Best way to cut dense hedge?

Question

My hedge has gotten quite high now, and where the branches are quite thick it prevents the regular hedge trimmers to cut through it. Can anyone recommend what I could use to get the height down?

Answer 1

If the hedge is an evergreen, I reccomend a chain saw. Trim to within an inch or two of where you want them, then go back with heavy pruners and clean it up.

If it is something like a privet or forsythia, wait for the leaves to fall off and then prune with heavy duty branch cutters.

Answer 2

You haven't mentioned what kind of hedge it is or how long. The size of the job would dictate what solution to suggest.
You could work through it, by hand, using a pruning saw and a pair of loppers to bring it 4" or so below where you would like it; finish the trim with your hedgetrimmers once the woody bulk is out of the way. If it's a very large or long hedge I would use a chainsaw and tidy through with loppers and secateurs after. If it's a leylandi hedge though - remember it won't sprout again from old wood once cut into.

Answer 3

I'd use loppers--they have long handles and short curved blades. Because the handles are about 3' long, you can get more force behind them--they'll cut branches up to about 1" to 1 1/2" inches in diameter. Any hardware store should have them.

Answer 4

the glenn t dude is right if need know more try ask this old house for more infor

Answer 5

prune using the thinning method.do not shear

Answer 6

pruning saw and loppers