Mudball
Assistant Pro
The hedge in front is now above 6ft, so looking to trim it by half a feet or so. It’s about 3m in width. Any suggestions on how to ensure it is cut at the same height.
How to trim hedge height
- Thread starter Mudball
- Start date
Piece of string stretched across the length of the hedge? Set the height, cut to that level?
Personally, I just do it by eye. Pick the height and then go for it. Every so often, step back to check I'm getting it right. Unless you are looking for an ornate level hedge this is fine.
Personally, I just do it by eye. Pick the height and then go for it. Every so often, step back to check I'm getting it right. Unless you are looking for an ornate level hedge this is fine.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Or.........make a simple wooden/metal device, similar to the one used to measure horses [hands]
Check if you want your hedge to be dead level or level with the ground it is growing on.
Check if you want your hedge to be dead level or level with the ground it is growing on.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
Eye is best ,keep coming away from hedge to check progress
rulefan
Tour Winner
Beware of the sag when using a long piece of string. An old roofing lath and a spirit level is better.
If you keep it tight then you will be okay. Equally, does it need to be that precise? Does the OP have the equipment to be that precise?
I've been doing our two conifer hedges, hateful things, for years by eye. Same as most people on the estate. It's fine, it isn't Hampton Court. They will start growing again anyway so unless you get your scissors out on a regular basis there will always be minor irregularities.
SteveJay
Head Pro
On a similar point, what would you guys recommend to cut a hedge down by say 6 inch to a foot? Have a mix of box and larger leaf variety.
I trim it with an electric hedge trimmer, but cutting off more height means cutting into the woody growth which is a bit thick for the hedge trimmer. Is a chain saw better?
I trim it with an electric hedge trimmer, but cutting off more height means cutting into the woody growth which is a bit thick for the hedge trimmer. Is a chain saw better?
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
Simply look at the thickest branch you want to cut at the height and then check the trimmer can do something about 75% of that and cut the thicker branches with loppers or saw (electric or hand) before using the trimmer.
Chain saws should only be used with all the protective on.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
I have an Echo long reach petrol hedge trimmer. If the blades are sharp enough, I can take the woody stems out as well as the leafier stuff. I just set the head angle, hold it at the height I want and walk. Its not hard to keep a constant level of cut.
rulefan
Tour Winner
Pruning shears should be more than adequate but loppers could possibly be needed but either are safer than a chain saw even if wearing eye guards, gloves and safety boots.
RichA
Well-known member
I'd go further and say chainsaws should only be used by trained professionals.
rulefan
Tour Winner
And never on a ladder.
Mudball
Assistant Pro
So had a good day.. took the laurels down about a half a foot.. ended up using the old method of cut-step back -cut rather than the string. I think they look ok - though there is a slight dip in the middle if I am going to be critical.
Unfortunately a big part of the day was lost when I managed to cut the chord on the electric trimmer…. Rookie mistake.
After I made cut the cable many years ago, I am always conscious that I keep the cable to my right and cut to my left.. not sure when it got entangled in the laurel.
These trimmers were inherited from my previous owner (who is a bit Heath Robinson in DIY). When I cut the cable, it tripped the consumer unit. So turned it back on.. but the trimmer would not start. Bit more troubleshooting and it looked like the fuse in the 13A plug had blown. The plug was all tapped up, so removed it to find a 5A fuse inside it. So had to make a trip to screwfix to get a new plug. Lost a good 90 mins of my life there
Unfortunately a big part of the day was lost when I managed to cut the chord on the electric trimmer…. Rookie mistake.
After I made cut the cable many years ago, I am always conscious that I keep the cable to my right and cut to my left.. not sure when it got entangled in the laurel.
These trimmers were inherited from my previous owner (who is a bit Heath Robinson in DIY). When I cut the cable, it tripped the consumer unit. So turned it back on.. but the trimmer would not start. Bit more troubleshooting and it looked like the fuse in the 13A plug had blown. The plug was all tapped up, so removed it to find a 5A fuse inside it. So had to make a trip to screwfix to get a new plug. Lost a good 90 mins of my life there
Could be time to get a proper man in. Whenever I've taken it down by a foot or more it's needed better equipment than I have. It also needs someone with better upper body strength for the thick stuff ?. You won't be playing golf for a week afterwards if you do it yourself
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
The way to protect cables is to have them going over your shoulder and round your neck with trailing part furthest away from the cutting edge.
A 5 amp fuse is the right size for most hedge trimmers which will be on the range 500- 750 watt.
1 amp for every 240 watts of power plus a little lee way to allow for the turn on surge.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Others have alluded to it but DO NOT use a chainsaw to cut a hedge - regardless of whether you have the correct PPE. They are not designed for it and there is too much risk of kickback. (So endeth the lesson of someone who was a chainsaw instructor ...)
D
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fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
This sounds like this piece of string weve used to build a sleeper retaining wall the last week. Like triggers broom the amount of times it got cut, moved etc
