Hedges that are properly trimmed are not only attractive but the hedge will be more healthy. Cutting off new shoots makes the hedge grow dense and crisp instead of spindly and weak. A hedge trimmer is the tool of choice if the plant stems to be cut are not any bigger than 3/8 of an inch.
If the trimming job is modest, hand hedge shears may do just fine. This tool is going to give you some upper body exercise, so there are some features to look for. The better hedge shears have cushioned handle grips and a shock-absorbing bumper where the handles come together when in use. This reduces the wear and tear on your arms and joints. Hand hedge shears must be very sharp or the work gets harder and the job gets more ragged. Shears with a serrated blade will usually stay sharp longer. A little oil on the joint joining the two blades keeps the tool working best.
When the hedge trimming job takes more than an hour by hand, a power hedge clipper should be considered. You have much more control of the cut with a power tool and you can do a lot more cutting before you wear yourself out. These power trimmers have two blades, one above the other; the length of the blades determines how wide a swath they can cut. The most popular lengths are 16 to 20 inches.
For more information about hand hedge shears, click here.
