The best petrol hedge trimmers – Keeping your greenery looking neat needn’t be a chore, simply find the best petrol hedge trimmer and your garden or yard will be looking smart in no time.
This useful gardening tool can be used to trim, cut and prune, and can save you a lot of time and effort.
If you are in the market to buy, you might have your work cut out choosing the best tool for the job. There are plenty to choose from, a wide range of models complete with a variety of features and price tags. With such choice it might be difficult to find the one for you!
That’s where our brief guide to the best petrol hedge trimmers in the UK comes in handy.
Our Top 5 Best Petrol Hedge Trimmers Currently On The Market
We’ve Featured In:
Take a look at our top 5 picks, and gain useful insight into what you can expect to get for your money.
#1: Mcculloch HT 5622 Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Ergonomic handle for comfy handling
- Adjustable rear handle to accommodate vertical cutting as well as horizontal
- Reduced resistance in starter cord to allow for easier start-up
- Powerful 22cc engine
- Dual action 56cm cutting blades providing a neater finish
- Air filter can be quickly and easily serviced (no tools required)
- Auto-return stop switch
- Anti-vibration system
Anything to Improve?
- Slightly heavier than some models
- A mixing bottle would be a useful addition
#2: Einhell GE-PH 2555 A 2-Stroke 25cc Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Auto choke for easy start-up
- Manual foot pump primer for quick re-starts
- Precision ground steel, double-bladed safety cutters
- 550cm cutting length
- Low-vibration 2-stroke engine
- Swivel handle for ergonomic handling
- Vibration absorbing extra handle
- Diamond ground blade
- Centrifugal clutch for cutting tool
- Electronic ignition
- Hand guard for safety
- User guide
- Refill easily via the large fuel hole
Anything to Improve:
- The mixing bottle could benefit from clearer instructions
#3: Makita EH7500W Hedge Trimmer, 680 W, 127 V
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Shear blade silver surface with long-lasting coating
- 75cm double blade and blade cover
- Forward-facing exhaust
- Balanced machine with low centre of gravity
- Damper springs to deflect vibration from engine / handles.
- 22.2 cc 2-stroke engine
- Environmentally-friendly design
- Rotating rear handle (5 positions to choose from) – vertical or angled trimming
- Compliant with CARB tier 3, EPA phase 2, EU stage 2 safety regulations
- Complete with socket and hex wrench
Anything to Improve?
- Slightly heavier than some models
#4: BU-KO 52cc Multi-Functional Garden Tool
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Versatile and useful tool for a variety of tasks
- Heavy-duty 3HP tool
- Extension pole included – extends to 3.4m
- Easy to put together
- Lightweight and portable design
- 12-month warranty
- Instructions included, plus a free toolkit
- Safety equipment – double harness, ear defenders, safety glasses and gloves.
- Easy to start up
- Throttle located on handle as a safety measure
- Customer support offered by a team of technicians
- CE & EMC Approved
Anything to Improve?
- A canvas carry bag would be useful to keep everything together.
#5: Stihl HS45 24-Inch Hedge Trimmer
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 2-MIX technology for enhanced performance
- 27.2cc Engine
- Double Sided Dual Action Blade
- 24″ Blade Length
- Lightweight (5kg)
- Orange in colour
Anything to Improve?
- Some may find it less robust than other models.
Which Is The Best Petrol Hedge Trimmer For You?
It’s hard to choose an overall winner from the five best petrol hedge trimmers we’ve listed above. All have their merits and will serve you well as you trim and prune the greenery in your garden or yard.
Take some time to think about the features you are looking for and the type of work you want to do in your outdoor space. Which will best suit your needs?
Will it be the Mcculloch HT 5622 Petrol Hedge Trimmer with its powerful engine and ergonomic handle? Perhaps you are drawn to the Einhell GE-PH 2555 A 2-Stroke 25cc Petrol Hedge Trimmer with its low-vibration 2-stroke engine and vibration-absorbing extra handle. Or maybe you prefer the idea of the Makita EH7500W Hedge Trimmer, 680 W, 127 V with its environmentally friendly design.
There’s also the highly versatile BU-KO 52cc Multi-Functional Garden Tool to consider, which (as the name suggests) allows you to carry out a number of different gardening chores.
Last, but not least we have the Stihl HS45 24-Inch Hedge Trimmer with its lightweight design – great if you are looking for a tool that’s portable and won’t put too much strain on your arms!
How Does A Petrol Hedge Trimmer Work?
Petrol hedge trimmers are powered by fuel and these durable garden tools are able to cope with the tough pruning and trimming jobs around the garden. The two-stroke engine runs on a mixture of fuel and two-stroke engine oil.
The trimmer operates by combusting fuel (akin to a car engine) and this power produces the oscillations to propel the blades to move. Hedge trimmers have a large number of blades, some have blades on just one side, others have blades on both.
You can also get single action or (more commonly) double action hedge trimmers. Single action trimmers have a blade that moves and a blade that stays still. Double action blades have a pair of blades that move in opposing directions. As a general rule, hedge trimmers suited to residential garden work have close spaces between the teeth of the blade.
The best petrol hedge trimmers suited to heavy duty work (such as commercial gardening work) have larger spaces between the teeth. The sharp blades work effortlessly to trim and prune even the toughest shrubs, plants and bushes.
Petrol Hedge Trimmer Vs Electric Hedge Trimmer
Electric hedge trimmers and petrol hedge trimmers operate in the same way, however, there are differences between the two.
Corded electric trimmers can be limiting in terms of the areas you can reach. You can always hook up an extension lead – but this will only get you so far!
Cordless electric hedge trimmers will get you further, but you will still have to stop at certain times to plug back in and recharge your tool.
When it comes to the best petrol hedge trimmers you don’t have to think about cords or recharging. Just keep your trimmer fully topped-up with fuel and you are good to go!
What Makes A Good Petrol Hedge Trimmer?
The best petrol hedge trimmers offer plenty of features and will help you to keep your garden looking tip-top. Look for a trimmer that will accommodate the size and shape of your hedge, and that you will be able to use easily. Here are a few things to look out for:
Width of Blade
The width of the blade determines the type of hedge you can cut. If you are looking to trim a smaller hedge you could opt for a 300mm-400mm blade width. If you need to cut back something more sizeable you should consider a trimmer with a wider blade (around 500mm should do the trick).
Teeth Spacing
We’ve touched briefly on how the teeth spacing works on a blade (the wider the space the more your trimmer can handle). If you need to cut a sizeable / mature hedge you will need to look for a trimmer that has those wide teeth (around 30mm). If you need to trim a smaller hedge a tooth space of around 15mm-20mm should suffice.
Sawing Function
Is your garden hedge big and bold? If so, you could consider a trimmer with a sawing function for extra power. Sawing the branches of mature hedges will help you to thin out the greenery and achieve the shape you are looking for.
Durability
The more you have to cut, the more robust a blade you will need. The best petrol hedge trimmers are produced with very durable blades – designed to last. However, do keep in mind that your trimming efforts might not always run smoothly – fences and walls can get in the way when you least expect it!
Precise Cut
Sharp blades produce an optimum cut. Look out for trimmers featuring diamond-ground or laser-cut blades as these will help you to achieve the neat finish you’re looking for.
Ergonomic
You don’t want to use a tool that’s cumbersome and hard to manoeuvre (gardening can be hard enough work as it is)! Check out the type of handle the trimmer has.
Rotating handles will make life easier as you can position it where suits. You are looking for a trimmer that’s not too heavy to handle, but not so light that it’s not robust enough to do the job.
Safety
Safety is always important – does the trimmer meet safety standards and has it been manufactured by a reputable company? Guards are always a good idea, and safety equipment is essential – goggles and gloves might not be provided but should be worn.
The best petrol hedge trimmers come with clear instructions / user guides – make sure you get to grips with how to use your petrol hedge trimmer before you get to work.
Power and Fuel
Is the engine powerful enough for the work you need to do? Check out the engine size and also explore how easy it is to mix and fuel your trimmer.
User Friendly
Look for a hedge trimmer that’s easy to start up and use. A versatile multi-functional strimmer could be useful if you have lots of jobs to do in your garden. If you opt for this type of tool look for one that is easy to adjust.
Warranty and Repairs
Does the hedge trimmer come with a warranty? Ideally you will be looking for a twelve-month warranty period as a minimum. It’s also useful if you can easily contact the manufacturer to ask advice or obtain spares should your ttrimmer require repairs in the future.