As a home gardener, you know that well-shaped hedges serving as fences, screens and edging don't happen by accident. It takes a lot of plant training, pruning and shaping. Taking advantage of a heavy-duty gas-powered hedge trimmer helps you shape rows of hedges with less work and better results.
Our Top 5 Picks for the Best Gas Powered Hedge Trimmers
Gas Powered vs. Electric Hedge Trimmers
What are the differences between a gas-powered and an electric hedge trimmer? The following tips about gas and electric powered trimmers should help you choose which one is more suitable for your needs.
Gas-Powered Hedge Trimmers – Most professional landscapers choose gas-powered hedge trimmers because of their powerful performance and choice of blade length. These trimmers provide precision cutting for professional looking results.
Most gas-powered trimmers feature two reciprocal blades that give you a scissor-like cut. This scissor action gives a clean cut, rather than shredding and pinching the stems on your shrubs. The blades can slice through branches up to three-quarter inches in diameter. Gas hedge trimmers are louder than electric due to the increased power and gasoline engine.
Electric Hedge Trimmers – If you only have a few privet or leafy hedges, then electric hedge trimmers might be all you need. They’re available in either corded or cordless. Corded electric trimmers offer more power than the battery-operated ones, but each cannot trim branches more than a half-inch thick. The stroke power limits electric clippers to light trimming.
What Are the Advantages of Gas Powered Hedge Trimmers?
- Able to clear brush and thickets
- Precision cutting
- Double-sided blades
- Choice of cutter-bar length
- Best choice for large landscaping jobs
- Power to cut through thick, woody hedges
- Deeper, wider cuts
- No electric cord to limit your cutting
Best Practices for Using a Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer
Before using your gas-powered hedge clippers for the first time, consult the safety and operation manual to ensure correct assembly of all parts. After examining the trimmers, prepare the gas and oil mixture for the tank. Your manual will give specific gas to oil ratios needed for your trimmer model. Fill the gas tank in a well-ventilated area or outside.
Starting – Make sure you clear the work area of any obstacles, pets and children before starting the clippers. Place the unit flat on the ground, holding the handle in position with your foot. Refer to the manual for using the choke and starter mechanism.
Safety Considerations – Make sure you wear safety apparel before trimming your hedges. Wear safety goggles, noise-deadening headphones, long-sleeve shirt, long pants, close-toed shoes and heavy gloves. Check the blade guard and hand guard, making sure they’re secure.
Be aware of the hot areas of the unit near the muffler. Check the safety switches and the safety lock that disengages the throttle.
When you carry the hedge trimmer, always have the blade guard over the blades. Also, hold the handle and have the blade facing behind you. If you need to take the clippers in your car, secure them in the upright position to prevent gas spills.
How to Maintain and Store a Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer
The following maintenance and storage tips will keep your gas-powered hedge trimmers operating smoothly for years.
Before and after using your hedge trimmers, lubricate the blades with a lanolin-based spray. This keeps the blades moving smoothly and prevents any sap from building up on the bar surface. Lubrication also prevents the blades from jamming.
After using your hedge trimmers, inspect the gas lines and gas tank for leaks and cracks. Also, check that the air filter is clean.
Remove any debris from the blades and sharpen them, if necessary. Take a look at all the screws, nuts and bolts, tightening any that are loose.
Before storing your gas hedge trimmers for the season, replace the air and fuel filters, as well as the spark plug. Take the trimmers outside and empty the gas tank as much as possible. Start the trimmer and run until all the fuel is out of the tank and fuel lines.
Clean and sharpen the blades. When sharpening the blades, you can use a flat, sharpening file, moving along the cutting edge of the blade. Use foreword strokes and lift the file off the blade when pulling it backward. Once you’ve finished sharpening the cutting blades, turn over the trimmer and smooth the back of the teeth with a whetstone. Now, your gas hedge trimmers are ready for next season.
Our Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer Reviews
#1 – Husqvarna 122HD60 Gas Dual Action Hedge Trimmer
The trimmer is powerful enough to handle branches up to one inch thick, which is a remarkable size to be trimmed with a handheld power tool. The material used for the blades is some of the best which means your trimmer stays sharper longer than other trimmers.
This means more cutting with less sharpening, and ensures that your cuts will be cleaner and your hedges look better. The Smart Start engine allows you to start the engine quickly without fuss, and the anti-vibration feature is excellent to maintain comfort while using the trimmer.
#2 – Poulan Pro PP2822 Gas Powered Dual Sided Hedge Trimmer
The Poulan Pro PP2822 hedge trimmer is quite heavy but it cost lower than a lighter model, and we think it’s worth the difference in weight. It cuts through thick branches without cutting out.
This hedge trimmer also cuts the work time in half because of the length of the blade in conjunction with the quality of the blade eliminates the necessity of making two passes to cut one swipe.
#3 – Tanaka TCH22EBP2 Gas Hedge Trimmer
It has one of the best starting systems, cutting the force necessary to start by 50 percent over other trimmers. This hedge trimmer also features a five-position handle to allow efficient cutting at any angle.
We like this hedge trimmer for its lightweight and high-efficiency. Also, the exhaust faces the front of the trimmer body keeping it away from the plants to avoid burning.
#4 – Weed Eater GHT225 Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer
With a specially designed handle, this hedge trimmer reduces the impact of pulsation of the machine to prevent arm fatigue. It also features a 25cc engine, a 22 inches stainless steel blade and is faster to use because you can cut at any angle, including upside down.
The Weed Eater GHT225 hedge trimmer weighs a mere 13 pounds. The biggest issue with it is the construction, it’s made primarily of plastic and raised some concerns as to its durability.
This machine is also strictly for home use. Uses in a commercial application requires less plastic and more metal, which makes it heavier. So you might prefer the lighter weight Weed Eater trimmer to a commercially rated and other home use brands.
