Black Decker Hedge Trimmer A Must Have By Jallyson on Sep 01, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

We have privacy hedges going all round our back yard, which isn't small, so we needed a hedge trimmer that wouldn't break our backs or our wallets. These trimmers were the answer. They're lightweight compared to most trimmers I've used, enough so that I can hold them one-handed to reach the back edge of the hedges (on a ladder no less.) They are electric, so they require a long cord to reach all the areas of our yard, but I don't mind that, since I don't have to mess with mixing two-cycle fuel.

As far as performance, these are great! Our hedges tend to get thick in places, and these cut through them like a hot knife through butter, even the thicker branches. There is a hand guard at the front of the handle which I like, and the handle is nice and thick, which makes it easy to keep a good grip on. The length is perfect, too, so that we can reach far back and get the back edge easily.

One safety feature I especially like is the fact that in order to operate them, you have to hold back a button with your thumb and squeeze the power trigger at the same time. This makes me feel much better having small children around, it would be very difficult for them to accidentally operate these. It also means if I drop them the blades stop operating, lessening the chances of injury.

Any homeowner who needs trimmers for their hedges should definitely look into these. Even my brother who own a landscaping company likes them!