Hedge To Big

My hedge in my front garden is getting too wide I need to take at least eight inches from the width it is 18ft long and 5ft high, I wonder if there is any easy way of doing this I have a electric hedge trimmer but I think it is not powerful enough for this job, someone suggested a small chain saw but that seems a bit dangerous to me.

 

Hi Arty

You don't say what your hedge is planted with but I suspect you're right - a chain saw isn't really suitable for types of hedge which don't have thick branches or trunks. I've seen professionals reduce a 4m high cotoneaster hedge to 1.8m high with chain saws but the trunks were about 20cms thick!

For smaller shrubs, I think it would be difficult to a) see what you were doing and b) control the saw and c) control the cut material.

Better to get some long handled loppers and take your time!