Not sure where to start when picking a hedge trimmer for your garden? Read on for our no-fuss guide.

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Hedge trimmers are one of many tools that can give anyone the power of the green thumb by making gardening far easier.

They’re a must-have for keeping your hedges and bushes looking picture perfect and preventing your home from looking like a scary, overgrown fortress.

RELATED: No-fuss lawnmowers for tidy yards

Pop away the secateurs and save yourself some much-needed time and energy – these trimmers aren’t as scary as they look and they’re sure to become your new favourite tool, according to their many adoring fans.

BEST ELECTRIC HEDGE TRIMMER GUIDE BLACK+DECKER 36V Powercommand Hedge Trimmer Kit, Amazon Australian, $219 (RRP$255)

Boasting an impressive 4.4-star rating from over 2,900 reviews, this BLACK+DECKER Hedge Trimmer is a proven crowd-pleaser. It has a 550mm blade and 22mm blade gap suitable for larger hedges, and comes with a 36V slide pack rechargeable battery. The durable hardened steel dual action blade is up to tackling hefty twigs, and the handle is designed for maximum comfort and control.

“Glad I went with a 36 volt instead of an 18 volt for a little extra power, as it trims my hedge with ease. Good battery life as well, even on max turbo,” wrote one five-star reviewer.

Bosch AHS 50-20 LI Cordless 18V Hedgecutter, Amazon Australia

Providing cordless mobility with maximum power, this Bosch hedge trimmer combines a 500mm blade with 20mm tooth openings to help you cut through twigs efficiently. The intelligent Bosch Syneon chip offers longer runtime, while quick-cut technology and an anti-blocking system helps you sweep through debris effortlessly. It comes with a battery and charger for your convenience.

“I’ve got 43m of privet hedge (grows REALLY fast) 1m wide and 1.2m high, so it’s a fair amount of hedge,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “I normally take two days to do the hedge but with this I did it in one hit because (a) it wasn’t so tiring and (b) no stupid cord to get in the way. The Bosch is incredibly easy to manipulate. The big surprise was the battery. I figured I’d have to charge it at least twice or maybe three times to get all the hedge done, but I only had to do it once – while I had a bit of lunch. While most battery trimmers are sold as a “skin” (no battery – that’s extra), the Bosch came with battery and charger which makes it really good value”.

Makita XHU07Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 24” Hedge Trimmer, Tool Only, Amazon Australia, $272.45 (RRP$300.17)

With its 610mm blade, this Makita trimmer is up to the task of large hedges. It has a five-position rotating rear handle for comfort during vertical and angle trimming, and three speed options you can match to the job at hand. The powerful brushless motor makes things quicker, and the anti-vibration design helps with precision cutting. It doesn’t come with a battery, but any Makita 18V LXT battery will do the trick – we recommend this 6.0Ah one for increased runtime.

It has a 4.8-star average rating from over 100 reviews, including this five-star entry: “First off, if you do any amount of hedge trimming work and were baulking at the price of this tool, the rotating handle alone makes it worth the price of admission. They made it simple to adjust, it will accommodate both right and left handed users, and after about 10 minutes of using it, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it, for all the contortions it saves you. Genius”.

BEST AFFORDABLE HEDGE TRIMMER Greenworks 24-Inch 40V Cordless Hedge Trimmer, Tool Only, Amazon Australia, $95.50

With this Greenworks tool ringing in at under $100, it’s a great value option. It has a 610mm dual action blade with an ergonomically-designed rotating rear handle. You can buy a battery separately which can be compatible with other Greenworks tools, saving yourself money in the long run.

It has a 4.3-star rating from over 100 reviews, with one five-star reviewer writing, “This hedge trimmer impressed me with its ability to cut through old, thick sticks and still do well on the fine green leaves. it took sometimes a few passes on the finer stuff to get precision, but its light weight and long reach 24” bar made it easy. I also enjoyed the handle/blade rotation ability (but only 90 degree increments) as I could cut with blade upside down above my head with handle grip on the side”.

BEST TELESCOPIC HEDGE TRIMMER Bosch UniversalHedgePole 18 Hedge Cutter, Amazon Australia, $199

For safe trimming of large, tall hedges without the need for a wobbly ladder, a telescopic or pole hedge trimmer is what you need – and this Bosch model is a top-notch one. Lightweight yet powerful, it has a diamond-ground blade that can cut through branches up to 16mm in diameter. Its head pivots 120 degrees so you can trim along the sides, bottom and top of the hedge with comfort and ease, and clever anti-blocking and Syneon chip technology allow for efficiency. You’ll need an 18 volt lithium-ion battery to go with it – if you don’t already have one at home, you can purchase one here.

With a 4.2-star average rating from over 700 reviews, you can trust the quality. One five-star reviewer wrote, “I have very tall hedges, so difficult to reach. The Bosch hedge pole was ideal for the job. It does get very tiring waving the pole about with the trimmer on the long end of the pole. Nothing can be done about that, it is the problem of having tall hedges. As for the batteries, I ran out of steam long before they did! It cuts very well, all in all a very good machine”.

BEST PETROL HEDGE TRIMMER Giantz Chainsaw Hedge Trimmer Tool, Harvey Norman, $375

If you prefer a petrol-powered unit, this chainsaw hedge trimmer set has a powerful 40cc and four-stroke full crank engine. It comes with an extension pole, hedge trimmer, brush cutter, whipper snipper, chain, and safety set – so you’re fully equipped to tackle the entire garden. The quick connect couplings can be used to connect up to nine attachments and it’s easy to switch between.

WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF HEDGE TRIMMERS?

The three types of hedge trimmers are electric, cordless and gas-powered.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A HEDGE TRIMMER?

The best hedge trimmer for you depends on your hedge trimming needs. Here’s what to keep in mind before you hit “add to cart”:

• Blade length: A longer blade can make it easier to trim your hedges evenly, or to work efficiently over larger areas.

• Tooth spacing: Wider spacing between blade teeth means the trimmer is better suited to wider twigs and branches, although it’s worth noting that even a heavy-duty trimmer won’t be able to cut through thick branches.

• Power source: As mentioned, you can choose corded, cordless, or gas-powered trimmers. Gas generally offers the highest power, but if you’d prefer to go green and spend less on gas, corded and cordless offer an impressive amount of bite. Cordless gives you the greatest manoeuvrability.

• Power level: Higher-powered trimmers are better for efficiently pruning larger, tougher hedges and bigger gardens, so consider the size of yours and buy accordingly.

• Handle adjustability: Trimmers with handles that rotate can make the tool much more comfortable to wield at various angles. You can also get pole or telescopic trimmers that feature the blade at the end of an extendible pole, suitable for tall hedges.

CAN I USE A HEDGE TRIMMER TO CUT BRANCHES?

Hedge trimmers are primarily designed for lightweight twigs and leaves on bushes and hedges – so any twig larger than about 19mm in diameter is likely to be more than your trimmer can handle, and in this case, you’re better off with a pair of pruning shears or loppers.

Looking for more gardening recommendations? Check out our guides to the best electric lawnmowers, the best leaf blowers, and the best garden tools.

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