty professional hedge trimmers that will help you make a good job of your regular maintenance. 

Larger jobs where you need to take the top off your hedge will need more specialist equipment, such as the Plantool long-reach trimmer. This has a head which adjusts to any one of ten different positions, moving through 150 degrees of motion, so you don’t need to balance on top of ladders in order to reach the top of your shrubbery. 

Safety tips for hedge trimming

In fact, safety should always be a primary consideration when working on your hedge. Here are our top tips for keeping yourself out of harm's way: 

• Check the equipment you are using is sharp and well lubricated. This is a benefit of hiring tools from a professional operation such as Plantool – you can be sure of what you’re getting. 
• Safety equipment such as goggles and sturdy gloves will help avoid unnecessary accidents as you trim and move the blade closer to your body. Take the time to pick some up or potentially regret it later. 
• Clear the ground around you before you start – trips and falls while carrying trimming equipment could cause a nasty accident. 
• If you need to use a step ladder or platform, make sure it’s secure and have someone with you to brace it against knocks or gusts of wind. 
• Do not use electrical hedge trimmers in wet conditions and keep cables out of the way of blades. 

Easy hedge trimming 

When trimming your hedges, you should be looking for a width of around 60cm (2ft). Aim for sharp and crisp edges – a taut string tied horizontally between two sticks can help you keep straight when trimming the top of your hedge. A stick pushed into the ground can help you keep straight when doing the vertical parts. 

To get the best result when using a hedge trimmer, you need to keep the moving blades parallel to the top or sides of the hedge and use a sweeping action from the bottom to the top. This allows the trimmed foliage to fall away and let you clearly see what you’re working with. Pause regularly to assess your progress to make sure you’re not taking too much off and are happy with the shape created. 

So that’s it. Hire the right equipment, take your time, and make sure you’re working safely and you’ll soon have a garden hedge to be proud of! For all the best equipment and results, choose Plantool every time: https://hirecentres.com/