Hedge trimmer recommendations

I started trimming the bushes at the neighborhood entrance and needed a cordless trimmer. I explored various types and almost bought a Stihl gas. I looked at the DeWalt battery powered trimmer and since I already had batteries that's what I bought.
I've had it for about three years. It's light and works well. People with Makita tools like them too, so if you already have batteries it seems like a Makita hedge trimmer would be a good choice.
I spray the blades on my DeWalt with WD40 or a light oil after each use.

20250520_070425.webp
 
...People with Makita tools like them too, so if you already have batteries it seems like a Makita hedge trimmer would be a good choice...
That's almost certainly what I will end up doing. If I find some killer end of summer sale, I might go a different direction. We'll see.
 
If you already have the Makita batteries then it's a no brainer and get the Makita. Probably will do what you need to.

Now, if you want to be SUPER serial I can recommend this bad boy! Echo HC.

DwN3p73.jpg


However, it will wear out your arms easily. I'm not near man enough to operate it long and should of just bought a battery unit that matched my cordless tools. Although, it makes those nice noises...
 
Send her out with it the next time the bushes need a trim ;).
LOL...years ago she volunteered to do some trimming with it, and ending up cutting the extension cord in half. She asked if I could fix it so she could keep trimming, so I spliced the cord back together. She proceeded to cut it in half again, and officially gave up. A brilliant con on her part.
 
I expect that the products all have literature and owner's manuals which state how thick the material can be to cut.

Rather than guess, why not look at the resources and let that be your guide?
Because manufacturers want to produce competitive specs, but that doesn't tell you how much wear and tear it's putting on the product or what repair cost or effort is needed later, or if parts will even be available when the time comes. I'm sure they want the product to outlast the warranty, but I want it to outlast that by multiple times. Am I being conservative? Yes!
 
Last edited:
LOL...years ago she volunteered to do some trimming with it, and ending up cutting the extension cord in half. She asked if I could fix it so she could keep trimming, so I spliced the cord back together. She proceeded to cut it in half again, and officially gave up. A brilliant con on her part.
Not even close to what my wife did to my really nice Honda mower several years back. She hasn't been allowed to get near it since and I think that was her plan all along 😁.
 
This ECHO hedge trimmer is kind of spendy, but worth it if you need additional reach for deep hedges. I have owned one for around a decade and it still starts easily and cuts cleanly without bogging at all. I only use E-0 with 50:1 VP Racing oil and spray the blades with Fluid Film after each use and have yet to sharpen the blades. FYI...HD offers a 10% military & veterans discount.
1747775039183.webp
 
Not to be pedantic, but the Makita XHU09 that I'm looking at advertises "up to 3/4 in. cutting capacity".
ok so home depot had me screwd up.
I read their listing as 36v
it is indeed .75" on the $249 model.
.6 on the xhu10
(y)
Thank you for the correction.
 
Last edited:
ok so home depot had me screwd up.
I read their listing as 36v
it is indeed .75" on the $249 model.
.6 on the xhu10
(y)
Thank you for the correction.
The Makita I'm considering would be a huge improvement over my little Black+Decker which struggles to cut anything over 3/8".
 
Last week I spent way too long trimming bushes with an old 17" Black+Decker plug-in hedge trimmer. It was just too small for the job and had I really thought it through, I should have rented a better trimmer from Home Depot for the day. I'm considering buying this Makita for the next time the bushes need trimming, since I already have 3 Makita LXT 18V 4AH batteries: Makita LXT 18V 24" Hedge Trimmer

Just curious what you all would recommend for a GOOD hedge trimmer. 3/4" diameter is about as big as I need to trim. Since I already have the 3 LXT batteries should I go with this Makita unit, or something better IF I can get it for the same price (with battery+charger) as the Makita trimmer (tool only)?

Love my Makita hedge trimmer set.

You can drive a 36V powerhead, and an 18 concurrently just like this setup here.

I have the LXT swivel head trimmer, and the longer articulating makita hedge trimmer that's an attachment I drive with either a dual 36 LXT, or the 40V XGT powerhead.

Mrs U.D. can handle the 36 or the 40 with a 4AH on it.


Screenshot 2025-07-06 at 1.16.36 PM.webp


IMG_3011.webp
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom