Hedge trimmer, pole or not?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, May 9, 2021.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2008
    Messages:
    13,906
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Guildford
    Ratings:
    +24,316
    I'm looking at a new hedge trimmer; it will be a DeWalt cordless one but I'm caught between the pole (dewalt dcmph566) or standard type (DCMHT563N).
    Standard unit has more control and presumably lighter but obviously the pole can be used for the same lower branches but with added reach although shorter blade.
    Anyone have some sage advice for me? I've got a petrol pole one at the moment and it's completely driving me nuts on reliability and weight
     
  2. CanadianLori

    CanadianLori Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2015
    Messages:
    9,918
    Occupation:
    Battle Axe
    Location:
    Oakville, Ontario, Canada Zone 5A
    Ratings:
    +31,763
    I believe there is one that you can use as both. Hand held or on the pole. :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

      Joined:
      Jan 9, 2005
      Messages:
      51,038
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Mid Kent
      Ratings:
      +93,730
      I've not tried a cordless hedge trimmer, but are you sure its going to cut through the kind of wood you will be cutting.
      If you have had a petrol one I'm just wondering if your going to find a cordless a bit puny.
       
      • Agree Agree x 3
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,371
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,763
        There are also brands like Worx which share the same battery, you buy the handheld trimmer+ battery and then buy the body-only for a pole trimmer.
         
        • Informative Informative x 2
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jul 3, 2006
          Messages:
          63,473
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired - Last Century!!!
          Location:
          Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +123,760
          If you have a lot of high hedges to cut you need to bear in mind that the cutting motor is towards the end of the pole. So, although it is overall lighter than a petrol one, you have the lever effect from the weight at the top of the pole. A lot of tall hedges can be a strain on the forearm muscles. That's probably OK for a youngster like you but a wrinkly like me has to think of these things :old: :heehee:
           
          • Funny Funny x 4
          • Agree Agree x 2
          • CanadianLori

            CanadianLori Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Sep 20, 2015
            Messages:
            9,918
            Occupation:
            Battle Axe
            Location:
            Oakville, Ontario, Canada Zone 5A
            Ratings:
            +31,763
            My pole trimmer is corded and powerful. It's not like it is used on a weekly basis so the cord is really no hassle. As @pete says it might be referable to have the power and the occasional job of winding up a a long extension cord rather than something that is might be gutless. :scratch:
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • clanless

              clanless Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 20, 2013
              Messages:
              3,201
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Gentleman of leisure.
              Location:
              North Wales
              Ratings:
              +7,631
              I can't really comment as I use both a pole and hand hedge trimmer. As shiney has said - your arms will start to ache after a short while with a pole trimmer. I have fairly high hedges - so need a pole hedge trimmer - but if my hedges were shorter then a hand trimmer would do the job nicely.

              One thing I will say though - the trimmers you are looking at are 18v - I'm not convinced that will be enough power. I have a Bosch 18v strimmer and it is barely powerful enough for cutting back blades of grass. I also have a 40v Swift strimmer which is streets ahead of the Bosch - a far more useful tool - all down to the battery size. More volts more whoompf :thumbsup:.

              In the end we all want more whoompf :smile:.
               
              • Like Like x 3
              • Loofah

                Loofah Admin Staff Member

                Joined:
                Feb 20, 2008
                Messages:
                13,906
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Guildford
                Ratings:
                +24,316
                More whoompf will always be good! The models are chosen as it goes with the rest of my dewalt kit, and the associated batteries, so pretty much restricted to those.
                My petrol one is fine but NOISY and can't maintain the petrol flow so it cuts out; this is happening far too frequently to be of use as the last thing I want to be while mucking about with these things is angry!
                Wish I had extra cash then I'd buy both!!
                 
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                51,038
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +93,730
                Is it impossible to use a corded trimmer @Loofah , I know the cables are a pain, I've chopped through mine a couple of times, but if you get one from the more powerful end of the range the job takes half the time, even if you have to use steps to do it.
                I've got a couple of 70ft or so extension cables I made up myself, can't stand those silly reels, then the trimmer has probably got 60ft of cable on that, minus the bits I've chopped off.:biggrin:
                 
                • Agree Agree x 1
                  Last edited: May 10, 2021
                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  Feb 20, 2008
                  Messages:
                  13,906
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Guildford
                  Ratings:
                  +24,316
                  Definitely not going to be a cabled version Pete!
                   
                  • Informative Informative x 1
                  • Loofah

                    Loofah Admin Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Feb 20, 2008
                    Messages:
                    13,906
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    Guildford
                    Ratings:
                    +24,316
                    Decided to go for the DEWALT DCMHT563N. It will be lighter and I can attack all hedges up to a certain limit! Beyond that reach I can see if I can tolerate using the petrol one and if not just let it grow :) next year I might add the pole version to the collection
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • Friendly Friendly x 1
                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jul 3, 2006
                      Messages:
                      63,473
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired - Last Century!!!
                      Location:
                      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                      Ratings:
                      +123,760
                      Be careful as it's now bird nesting time :blue thumb:

                      How about reducing the height of the hedges to make them easier to control? :)
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Loofah

                        Loofah Admin Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Feb 20, 2008
                        Messages:
                        13,906
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Guildford
                        Ratings:
                        +24,316
                        Some aren't my hedge, others have been reduced, some I just want higher.
                        Not planning on disturbing any birds, just getting a new trimmer. If it stops raining enough I might even get to try it out...
                         
                      • Kristen

                        Kristen Under gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jul 22, 2006
                        Messages:
                        17,534
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Suffolk, UK
                        Ratings:
                        +12,669
                        I have both battery hedge trimmer and a telescopic pole trimmer. The pole trimmer is very heavy to use ... its great for tall vertical sides but I can't sweep it top-to-bottom in an arc, a fitter, younger, version of me would probably get on better. So I prefer the regular trimmer for the majority of the work, and a platform to get up higher, and the pole only for the really tall bits and at times to do the top (angle the blade at 90 degrees and just "walk along the face of the hedge" to do the top)

                        Of my battery-gear (36V) the hedge trimmer lasts the longest, the strimmer next, and the mower and leaf blower the least. So I reckon that bodes well for a somewhat lower powered / 18V battery brand
                         
                      • Loofah

                        Loofah Admin Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Feb 20, 2008
                        Messages:
                        13,906
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Guildford
                        Ratings:
                        +24,316
                        If it ever stops raining I'll be happy to give an opinion on the new kit lol
                         
                        • Funny Funny x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice