Table of Contents
1. Make sure the power hedge trimmer blade can stand up to the task.
While you may not need a power hedge trimmer specifically designed for traffic control, power trimmers styled for driving or street use are useful for those who want to maximize the value of nearby plants and trees. Unless you have an extensive array of hedges or traffic calming, be sure that a model with low-voltage spades built into the blade will perform the function you need when you need it most: from shoving a lumberjack’hog under a speed hump, to quickly snipping large trees back into the ground. Outdoor brands with the best reputation include utility-level PowerScythe, Electric Timber, and TuffTuff power tools, but classic brand EZ-Shaper still performs convincingly in most domestic applications (see more details in the next section, “Do I Need a Classic Power Hedge Trimmer?”). The same goes for the USDCA Jeep Renegade pickup. Two features that can help make a difference in the life of your hedges are gauge cords and squeegee Safelight. Gauge cords offer a simple, low-cost way to line your trimmer’s power cords (usually banana-style, but most manufacturers offer supplemental gauges to segregate them.) Teeth that crack or fall out of place while dealing with dense vegetation make a similar mess for the trimmer, so a strong and sturdy cord is crucial. Stop ripping up a snag below your planting bed if you use an electric fence or other barbed-wire escapement—it’ll just leave the trimming job even more of a pain. A power bender is happy to help, too, equipped with included gauges that test electrical work done by the trimmer, allowing the product to alert you if a problem arises (most brands stress the need to check the cords regularly). Safelight squeegee attachments are included for changing the actual landscape power in the power hedge itself, drastically reducing the daily power usage of your landscape and leaving you free to schedule more time for mowing and maintenance.
2. Encompass your yard with a power hedge.
You don’t need a power hedge just for your plant roots, but you do need a few raised areas of hedge exposed slightly above grade for larger trees or areas with lots of shrubs or small plants. In most cases, this needed area will require a scrim that shields the hedge offset from traffic on adjacent pavement, trimming it to any desired height. You’ll also need to lay down a hedge with enough soil in it for roots to grow in. Hopefully, you’ll already have lots of of vacant farm land—having a few extra bushes, shrubs, and trees around your property will bolster your property’s asset value. Most power hedges balance work near the roadway with residential landscaping for more privacy. Incorporate a few gum trimmers into your landscaping plan each spring as an easy way to achieve the desired level of privacy.
3. Mark your angles.
These days, many power hedge trimmers come equipped with online video and picture guides to help buyers make measurements. Choose the one that fits your project more closely, and then keep track of your daily adjustments—and follow the factory manuals! Like all trimmers, power hedges are prone to damage from overuse, so no matter how minute the adjustments, always maintain a safe distance between the trimmer and household roots. Some brands add an operating temperature gauge to help shading between the hedge and repetitive mowing sessions preserve necessary warmth in colder regions. A few brands offer models with special attachments for lightweight landscapers at great trimmer prices. Examples include 4b (smaller) and Areso (larger)—you can use these trimmers to quickly add landscaping to their regular routines, applying fencing and scrubbing, for instance. A few DIYers use flexible wire fencing to groom unruly areas, expanding their landscaping options for areas like patios and patios behind houses.
4. Partner your power hedge operation with a construction professional.
Hedges are usually the easiest to maintain, but you have to be patient with them. The circuitry in a power hedge can easily misbehave, eventually overloading and reducing the trimmer to unrecognizable filth. Trimmers and hedges normally are written with a lifespan of 5 years or higher, but wear interrupts that calculation by barricading it in an early grave brought on by inadequate maintenance or unexpected weather conditions. If your hedge needs repairs, consider a contractor with experience with hedges and power-scrubbing supplies, then report back on the details before you take your finger off the dirt.
