What is the safest way to cut a tall hedge?

This is a question that is often asked!

Many homeowners have various types and heights of hedges bordering their property.

However any hedge will require trimming at least once a year - this is where the problem arises.

High hedges present a problem - how do you cut the top or sides of a high hedge SAFELY?

The answer is certainly NOT to to stand on a stepladder or lean an extension ladder into the hedge whilst wielding an electric hedgecutter, as this risks the ladder over balancing or falling through the hedge, with the possibility of serious injury both from the fall or contact with the sharp edges of the cutter. That's without the risk of accidentally cutting through the electrical cable....

A much safer option for working at height is a platform step such as those available from Henchman  - their range can be viewed here:  http://www.henchman.co.uk/productcategory.jsf?id=1

An excellent product indeed but perhaps prohibitively expensive for an item that as a homeowner may get used for a total of one or two days a year.

Certainly if your hedge is high, deep or wide then a petrol long reach hedge trimmer may be required. These can be hired from a local hire centre but are very powerful and sharp pieces of equipment and must be treated with respect.

Working a piece of equipment like this at height when you are unfamiliar with it may be dangerous and can certainly be very physically exhausting.

Then you have the rubbish to collect up and dispose of once you have completed the trimming...

Perhaps the safest way to get your high, low or wide hedges safely cut is to employ a local contractor who will have the correct equipment, knowledge and experience to ensure that your hedges look perfect, without the risk of injury and the added advantage that all the waste will be removed too.

If you need a hedge trimming contractor in Spalding, Lincs or any of the surrounding towns and villages, do not hesistate to call us at ANP Services Spalding - for more information on our hedge trimming services see our website www.anpservicesspalding.com 

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Adam Pilgrim

Comments

  • Mayby im lucky but with me being small and light i can usualy walk on top of leylandi hedges and cut them while im on top of them.

This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Tim Bucknall posted a discussion
What do people find is the best lawn turf?  I use Rolawn Medallion.  Sometimes it's excellent, sometimes less so (in particular it can contain AMG).  What have people found consistently good?Cheers
1 minute ago
Andrew Coates replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"Morning Peter.thankyou for your reply. The op delay was out of my hands unfortunately,admin in the hospitals had got lost,that's from last June unfortunately.so,moving forward, I'm not ,I'm still on a waiting list to see the surgeon,so in the…"
7 minutes ago
John F replied to Peter sellers's discussion Stihl hsa40 review
"Seems good value Peter having Two batteries .
Suffering from bouts of tennis elbow it would have being ideal at the time , The lightest I could find was the Gtech weighing around 2.14 kg with battery in which enabled me to carry on working .
It's…"
2 hours ago
Peter sellers posted a discussion
Thought others may find this of use - suffering from health issues so bought Stihl HSA 40 battery hedge trimmer came as a kit with two AS2 batteries and charger for £174 inc vat ,weighs  just over 2kg which was the main factor.Being used to Echo…
2 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless hedge cutter
"Update - well took myself off to dealers to try the aforementioned Stihl HLA 40 and found it to be totally unbalanced front end heavy with the rubber sleeve for your supporting arm too far away from the trigger basically a design disaster. We know…"
5 hours ago
Andrew Coates and Max alam are now friends
18 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
KAR UK has announced the launch of its brand-new K-Series Hose Reel Trolley – a robust, British-built solution designed to meet the demands of modern turf care and industrial washdown applications.Handmade in the UK by a local manufacturing partner…
yesterday
Billybop replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless hedge cutter
"quite fancy that Stihl 150B looks good but £700 would only use it very occasionally on the jobs I have already (due to lack of time had to cut down on existing work and not really taking on new jobs) Had the HLA135 for a few seasons now which is a…"
yesterday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless hedge cutter
"I use a tripod ladder with a stihl hs87t 40inch bar. Makes a far superior job than long reach I hate those bloody things horrible to use"
Sunday
Graham Taylor replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"That really is very sad to have to stop the work you must enjoy.  I'd be really upset and I'm 72!   Don't like to sound pessimistic but would it be an  idea to just pack up the gardening work for something less physically draining?  Might be wrong…"
Saturday
simon caine replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless hedge cutter
"I use the Sthil combi unit with the henchmen harness it's a excellent combination you can hedge cut all day with no fatigue "
Saturday
John F replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"Hi Andrew 
A simple approach would be to find the right domestic properties where you can job share and invoice the customer separately .
You are probably looking at the larger gated properties where you can multi task but allocate your individual…"
Saturday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
At Centurion Club in St Albans, course manager Andy Garland knows every inch of the golf course because he helped build it from the ground up. Today, as the club continues to host some of the biggest events in professional golf, Andy relies on…
Friday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GroundsFest is delighted to announce an expanded partnership with the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), which will see the organisation again become the exclusive sponsor of The Landscape Zone at GroundsFest 2026.The strengthened…
Friday
Richard Taylor posted a blog post
You’re invited to the biggest one-day “Live-and-Running” Ground Care and Turf Machinery show in the country on Wednesday 24th June in Buckinghamshire.See and compare machinery from over 40 manufacturers of mowers, turf care equipment, hand-held kit,…
Friday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless hedge cutter
"Telescopic, cordless Tim its only for light work. Probably end up with Stihl HLA 40 it does not have the motor at the handle end but only weighs 3.5kg with battery so may be ok. Apart from the Stihl 150  that Billybop suggested I can't see anything,…"
Thursday
More…

Turf

What do people find is the best lawn turf?  I use Rolawn Medallion.  Sometimes it's excellent, sometimes less so (in particular it can contain AMG).  What have people found consistently good?Cheers

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 1

Stihl hsa40 review

Thought others may find this of use - suffering from health issues so bought Stihl HSA 40 battery hedge trimmer came as a kit with two AS2 batteries and charger for £174 inc vat ,weighs  just over 2kg which was the main factor.Being used to Echo…

Read more…
1 Reply · Reply by John F 2 hours ago
Views: 12

Cordless hedge cutter

Looking for cordless hedge cutter with the motor at the battery/handle end and telescopic . Find the ones with the motor at the blade end unbalanced, and before anyone says it - no the battery does not counter balance it well.  Not bothered on brand.

Read more…
8 Replies · Reply by Peter sellers 5 hours ago
Views: 313