5 Features That Will Cause You To Love Your Hedge Trimmer

Here are 5 features to look for if your thinking of purchasing a hedge trimmer. Being semiretired doesn't mean that I want some clunky hedge trimmer that takes a team of professional yard men to master. I want a trimmer thats easy to use, easy to handle and easy to clean up after. I want to be able to enjoy cutting the hedge and have time to sit back and gaze with rapture at my trimmed hedges and bushes.

1. The first thing I look for in a hedge trimmer is a tool that is light weight. Even today some hedge trimmers are still made the old fashioned way with the big vibrating snout that takes all your strength to maneuver and hold. As I said I'm getting older and I don't want to wrestle with the hedge trimmer or any type of yard grooming tool for that matter. The tools for today should be user friendly and light weight to use for the older population. I'm not into trying to impressing anyone with my strength if the younger generation want's to impress let them. The only way I want to impress is with a well maintained yard.

2. When you say light weight your talking easy to use. In my yard I have this beautiful climbing rose bush about 7 foot tall that I need to get on a ladder to trim and shape. My old trimmer that had a snout like a sword fish used to vibrate so much it was hard to keep your balance, which meant I spent intimate time with the rose bush. Trust me, if it hasn't happened to you you don't want to fall into a rose bush. The rose bush always wins and I'll end up with cuts and scratches all over my arms. I want a trimmer that I can handle on a ladder safely and easily.

3. I don't want to be able to cut the cord with the trimmer blade. It's happened to me on several occasions that I have accidentally cut the cord with what I have been trimming. It's not only dangerous but I always feel stupid when it happens. My wife will just look at me and shake her all knowing head at my stupidity. Long nosed trimmers are noted for being able to cut there cord, and they do it quite easily so I want a trimmer that eliminates that threat. I want to win with no more cut cords and my wife's knowing approval.

4. I want a hedge trimmer that's easy to clean up after. The worst thing about trimming that rose bush I was telling you about is the clean up after your done trimming. Before I would need to get to a barrel to put the trimming pieces in and set it out for the yard waste truck. After raking all those thorny clippings together I had to some how get them into the barrel without leaving a pound of my flesh on the clippings. Pushing those clippings down into the barrel left my arms battle scared and bleeding. It wasn't the type of job I certainly looked forward to. Life is too short to go through life cut or maimed by hedge trimmer clippings.

5. The last thing I want in a hedge trimmer is I want it to be electric powered. I don't care if the gas powered ones are more powerful, I want to be able to breathe fresh air not gas fumes. Electric power yard equipment is clean, environmentally friendly and easy to use. There's that phrase "easy to use" again, if you haven't guessed yet I'm definitely into "easy to use". I have lived a good life and fought countless battles but no that I approaching those "Golden Years" I just want simple and easy to use.

Well there you have my views on what to look for in a hedge trimmer. These are strictly my views, if you would like to embrace these views you need to do so at your own risk. Anyway that's my story and I'm definitely sticking to the "easy to use". There are hedge trimmers in all sizes and shapes. Some are monsters that wield a wide swath, shake, vibrate and take all your strength to master them. I'll leave those to others who want to conquer their yard work. Personally I want to be able to enjoy my yard after I'm done. So I'll settle for equipment that is "easy to use" and has the 5 features to look for in a hedge trimmer, giving you a great sense of satisfaction when you're done knowing that your yard and the hedges look great with a minimum of effort.