Best Long Reach Hedge Trimmers | Extending, Pole, Telescopic Hedge Cutters Reviews

Looking for the best long reach hedge trimmer? It seems like an easy task, but like everything else, finding the right tool has its subtleties. There are some things you should be aware of and a lot of things to consider before making a purchase of this kind. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. In this review, we will talk about all you need to know before buying a long reach hedge trimmer and will hopefully help you make the right choice.

Here in the UK, it’s very common to see a fence made of tall hedges. It’s beautiful and definitely gives a sense of privacy, but like everything good, it wants care. If these hedges are not regularly cut, the heavenly garden may turn into a messy nightmare. No one wants that to happen, but taking good care of your garden can sometimes be a challenge. Every good-looking hedge comes at a price. Hard work and a lot of attention pay off eventually. If you love your high hedges, and if you want to take maintain them properly, a long reach hedge trimmer is a must. This type of extendable tool will make your life easier and will save you hours.

Telescopic (Extending, Pole) Hedge Trimmers – Why you Need It

Telescopic hedge cutters, also known as pole hedge trimmers or extendable hedge trimmers are designed specifically for cutting tall or awkwardly positioned hedges without the need of a ladder or a platform. For instance, if you are a professional gardener, that visits different places in order to provide their services. So, telescopic hedge trimmer would be much more convenient to use than a regular one.

You won’t need to bring a ladder or put yourself in hazardous situations in order to reach that high branch. What is more, you won’t need to think of a way to fit all your equipment plus a giant ladder in your vehicle. Generally, the telescopic hedge trimmers cut comfortably between 3 to 4 metres high. As a result it would be plenty for most of the tall hedges.
If you want to choose the best extending hedge cutter for you, you would need to know a bit more about what types are there and what you would need to look out for.

These tools are divided into three categories according to the way they are powered – electric (corded), cordless (battery-powered) and petrol. Now we are going to look into each category’s advantages and disadvantages so you can choose the best telescopic hedge trimmer for you.

Corded Extending Hedge Trimmers

The first category we are going to look into is the trimmers that come with a cord. There are some advantages and disadvantages that come with this type of trimmers. One of the main advantages is that generally, these trimmers are more eco friendly than the other solutions. If you are someone who cares about our environment the best pole hedge trimmer for you would be a corded one, since there are no emitted emissions while working. Another thing is that lighter and easier to work with as there are no battery or fuel tank that adds to the weight of the tool. The best part is that they are quiet. If you’re worried about bothering your neighbours, you could opt for the corded option and you won’t regret it.

On the other hand, the cord could be very restrictive. You’d need to consider the length of the cable before buying a corded extendable hedge trimmer. If you don’t have a conveniently placed power socket, you could always use an extension cord of course, but all in all, the corded electric hedge trimmers are more suitable for smaller spaces.

Battery-powered Pole Hedge Trimmers

The battery-powered hedge trimmers are also a great option. Their main advantage is that they are portable. No restrictions because of the cord, no extension cords, no power sockets. You can work wherever you want, however you want. These trimmers are lighter than petrol ones and easy to work with. They have very easy maintenance and are the ideal decision for hedges that are located far away from your house with no access to electricity. Of course, they also have some disadvantages.

The main one is the limited battery life. The issue is not unresolvable, however. If you know that you’d need to work for longer hours, then you could simply purchase an additional battery for your telescopic hedge trimmer. This way you would be able to work with one battery while recharging the other. If you are not a fan of that solution, you would just need to plan your work beforehand. Just make sure that your battery is fully charged beforehand and you won’t have an issue.

The good thing about these trimmers is that they are powered with Li-ion batteries. They last longer and provide consistent power even as the battery’s charge wears down. This is a great advantage since we all know how unpleasant it is when you still have some power in your tool but it starts slacking.
If you need freedom of movement, no cord restrictions and no tanks to fill, the best long-reach tool for you is the battery-powered one. It’s no coincidence that they are the most searched type of trimmers in the UK.

Petrol Long Reach Hedge Trimmers Review

Petrol extendable hedge trimmers are the last category of trimmers we are going to look into in this review. These hedge trimmers are the most powerful. If you have a demanding work to be done, the best petrol pole hedge trimmer is what you need. They have the advantage to not be bound by a cable and work with fuel, meaning that if you run out, you’d be able to refuel them for a minute, and not wait hours for it to recharge as with the battery-powered hedge trimmers.

There are two types of engines you could choose from – 4-stroke and 2-stroke ones. The trimmers with a four-stroke engine are very powerful and you won’t have to worry about performance at all. They are easy to refuel as well, as they need only petrol to function. However, these trimmers are quite expensive. The ones with the 2-stroke engines are more affordable and offer power and good performance as well. The disadvantage here is that they are powered by a mixture of oil and petrol in a certain ratio. This could take more time to refill.

Best long reach petrol hedge trimmers are great for commercial use. So, they won’t let you mid-work and won’t need a battery recharge. What is more, the power they offer is way more than the corded or battery-powered pole hedge trimmers could offer.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Extending Hedge Trimmer in UK?

In order to choose the best extendable hedge trimmer in UK, you would need to know a little bit more about what such a tool can offer and what could be the potential drawbacks.

Let’s start with the fact that long reach hedge trimmers could be with a fixed or extendable shaft. Trimmers with a fixed shaft will not let you pick the height on which you work. It could be more difficult to work with if you have different types of hedges on different height. If you have a lot of diversity in your garden, short tall and wide hedges, your best pick would be an extendable shaft. You could manage the length and set it accordingly.

Another perk that you could find in best long reach hedge trimmer is a rotating head. This gives you flexibility while working and allows reaching even awkwardly positioned hedges. Generally, the rotating head will allow you to set the cutting blade at an angle up to 90 degrees to the shaft. This means you can cut the top of the hedge while still staying firmly on the ground.

Extendable or pole hedge cutters could also be used for horizontal cutting. This could be useful if you need to clear thick shrubbery or ground cover plants. You don’t have to crouch or bend down when working at ground level. This is great for people with back problems or if you simply want to save yourself some effort.

Multi-tool Cutters Available in UK

Some long reach models on the UK market nowadays have a multi-tool fitting. This feature gives you the opportunity to attach more tools to the end of the trimmer. For instance, if you need to cut some larger branches, you’d be able to attach a tiny chainsaw to the tool. You could attach a hedge cutter that could handle medium-weight branches with ease or heavy-duty trimmer among other things. The multi-tool fitting trimmers could save you a fortune. You basically pay for one tool and get so much more than that.
If you decide to opt for a multi-tool model, it is best that you choose a trimmer that won’t require tools in order to change the attachment. This will save you a lot of effort and unnecessary headaches.

Perks the best telescopic hedge trimmer has

When purchasing a cutter you should always lift it up to see if the weight is comfortable for you. Have in mind that when working with the tool, your hands are up and you are carrying it. You should make sure that it would be comfortable to use if you want to be efficient. The lightweight models are recommended, especially if you are planning on working long hours. The electric models are the lightest, though the cord is sometimes an issue, so you might have to look at your working conditions and decide on what you could compromise if it is necessary.

Pivoting head

The pivoting head is a must if you plan to use your long reach cutter for different hedges. At least in our humble opinion. It does add to the price, but it is something that really makes the user’s life easier. And in this review, we aim to help you choose a tool that won’t cause you any unnecessary headaches. The option of adjusting the head according to the hedge you are cutting will allow you to be more precise while trimming the sides of your hedges.

Extendable shaft

The extendable shaft is another great perk that is good to have. Telescopic hedge trimmers with telescopic shaft are more flexible and this is what puts them a step above the cutters with a fixed one. Your efficiency and the time you spend on a job is defined mainly on your comfort while working. You can’t last long hours bent over or squatting, just because you want to cut the middle of your hedge. This is why the extendable shaft is so handy and convenient to work with. You adjust the tool according to the job you’re doing, you don’t adjust yourself.

When choosing the best pole hedge trimmer for our needs we usually focus so much on the length of the pole, that we forget to pay attention to the blades. The length of the blade plays a crucial role as well. You would need to consider the type of the hedge, the width, the height as well and choose the length blade accordingly.

Imagine having wide beautiful hedges in your garden, which you try to cut with a short blade. It would take ages to finish. And you will have to put so much effort. Or how about the opposite? If your hedges are not as wide, but you’ve purchased a tool with a long blade. You would be so uncomfortable while working. This is why the blade is so important. If you want a reference – have in mind that if your hedge is 3 meters wide, the blade should be at least 1.5 metres long.

Review Conclusion

All in all, when choosing an extending hedge cutter you have to consider a lot of things and could be a bit overwhelming. With this review, we hope that we’ve shed a little light on what to look for when it comes to purchasing the best long reach hedge trimmer in UK. Remember, your comfort should be your top priority when choosing any kind of tool. Happy gardening, everyone!