Petrol Hedge trimmer

[chris954]

I have a particularly large hedge that needs some attention over the next few weeks and my electric hedge trimmer just isn't up to it so am looking for a petrol one to get through the thick branches. I did think about hiring one for a couple of days but you can guarantee it will tip it down if I do and also its not much more to buy one than it would cost to hire one. Anyhow has anybody got any recommendations for one up to about £160 or so, are the sub £100 ones any good?

 

[ecoleman]

I swear by Stihl for all my petrol garden tools. Although the Stihl hedge trimmer is around £195

 

[Tori_T]

I picked up a Mac Allister from B&Q about six months ago. It was for dealing with overgrown hedge, and woody undergrowth a strimmer won't touch.
Started first time out of the box, doesn't overheat, or cut out. 20mm max cutting diameter.

are the sub £100 ones any good?

From reading the reviews from people who tried them, no.

 

[Mr Bump]

Hairy Wife?

 

[plloydie]

I bought a Ryobi petrol hedge trimmer 10 years ago from B&Q use it 3 or 4 times a year to cut a rather large laurel hedge. It's never been serviced and still going strong. I find the weight though is making it more difficult for me to use to to my knackered elbow.

Oh and garden maintenance firms wanted at least £140 a time to cut it and remove the cuttings

 

[Tori_T]

I looked at the customer reviews for B&Q Ryobi trimmers before buying, and they range from excellent to awful. Current quality control seems to be non-existent. :/

 

[Craig1912]

I bought a Ryobi petrol hedge trimmer 10 years ago from B&Q use it 3 or 4 times a year to cut a rather large laurel hedge. It's never been serviced and still going strong. I find the weight though is making it more difficult for me to use to to my knackered elbow.

Oh and garden maintenance firms wanted at least £140 a time to cut it and remove the cuttings

Had a Ryobi for a similitude time and always starts first time - think I have put a new spark plug in it and some grease in the gear box

 

[BBR]

I swear by Stihl for all my petrol garden tools. Although the Stihl hedge trimmer is around £195

Anything less than Stihl doesn't last IMO.

 

[dejongj]

I quite like my Honda 4 stroke but like Stihl doesn't really fit the budget. Got a Ryobi 4 stroke with extension as well. Also very very good. But again abbot further up in the budget.

 

[TopBanana]

I've got one of the Ryobi Expand-it engines and accessories - it works well for me although the hedge trimmer attachment isn't able to cut as big branches as my old Husqvana hedge trimmer could. It means that the same engine is a hedge trimmer, pole saw, and strimmer. Works well for me as it means I only have to have petrol in one machine, and servicing is only on one machine etc etc

 

[chris954]

I've got one of the Ryobi Expand-it engines and accessories - it works well for me although the hedge trimmer attachment isn't able to cut as big branches as my old Husqvana hedge trimmer could. It means that the same engine is a hedge trimmer, pole saw, and strimmer. Works well for me as it means I only have to have petrol in one machine, and servicing is only on one machine etc etc

I was looking at one of those and wondered if the hedge trimmer might not be as powerful as a dedicated trimmer. I quite liked the idea of everything in one package nice and neat though, I could do with a brush cutter and the strimmer is handy but I think I might splash out on something like the stihl, I've bought cheap stuff before and regretted it when I found its not up to the job.

 

[Craig1912]

I was looking at one of those and wondered if the hedge trimmer might not be as powerful as a dedicated trimmer. I quite liked the idea of everything in one package nice and neat though, I could do with a brush cutter and the strimmer is handy but I think I might splash out on something like the stihl, I've bought cheap stuff before and regretted it when I found its not up to the job.

I've got both. The stand alone hedge trimmer is more powerful. I bought the expand it unit because if the strimmer and bush cutter - both Ryobi units have never let me down and never had a service.

 

[mogsman]

Stihl every time. I bought a Stihl HS45, its the low end model in their range. It does the job better than the cheaper mountfield I bought a few years ago. I have a Stihl strimmer from the 90's that still starts and runs well.