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Battery Operated Hedge trimmers
Rueberue
Posts: 9
Hi, I am thinking of investing in a set of battery operated hedge trimmers. I have an acre of garden which includes plenty of brambles, nettles as well as some hedges. I have a large stiller strimmer, but find it a bit big and heavy for some of the jobs, and also hurts my back. What do you use your hedge trimmers for? Do you think they will slice through bramble thickets and nettles? Also which brand to you favour?
Thanks Ruth
0
Posts
I have a Bosch with lithium battery. It'd slice through bramble and nettle. Laurel can be a struggle if the branches are thick. You can always hire a heavy duty one for the tough jobs, if any.
Bear in mind that batteries cost a fortune, so if you have several battery tools, you might want to choose the same brand.
That is a very good point re the same brand - which other tools do you have that are battery operated and how do you rate them to petrol ones. I am also wanting hedge trimmers that aren't going to break my back! Do you find yours heavy to use?
I have a cordless drill, hedge trimmer and strimmer. If you do DIY, a cordless drill is well worth it. You can also get cordless edging shears, but I think they use smaller batteries.
I am thinking of about this particular model of a Bosch AHS 35-15 LI 10.8v cordless model. Will have to investigate if the 10.8v is interchangeable with drills and other products by Bosch. I have a friend who is a gardener by trade, who gets enlisted for the native hedge and big jobs, but I need something that I can use to slice through persistent areas of brambles, nettles, and giving things a haircut!
I have a similar Bosch model but I don't find it any good for brambles, unless it's new young growth. It just doesn't have the power to get through thick woody stems. The batteries only last a couple of years and are expensive to replace. It does the new growth on Leyland cypress quite nicely but jams if it meets a thicker branch; the same with my Rosa rugosa hedge. It's great for box. I use a battery-operated strimmer for nettles, unless I can persuade someone to use the big petrol one!
I have the Bosch AHS 48 with an 18V battery. Loppers will handle thick branches, the Bosch does the rest. One charge easily does about 20m of mixed hedge including laurel, hazel, Forsythia and Cotoneaster. Batteries last ages unless you use them regularly e.g. every day. I think you can Google a figure for the number of discharges. For individual lithium batteries used in torches, 500 complete cycles is I think normal.
Be aware some others have better reach for tall and deep hedges.
In terms of weight, go to B&Q or Homebase and handle them. B&Q seem to have occasional sales with some bargains. Sometimes you get an extra battery for free, normally £60.