Cordless hedge trimmers give you the freedom to cut hedges further away from the house, and there is no cable to accidentally cut through.

When carrying it around your garden, ensure you put its blade sheath on in case you accidentally power it while holding it. And, if it’s corded electric, unplug it from the mains before moving it too. Now, cordless models with higher-powered 36V batteries rival petrol hedge trimmers. Batteries typically last around 20 minutes, but some will keep going for up to an hour. The best batteries recharge in about 60 minutes. If you have a larger hedge, think about buying a second battery to finish the job. Battery Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly replacing Ni-Cad and often have higher voltages and capacity. The results of our most recent reliability survey show that many cordless hedge trimmer owners find the batteries to be unreliable – either they don't hold the charge well or don't charge at all. You might want to consider the price of replacing the battery when you work out how much the hedge trimmer will cost to use over its lifetime. Electric hedge trimmers are usually lightweight, can be quite powerful and are useful in most gardens where you can reach all your hedges with the attached cable and possibly an extension cord.Most hedge trimmer manufacturers also now produce a range of tools that all use the same battery. As a result, you can often see 'bare' hedge trimmers for sale. These do not come with either a battery or a charger. Be aware, though, that the battery is often as expensive, if not more expensive, than the hedge trimmer itself and so the price will rise sharply once these are added in. Keep the cable out of the way by putting it over your shoulder so it hangs behind you or attach it to your belt.

Cons: Can be expensive. May need a second battery to finish long jobs. Batteries may be unreliable. Keep your hedges looking their best by following our guide on how to cut a hedge. What size hedge trimmer do I need? For small hedges Unlike electric hedge trimmers, you don't have to worry about the extension cord reaching or the battery running down. Instead, you just need a can of petrol, with the two-stroke oil mixed in, sitting ready to refuel and carry on.

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Catcher plate a piece of plastic or metal that can be attached along the length of the blade to sweep away cuttings. Blade sheath or guard protects the blade when carrying or storing the machine, preventing dust and dirt from getting onto the blade and blunting the cutting teeth. Hand guard prevents your fingers coming near the teeth and stops clippings from getting caught up around your hands as you cut.