Recommendations for Cordless Hedge Trimmer (or Just a Non Manual Device for Trimming Shrubs and Bushes) - Budget $200

AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 12:39
Last edited 21/07/2021 - 18:44 by 2 other users

Looking to buy a cordless hedge trimmer.

Don't want to spend too much on this thinking below $200 but if there is a big difference in getting a more expensive one then I'm listening tell me all the pros and cons of different cordless hedge trimmers. I guess I'm looking for first hand personal feedback on what is good and what is not and realistic battery run times and battery charge times. This will be for pruning or trimming agapanthus mostly and other shrubs and bushes. Honestly there won't be much hedge trimming but a lot of bush cutting and trimming no tree branches. There is a lot of garden beds overflowing with agapanthus and other shrubbery so looking for an automatic solution as using the manual shears are taking too long and becoming too exhausting.

Avoiding cords mainly so that the kids around the school don't trip and less nuisance with foot traffic and carrying the tool around. Open to petrol but I prefer battery cordless as I don't have a vehicle to go pick up 2 stroke or 4 stroke petrol so charging from the outlet is best. So what's good to pick and what's bad or good to avoid. No recommendations for telescopic pole trimmers required.

Looking at Bunnings there are a few cheap options with good ratings from OZITO to RYOBI so if anyone has any anecdotes or information to steer me to any specific product or model I'm all ears.

Thank you.

Home & Garden Hedge Trimmer

Comments

  • hothed on 21/07/2021 - 12:48
    +3

    With a budget of $200, as you've mentioned just get ozito or ryobi. It'll be the only products that fit your budget.
    Got any other cordless gear? Any intentions of buying a cordless drill/impact driver etc?

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 13:47

      After doing more reading I am thinking maybe I should be getting a shear shrubber instead.

      Not sure as the main intention of this device will be for cutting back agapanthus plants and other similar shrubs.

      Not much hedge trimming will actually be done as far as I can remember I just assumed that the hedge trimmer could be repurposed to do some thick shrub trimming.

      Also what is the maintenance of the blades and device like I read that some of the blades rust over time is this correct which means I might have to buy some motor oil and lubricate it from time to time or after every use?

      Yes looking at Kogan also now my options look like RYOBI, OZITO or MAKITA. I wouldn't trust any of the other smaller brands unless anyone has any good anecdotes.

  • Member 0230 on 21/07/2021 - 13:17
    +2

    Can you stretch the budget just $49 more?

    We moved from a (10yo?) corded Ryobi to this cordless model Ryobi RHT1855 — the difference is like night and day. Cutting through pittosporum and other bushes almost effortlessly.

    Our initial worry was that it would run out of power before we got the job done. Turns out we humans ran out of energy first!

    4-6 year warranty is also excellent.

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 13:54

      It depends if the school will reimburse it or approve it but I guess so maybe if the tool will be kept to be used on the grounds for decades to come.

      I am reading that some of the blades rust and need motor oil maintenance do you know if this is true and is the case in your scenario?

      If your recommendation for the more expensive item is high I may consider it but honestly I'm trying not to spend too much in the off chance this comes out of my own pocket and not work which means some random careless reckless fool can easily break it and use it incorrectly making the expensive purchase a nuisance and regretful purchase.

      Having worked with some people I am less inclined to bring my own tools or buy new stuff depending on the site and location and more importantly who might have access to the equipment.

      Some people just brute force their job while others know how to take care of it.

      Oh one other clarification I have to emphasise is it will be solely mostly for agapanthus and other bushes / shrubs so there will actually be no hedge trimming per se I just assumed the hedge trimmer could double as a shrub bush trimmer also.

      Basically a step down from a chainsaw which I don't think can really do bushes and shrubs although some of these overgrowths can get pretty tough and thick.

      • Member 0230 on 21/07/2021 - 14:23

        I don't have a lot of experience with trimming agapanthus, but seeing that the RHT1855 is rated to cut through branches up to 22mm thick, I imagine it would work fine — more experienced gardeners can chime in.

        As for rust… this hasn't been a real problem. Where did you read that please? Preventive maintenance is a good thing.

  • Austaurean on 21/07/2021 - 13:21

    If your hedge isnt extensive the Ozito will be ok, (i have one) but if you have extensive hedging, then spend more for the Ryobi 36v. If the cordless is as good as the corded (i have the corded), then get that… otherwise see about the petrol versions.

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 14:00
      +1

      After reading a few other threads on whirlpool I am forgoing the corded after hearing all the accidents and a few mentioned the reduced noise factor going battery and the fact you don't have a petrol motor in your face I am very convinced to go with cordless battery for now especially since refuelling the petrol supplies will be another issue to worry about which for me is a bit bothersome since I don't drive.. For the moment.

      So battery cordless is best for my scenario for noise and convenience reasons.

  • skid on 21/07/2021 - 13:53

    Personally, I'd use manual shearers for agapanthus as they'll only take a couple mins and you won't have to fuss around with oiling, cleaning, keeping dry, battery charging blah blah.

    If you must, the $89 Ozito PXC will be more than sufficient. If you want to go all out, there is a twin battery longer version for $150 but it's thin on the ground.

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 13:57

      I thought that too myself but after a few hours of going it manually and looking at how much I have done and how much effort was required I am considering other options.

      Most likely I will still keep the manual option especially when I have time and it is very quiet like it is now at the schools during all this lockdown but when I need to get it done fast so I can quickly move on to another task I may consider bringing out the automatic option which is why I created this.

      Yes I need to learn about the lubricating and maintenance part but honestly using tools with motors is quite fun and sometimes takes out the stress involved with going manual and sometimes even makes it fun which is huge when you are doing this every day I guess.

  • whitelie on 21/07/2021 - 14:03

    Depends how much scope you want in terms of branch thickness. If you're only cutting thin things like you say, the shrub shears will do the job IMO.

    I have this one and find it pretty good. The one for $249 would be better again but sounds like overkill for what you'll be requiring.

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 14:51

      Co worker has a makita blue corded one so will try that tomorrow otherwise back to the manual method.

      Some of the shrubs especially the closer you get to the base are pretty thick so will see how it goes.

      The overkill option might be required for some of these thicker ones as it won't just be the leaves and stems I will be cutting.

      Will see how the blue corded makita hedge trimmer handles it.

      Will need to clean it and lubricate it between uses I heard.

  • Euphemistic on 21/07/2021 - 15:24

    I have a Ryobi 18v cordless pole hedge trimmer. Works great, would recommend. Battery lasts for ages. i upgraded from a Ryobi 18v normal hedge trimmer (not pole extension type) purely because different house had taller hedges.

    Ryobi also has a gold range of 18v cordless gear if you want to share battery with other stuff.

    Don’t bother with corded or petrol.

    • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 19:49

      Can you link me that exact model it sounds great even though I don't need the extra length I do need the extra cutting power.

      • Euphemistic on 21/07/2021 - 20:06

        the pole hedge trimmer is pretty much the same as the normal hedge trimmer, just reaches a lot further. Ie it doesn’t have any more power or speed, just a loooong handle. I wish I’d kept my regular hedge trimmer because the pole version is more difficult to use in close quarters.

        • AlienC on 21/07/2021 - 21:09

          Ah ok gotcha so it's strength is really only it's extra reach and nothing in the battery or power strength in cutting department.

  • tbone74 on 21/07/2021 - 15:25

    If you check the specifications of the hedge trimmers, it will show the maximum cutting capacity. That's mainly referring to the space between the blades - in other words, how large an object can fit between the blades. Even though the agapanthus leaves are thin and don't require much power to cut through, they can be relatively wide. You'll probably find a hedge trimmer will do the job but may need 2 or 3 passes over each area at varying angles to actually cut all the way through (across?) the leaves.

    For the above reason I suspect the shrub shears might not work that well.

    Also be aware that the larger hedge cutters have a kind of saw section at the end. The RHT1855 somebody else linked to has it. Check the second last photo where it has cut through a small branch. The blades are straight at the ends, that's the saw section. The rest of the blades are rounded instead of straight, that's the normal trimmer section. They can't cut through anything really thick like an actual saw but they might help with the thicker section you mentioned at the base of the agapanthus.

  • tbone74 on 21/07/2021 - 15:33

    In response to your comments about needing to maintain (eg. clean and lubricate). Doing the maintenance on hedge trimmers is probably a little more fiddly because of the many smaller blades, but other than that I wouldn't consider required maintenance a reason not to go for hedge trimmers because really the same maintenance is required on manual shears or any other bladed tool.

    • Euphemistic on 21/07/2021 - 20:07

      I just give mine a squirt with wd40 after each use, then run it for a few second to distribute it between the blades.

  • Austaurean on 21/07/2021 - 17:59

    Battery units are still quite loud.. also WD40 and a good rag after each use, spray the blade for a few seconds and rub down to remove grime..

    Those that have used the Ryobi cordless, how good are they? I like the corded one i have, except for nicking a few extension cords..

    I have the 36v 5ah mower, so would like the 36v hedger

    • Euphemistic on 21/07/2021 - 20:09
      +1

      I was surprised at how good the 18v Ryobi hedger is. It seems to run a little slower than petrol or 240v versions but does the job. I’d guess the 36v version would be a bit more powerful or quicker or both.

      • Member 0230 on 22/07/2021 - 12:54

        Ditto re 18v Ryobi, specifically this ONE+ model that's a special order only from Bunnings. More powerful than the 10yo Ryobi corded it replaced.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2022 - 10:20

    For 1.8-2m high hedge, Ryobi 18V standard hedge trimmer or Ryobi 18V pole hedge trimmer?

    • Euphemistic on 12/12/2022 - 11:32
      +1

      Either. Standard is lighter and more manoeuvrable. Pole makes it easier to reach. I have used both and the pole version is my go to for extra reach.

      For our 2m high hedge it’s easier to get the tips of hedges. I hold it parallels to ground above my head and do a few passes getting closer to the hedge with each pass.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2022 - 14:37

    Thanks, I have tried both at Bunnings. Pole trimmer is too heavy (about 2xstandard trimmer). If I purchase standard one, I think would hold it 45 degree (even pole trimmer is not 90 degree parellel to ground, around 45-60 degree to ground) over my arms to make the tip like sharpened pencil (triangle, cubic, conic vhatever) rather than flat top.
    So the 1.8m of hedge trunk would be around 2.2m high. Even a 2m tall person cannot look over a 2m hedge unless jump.

    • Euphemistic on 12/12/2022 - 17:39
      +1

      Prior to getting the pole hedger I used the standard one while standing on a ladder. As it has a double trigger mechanism to make you use both hands I stepped on of them down so I could use one hand and get a better reach.

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