Hedge Trimmers
Hedge trimmers can be one of your most important lawn tools; they are your best option for keeping hedges and shrubs cut uniformly, and done correctly, you can have beautiful shrubs all the time without spending an inordinate amount of time keeping them up. Hedge trimmers can be dangerous if not used properly, but if you use them correctly, they will be a powerful tool for keeping your lawn and gardens beautiful.
If you are using electric hedge trimmers, you will need to plug them into an outlet that is close enough to your work that you can maintain sufficient slack in the cord. You will be making up and down movements, as well as side to side movement, and you will want full freedom of movement. Hold the cord over your non dominant arm, keeping it safely away from the work you are doing so that you do not accidentally cut into the cord.
Holding your hedge trimmers, start trimming at the bottom, moving in upward motions. You can choose how deep you wish to trim based on the shape you are seeking in your shrubs and based on how deep your foliage is. If you trim too deeply, you will lose the foliage and expose the woody stems inside. Many people prefer their hedges smaller at the bottom and larger at the top, but the shape of your hedges is ultimately your choice.
Continuing to start at the bottom, move your trimmers to the top of the shrubs. Once you have obtained the basic shape you are seeking, stand back and look for details like stray branches or uneven areas that you can trim as needed.
Move on to the very top by holding the hedge trimmers straight out in front of you, using a ladder if necessary. Move the trimmers from side to side, creating a flat or rounded top as desired. If you choose to round off the top of the shrub, start about two inches from the top and move the trimmers obliquely to the top. Continue from all angles until you have created the rounded look you are seeking.
For those who would like to avoid the concerns of cutting the cord as they trim their shrubs, there are gas powered trimmers available. These operate on a mixture of gas and oil, and will efficiently trim your hedges with no danger of electrical shock.
