Spear & Jackson 8120RS/09 Razorsharp Telescopic Hedge Shears

Product Information

I am often asked by gardeners “what are the top hedge shears to buy?”, “do I need an extendable, telescopic shear?”, ‘what brand offers the best model pruning shears?” For this reason, they’re a particularly good choice for anyone that struggles to use manual shears, although there are several other ways that they can come in handy. Some telescopic/extendable pruners are manually powered. They have a ‘squeeze’ handle that causes the blades at the top to close and cut. As long as the blades are sharp enough, this shouldn’t be too hard on the hands. These manual pruners are usually best suited to cutting fresh, live stems/branches as opposed to woodier ones. They’ll work best on bushes, hedges and small, young trees.

Firstly, if I may be so bold, I’m going to mention the Multi-Sharp 1401 Shear & Scissor Sharpenerwhich I have found to be one of the easiest ways to sharpen manual hedge shears (plus, extra tip: you can also use it to sharpen household scissors!). Telescopic tree pruners make neatening up your garden easy. They’re convenient, safe and easy to use; however, there are a lot of different styles to choose between. Doing alternate sides like this means the hedge is still getting plenty of energy which helps with its regrowth. Yew is quite sappy so always give your shears a good clean straight after use with some warm soapy water and a scourer or wire wool. Of course, sharp blades will also help get a great finish. Laurel Maintenance

The main thing to watch out for, which can’t really be put down as a fault of the shears, is their sharpness. The blades are made from chrome-plated high carbon steel, which doesn’t wear down easily. When cleaning, the blades are sharp enough to easily slice through cleaning cloths, so wearing gloves is essential (as is having your guard about you at all times). When the battery starts to run low, the LED lights will indicate how much battery is left and when to plug it in. If you find prolonged use of hedge shears tiring on the hands then my advice is to look at geared models like these Davaon bypass shears. Due to the fact they’re reasonably long, regardless of whether they’re extended or not, these hedge shears are better for bigger jobs than smaller ones. For more close-range topiary they’re likely to be a little large and unwieldy.

The blade is made from alloy steel and has sharp, solid serrations. There’s 4 cutting angles to choose from depending on what you are cutting and at what height. There’s no bypass mechanism. Instead, the branch is held in place while the two-way blade produces a smooth and clean cut.

It’s easy enough to find effective pruners that weigh less than 1 kg. Lightweight telescopic pruners are easier to manage and don’t feel too unwieldy. Given that telescopic pruners are often quite long, they can feel sometimes feel unbalanced – for this reason, it helps if they’re light. Heavier pruners can still be manageable, but you should consider whether you have sufficient upper body strength. Heavier pruners should be used with a shoulder strap for support. If you are struggling with having this disease or the caterpillar we have an article on the best box replacement hedges. Final Word from Me Weighing 1.24 kg they also might be a little heavy for some gardeners, and this is not particularly helped by the way the weight is distributed across these telescopic shears. This is pretty common with telescopic tools, but the uneven distribution can often mean that they’re a little uncomfortable to use for extended periods. All of the above are a first-rate set of hedge shears and will (hopefully) give you years of use. My favourite and top of my list is the Fiskars HSX92 hedge clippers. When sharpening manual shears (not electric ones) you can also use sharpening steels or whetstones. These will usually require you to manually sharpen one blade at a time.

If you’re after a set of pruners with a simple mechanism, the Sunorchid Telescopic Tree Pruners are worth considering. These pruners have a dual use pruning saw that can be used either for pruning tall trees or as a handheld tool for neatening bushes at eye level.Whilst these aren’t strictly ‘shears’ in the traditional sense, this Bosch Isio Cordless Shrub and Grass Shear Set features an edging shear and a shrub shear that are battery powered and take the manual work out of hedge cutting.

There are also pruners on the market which extend further, up to 4m, and are ideal for taller trees. As always, a decent pair of shears with super sharp blades is advisable and a good clean of your shears after trimming is advisable to keep in the best shape and prevent spread of disease. Box (Buxus)Evergreen Yew hedges make one of the most forgiving when it comes to maintenance. When pruned correctly yew creates one of the best barriers and evergreen screens. If the overall length of the shears exceeds 60 cm, they may be too long to comfortably cut around smaller bushes.