Laurel is harder on a hedge trimmer than most garden hedges. The stems turn woody within a season, the leaves are big and tough, and an established hedge is long and tall. A cheap trimmer will jam, chew the stems and leave the hedge looking ragged. A good one gets the job done in half the time.
Below are the things worth checking before you buy, followed by the trimmers we’d look at first.
What to look for
Tooth gap
The gap between the teeth decides how thick a stem the trimmer can cut. For a laurel hedge that’s trimmed every year, look for at least 20mm. If the hedge has been left for a year or two, go for 24mm or more. Trimmers with a small gap jam constantly on laurel.
Blade length
Longer blades cover more hedge with each pass, which matters on a long run. Around 55 to 65cm is a good size for laurel. Shorter blades are lighter and easier to control, which is better for a small hedge or for shaping.
Battery or petrol
Modern cordless trimmers are more than up to most garden laurel hedges, and they’re lighter, quieter and easier to live with than petrol. If you already own tools from one brand, buy a trimmer that uses the same batteries. Petrol still makes sense for very long or very overgrown hedges, where you’d otherwise need several batteries.
Weight and balance
You’ll be holding the trimmer at shoulder height or above for a long time. Pick one up in a shop if you can. A trimmer that’s well balanced feels lighter than its weight suggests.
Reach
For the top of a tall hedge, a long-reach pole trimmer is much safer than standing on a ladder. Most have a head that tilts, so you can cut the top flat from the ground.
Our picks
Best for big hedges: Bosch AdvancedHedgeCut 36V-65-28
This is a powerful cordless trimmer built for thick, woody hedges. It has a 65cm blade and will cut branches up to 28mm thick, which is plenty for laurel. Bosch’s anti-blocking system keeps the blade moving when it hits a thick stem, rather than stalling, which is exactly what tends to happen on laurel. It runs on Bosch’s 36V Power for All batteries.
It’s a good choice for a long, established laurel hedge, or one that’s got a bit away from you. It’s sold both with and without a battery, so check what’s included.
Best all-rounder: Ryobi RY18HT55A
Part of Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ range, this trimmer has a 55cm diamond-ground blade with a 24mm gap, which is a good match for a yearly laurel trim. The bare tool weighs about 2.4kg, so it’s comfortable to use for longer spells. It also comes with a clever HedgeSweep attachment that clears clippings off the top of the hedge as you go.
If you already have Ryobi batteries, this is an easy recommendation. Ryobi quotes up to an hour of cutting on a 5Ah battery. It’s usually sold as a bare tool.
Best for regular heavy use: Makita DUH601Z
A professional-grade 18V trimmer with a brushless motor and a 60cm blade. It cuts branches up to 23.5mm, has three speed settings, and has a reverse button that frees the blade if it does jam. Makita’s 18V LXT battery range is one of the biggest there is.
It costs more than the Ryobi, and it’s heavier, but it’s built to take a lot of use. If you have several big hedges, or you’re already a Makita user, it’s a very good tool. The DUH601Z is the body only.
Best for tall hedges: Einhell GE-HH 18/45 Li T
A cordless long-reach trimmer from Einhell’s 18V Power X-Change range. The telescopic pole and tilting head let you cut the top of a tall laurel hedge flat while standing on the ground, which is a lot safer than working off a ladder. It has a smaller tooth gap than the handheld trimmers above, so use it for regular trims of the top rather than cutting back thick, old growth.
Do you need a hedge trimmer at all?
On a short laurel hedge, maybe not. A trimmer slices cherry laurel’s big leaves, and the cut edges go brown for a few weeks. Secateurs or hand shears take longer but give a much neater finish. See our guide to the best secateurs and shears for laurel and bay, and our page on why laurel goes brown after trimming.
Using a trimmer safely
- Wear eye protection and gloves. Ear defenders are a good idea too, even with a battery trimmer.
- Use a stable platform for tall hedges, never a ladder leaning against the hedge.
- Check the hedge for nesting birds before you start, especially between March and August.
- Keep the blade guard on whenever you’re carrying or storing the trimmer.
Looking after the blades
Laurel sap gums up blades quickly. After each trim, brush off the debris, clean the blades with a resin remover or a cloth and a little white spirit, and spray them with a light oil. Clean blades cut more easily, put less load on the battery and leave a cleaner cut.
