Tall, fast-growing hedges are an incredible sight to behold because they’re beautiful when they’re maintained properly, and they provide some form of privacy around your home.
Trimming and maintaining them, however, requires time, effort, and, most importantly, the right type of hedge trimmer.
Normal handheld trimmers will not work in this situation. What you need is a telescoping hedge trimmer with a long pole that extends even longer, increasing your reach so you can trim and shape the top edges and sides beautifully.
These tall, fast-growing hedges can grow over 6ft tall, which is taller than most people, and thus using a standard handheld trimmer will no longer be an option.
If you already have a handheld hedge trimmer, you may consider using it instead of buying one with a telescoping pole or shaft, but that will require you to use a ladder.
And it will also mean you have to move the ladder around quite a lot, which will add up to more manual labor from you. The whole process will also take more time than necessary.
That’s why getting a telescoping hedge trimmer are very important. Using it, you can work right from the ground safely and comfortably, without having to climb a ladder to reach the top.
That will reduce the amount of time and effort you need to put into the project.
The cutting head or blade of these telescoping hedge trimmers can also be pivoted to different angles or positions, enabling you to trim the different sides of your hedge standing in a position you’re most comfortable in.
The pole of some telescoping trimmers can also be removed, and the head or blade can be fitted with a normal handle, converting it to a standard handheld unit for trimming low-lying shrubs and hedges, which makes them even more versatile to use.
Choosing your first telescoping hedge trimmer can be quite challenging. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list, with guides and reviews to help you choose the right one.
Our Top Picks
- BEST OVERALL: Greenworks Pro
- BUDGET OPTION: WORX WG252.9
- LARGEST CUT CAPACITY: MZK
- EASIEST TO MANEUVER: Black+Decker LPHT120
Comparison Table
| Trimmer | Shaft Length | Blade Size | Power Source | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks Pro | 8.5 ft | 20 inch | Battery | 12.78 lbs |
| Makita XNU05Z | 8 ft | 18 inch | Battery | 9.78 lbs |
| MZK | 8 ft | 22.4 inch | Battery | 9.18 lbs |
| Earthwise LPHT12022 | 8.7 ft | 18 inch | Battery | 9.7 lbs |
| WORX WG252.9 | 12 ft | 20 inch | Battery | 7.6 lbs |
| Sun Joe SJH904E | 5.9 ft | 19 inch | Corded Electric | 9.5 lbs |
| Black+Decker LPHT120 | 6.5 ft | 18 inch | Battery | 7.7 lbs |
| Garcare GPHT07 | 9.2 ft | 20 inch | Corded Electric | 10.6 lbs |
The Best Telescoping Hedge Trimmers
We’ve taken our time to test and review several telescoping hedge trimmers and selected 8 we strongly believe are the best for the job.
We considered several factors such as their total length and reach, how easy they telescope or extend, how heavy they are, how sturdy they are when fully extended (whether they bend or are flimsy), their battery life, blade size and a whole lot more to ensure that we select only the best.
Makita XNU05Z 18V Telescoping Hedge Trimmer
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 8 ft., Blade Size: 18-1/8 inches , Cutting Angles: 10, Weight: 9.78 lbs. , Power Source: Cordless
The Makita XNU05Z is undoubtedly one of the best telescoping hedge trimmers you can get your hands on today. It features a shaft that telescopes from 6 ft to 8 ft, enabling you to reach and trim tall shrubs neatly without overreaching.
The cutting head can be pivoted through 10 angles to enable you to trim every part of the hedges in any position that’s most comfortable for you.
It features an 18-1/8 inch dual-action blade so you can cut faster in both ways over a wide area.
Even though it’s cordless, the Makita XNU05Z is not lacking in power. It comes equipped with a motor that delivers up to 3,600 strokes per minute, ensuring it cuts efficiently through shrubs and hedges.
This model comes with the tool only. So, unless you already have some Makita tools with LXT batteries, you’ll have to buy an 18V battery to power it.
Overall, the Makita XNU05Z is surely one tool I’ll recommend to anyone looking for a good trimmer to take care of hedges and shrubs around the home. It’s very lightweight compared to a gas trimmer, and since it’s cordless, you don’t have to worry about the cord length of a corded unit or the noise of a gas-powered one.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Quiet operation
- Very powerful
- Build quality is great
Cons
- It takes some effort to maneuver when fully extended
MZK Telescoping Pole Hedge Trimmer – Runner Up
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 8 ft., Blade Size: 22.4 inches, Cutting Angles: 5, Weight: 9.18 lbs., Power Source: Cordless
This telescoping hedge trimmer from MZK offers up to 15 feet of overhead extension when fully extended (that includes the length of your body), allowing you to trim tall hedges while standing on level ground without over-extending your arms.
When you’re done, you can easily collapse it back down, so it doesn’t occupy a lot of space when you have to store it away.
The blade has a cutting capacity of 5/8 inches that allows the user to cut through both brushes and hedges without getting stuck. They’re sharp and cut really well, cleanly through the hedges.
With up to 22.4 inches in length, the dual-action or double-sided steel blade can cut both forward and backward, covering a large area and ensuring you don’t have to over-maneuver it when using it.
The head can be adjusted from 0 to 180 degrees with 5 adjustable positions, which makes it very versatile, allowing you to reach every corner of your hedges and shape them just the way you want.
As for battery life, the 20V lithium-ion battery that comes with it provides plenty of power to complete a medium-sized job.
The only drawback I can see is that it’s quite heavy right at the top since the motor is situated at the top, right in the trimmer head. So, you can start to feel a little bit of fatigue after some time of holding it upwards.
Apart from that, however, the MZK cuts excellently, it’s easy to adjust, and it will surely be a great addition to the tools in your shed.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Powerful and sharp. Cuts are very neat
- Comes with a should strap which makes it easier to handle
- Large cut capacity
Cons
- It’s quite heavy without the shoulder strap
Earthwise LPHT12022
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 8.7 feet, Blade Size: 18 inches, Cutting Angles: 6, Weight: 9.7 lbs, Power Source: Cordless
The Earthwise LPHT12022 is a long-reach hedge trimmer that extends fully up to 8 ft and 10 inches and reduces to 6 ft and 7 inches when collapsed. This makes it very versatile because you can use it whether you have tall or short hedges to trim.
You don’t have to overextend your arms because the trimmer is long enough to reach every corner of your hedges. The blade is 20 inches long and can be pivoted into 6 different positions or angles, making it easy to maneuver.
The blade is a dual-action blade, which means it cuts both ways and can cut branches up to 5/8 inches thick.
Powering the blade is a high-efficiency motor that produces up to 2,600 strokes per minute. It also comes with a 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery that charges quickly and provides plenty of run time.
The only drawback I observed is that it’s quite heavy. After using it for some time, you’ll feel the weight on your arms.
Other than that, it cuts nicely and performs very well.
Pros
- It’s budget-friendly
- Very long reach
- Great build quality
Cons
- It’s a bit on the heavy side
Related: 8 Best Landscape Edgers For Lawn And Flower Bed Edging
Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer – Best Overall
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 8.5 ft., Blade Size: 20 inches, Cutting Angles: 7, Weight: 12.78 lbs, Power Source: Cordless.
If you want a cordless hedge trimmer that takes performance to the next level, this Greenworks 80V telescoping unit might just be the right one to go for.
The blade is very sharp. It’s a 20-inch long rotating laser-cut steel blade that can cut through 3/4 inch thick hedges and brushes with it. Be careful while cleaning it after use because it can easily cut your hand. Make sure to unplug the battery and engage the blade lock before trying to clean the blade.
It comes equipped with an 80V 2.0Ah battery which provides more than enough juice and run time to carry out projects of different sizes. It can run for up to 55 minutes to 1 hr before it needs to be recharged.
The cutting head swivels from 0-180 degrees and can lock into 1 of 7 different positions to ensure cuts are made easily at different angles.
With a total length of 8.5 ft, this is not the longest pole trimmer you’ll find in the market, but it definitely gets the job done on 6 ft tall hedges and brushes.
As usual, one of the drawbacks of telescopic hedge trimmers like this is that they can be cumbersome since you sometimes have to raise them to cut the top. The 80V Greenworks pro weighs 12.78 lbs which is quite heavy and thus fatigues the arms after some time.
However, it works pretty well, cuts cleanly, requires little maintenance, and produces zero emissions during use.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Great battery life
- Easy to maneuver
- Large cut capacity
Cons
- It’s quite heavy when fully extended
WORX WG252.9 Cordless Telescoping Hedge Trimmer – Budget Pick
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 12 ft., Blade Size: 20 inches, Cutting Angles: 10, Weight: 7.6 lbs. , Power Source: Cordless.
Equipped with a 20-inch long blade, and a telescoping shaft that extends your reach up to 12 ft, the Worx WG252.9 has everything it takes to put tall hedges and shrubs in their place.
Apart from the long reach, the trimmer head can be adjusted into 10 different positions allowing you to trim and shape shrubs and hedges to any design you want and from any position without compromising comfort.
The handle can be rotated through a 180-degree angle, allowing you to keep the same position while you adjust the trimmer to cut at different positions.
The blades cut at a speed of 1340 revolutions per minute and are designed to cut twice in one revolution to ensure quick clean cuts and reduce the amount of vibration that travels back to the operator’s hand.
Like many other power tools from WORX, this telescoping hedge trimmer is cordless and uses the WORX Power Share battery that enables you to use the same battery with both their 20V and 40V tools.
Most telescoping trimmers are handheld, and the height of your hedges might sometimes require you to hold them up, which can easily cause fatigue to your arms if the tool is heavy.
The Worx WG252.9 only ways 7.6 lbs which is not as heavy as some of the other units we’ve seen. This means you can use it for a considerable amount of time without fatigue.
Overall, the Worx WG252.9 is a tool I can confidently recommend to anyone looking for a good long-reach hedge trimmer because it offers a high reach of about 12 ft, the telescoping action is smooth, it’s highly adjustable, and the less weight makes it very easy to use.
Pros
- Very easy to assemble
- Quiet operation
- Very good build quality
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a battery. You have to buy the battery separately
Related: 8 Best Lawn Dethatchers to Remove Thatch from Your Lawn
6. Sun Joe SJH904E
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 5.9 ft, Blade Size: 19 inches, Cutting Angles: 5, Weight: 9.5 lbs, Power Source: Corded Electric.
If you want to discuss electric power tools, especially the corded ones, it’ll be very hard or even ridiculous not to mention the Sun Joe brand.
They do produce some good quality and low cost electrical power tools, as you’ll come to witness firsthand when you get the Sun Joe SJH904E.
The Sun Joe SJH904E is a 4.5 amp electric telescoping hedge trimmer with 19 inch double edged dual action blades that cut in both directions to help you trim effortlessly.
It equipped with a telescoping pole that can be transformed or adjusted from a length of 3.8 ft to 5.9 ft to help you reach the tallest hedges and shrubs in your garden or sidewalk. The telescoping feature helps you gain up to 13 inches of overhead reach, allowing you not to over extend yourself while using it.
Apart from using the telescoping feature, you can also detach or swap out the telescoping pole and replace it with a handheld handle for trimming short hedges within arm’s reach.
Still talking about transforming it, you can remove the head, and replace it with the Sun Joe GTS4000E-8CS-CGY chain saw attachment for trimming overhead tree branches and even thin logs which are not within arms reach.
The head of the trimmer can be pivoted into different angles depending on the shape and direction you want to work from. It can be pivoted from -20 degrees with increments of 20 degrees to 60 degrees.
Overall, the Sun Joe SJH904E is definitely up there among the best tools for cutting tall hedges.
Pros
- Since it’s corded, you can run it for as long as you want, provided it’s plugged in to a power outlet.
- The blade is very sharp and cuts neatly through the hedges
- Very easy to maneuver
Cons
- It’s a bit of a hassle having to deal with the extension cord while using it
Related: The Best Bypass Loppers for Pruning Tree Limbs and Branches
Black+Decker LPHT120
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 6.5 ft, Blade Size: 18 inches, Cutting Angles: 5, Weight: 7.7 lbs, Power Source: Cordless.
This is the Black+Decker LPHT120. It’s a 20 volts cordless pole hedge trimmer that you can telescope up to a length of 6-1/2 feet, making it suitable for trimming up to 10 feet.
Just like the other units we reviewed, you can pivot the cutting head 180 degrees, and it locks into 5 positions to enable you to reach every corner of the hedges and shrubs, enabling you to work precisely and at a posture you’re comfortable with.
It weighs only 7.7 pounds, making it one of the most lightweight options we reviewed, allowing you to work efficiently without getting tired quickly.
The blade or trimmer head is 18 inches long and cuts in both directions through branches up to 7/16 inches thick.
The whole unit is built solid and sturdy and works efficiently as any hedge trimmer should.
Although not a huge drawback, the head locks into 5 positions only, which is good but not enough. Being able to rotate it through more positions will increase the tool’s versatility.
Pros
- Easy to maneuver
- Very easy to assemble
- It’s budget friendly
- Quiet operation
Cons
- It’s quite heavy
Related: 8 Best Backpack Leaf Blowers for Yard Clean-up
Garcare GPHT07 Long Reach Hedge Trimmer
Specifications:
Max Shaft Length: 9.2 ft, Blade Size: 20 inches, Cutting Angles: 6, Weight: 10.6 lbs, Power Source: Corded Electric.
Without being extended, the pole of the Garcare GPHT07 telescopic hedge trimmer already boasts an impressive length of 7.1 ft, and you get a total length of 9.2 ft when fully extended.
That overall length of 9.2 ft increases your reach and enables you to trim and shape tall hedges in your yard without a ladder.
You can extend and lock the pole at the exact length you’re okay with, allowing you to work at a height you’re comfortable with or according to the size of the shrubs you want to trim.
The trimmer head is 20 inches long, which is quite broad, enabling you to cover a wide area in one pass.
Just like the previous trimmers reviewed in this article, the head of the Garcare GPHT07 can be rotated or pivoted into different directions for a versatile cutting experience. It can be shifted and locked into 6 different angles so you can use it comfortably.
Powering the whole setup is a 4.3 Amps motor which drives the blades.
Overall, I believe the Garcare GPHT07 features everything you need to take care of tall overgrown hedges and keep them in good shape and condition.
Pros
- The blade is sharp and cuts neatly.
- Build quality is great. It’s not flimsy.
Cons
- Difficult to handle when fully extended
What To Consider When Choosing A Telescoping Hedge Trimmer
Here are some important factors you should consider when choosing your telescoping hedge trimmer.
Weight
Telescoping hedge trimmers are sought after mainly because of their length, so you can reach as high as possible with them. But you don’t just want to only consider how long they are. You also want to consider how heavy they are too, because the longer they are, the heavier they’ll be and the more difficult it will be to maneuver them.
So, apart from the length and how far above you it can reach, you want to make sure you can carry it for as long as possible without the weight tiring you out.
Total Length
As I’ve mentioned many times above, the main reason you get a telescoping hedge trimmer is so you can trim tall overgrown hedges with it. And that means, the overall length of the trimmer after the telescoping pole has been fully extended is very important.
So, you need to consider the height of the hedges you want to trim and how long you can extend the trimmer pole.
The taller your hedges are, the longer it should be able to extend. But know that the longer it is, the heavier it will be as well.
Power Source
Power source is pretty important when it comes to tools like this, because it affects how easy they are to use and how easy they are to maintain.
Telescoping hedge trimmers are usually either battery-powered or corded-electric. I’m pretty sure there are no gas powered units, due to the extra weight a gas powered engine will surely add to the already heavy equipment.
Although you can always get a pole string trimmer, with the capacity to accept a hedge trimmer attachment so you can reach tall hedges with it.
Battery-powered telescoping hedge trimmers are more portable than corded electric ones, but they’re also heavier in weight.
Corded electric units are lighter, but they’re not really the easiest to use due to the extra electric cord you have to deal with.
Cut Capacity – Blade Size
The size of the hedge trimmer blade determines the cut capacity. The greater the cut capacity, the larger the area you can cover in just one swoop with the blade.
A larger blade will cover more area and cut faster than a smaller blade. Larger blades are also heavier.
So, if you really don’t care about the weight, choosing a telescoping hedge trimmer with a longer or larger blade will help you cut faster.
Larger blades also cut thicker hedges. So, you have to consider the size of the branches your hedges have. If they’re really thick, then a larger blade will be better.
Smaller blades however are lighter and easier to maneuver.
Hedge trimmer blades usually range from 16 to 28 inches in length. Remember, the larger/longer the blade, the thicker the hedge branches it can cut.
These trimmers need to be light and powerfully balanced especially when extended. They are very hard to control and are very tiring if they are to heavy. Thanks for your work and good info. I’m in the market for a trimmer. Our new home has tall sculpted shrubs n the property. A long trimmer is s must.
You couldn’t have said it any better, Ray. Weight and balance are very important when choosing telescoping hedge trimmers. They’re quite long and thus should be light, as too much weight makes them difficult to control and gets you tired quickly before you’re able to cover much ground. You’ll also have to consider whether you’ll go for a cordless battery powered trimmer or a corded one. Either way, you’re in the best position to choose the one that’s suitable for you based on the condition of the shrubs in your new home.
The previous comment said that the trimmer should be light and very well-balanced, but I do not see those qualities mentioned in the reviews. I also have a large yard so was thinking of getting a cordless unit, but I’m wondering if the corded ones are less heavy and easier to handle?
Generally, corded tools are perceived to be lighter than their cordless counterparts due to the additional battery weight. However, that’s not always the case. In this review, you can see that the Worx WG252.9 weighs lowest at just 7.6 lbs. even though it’s a cordless unit with a battery.
I wouldn’t also say corded units are easier to handle, because using a corded unit will require dragging an extension cord with you all the time, and that can be quite tiring.
I’d say go with a cordless one. Provided the battery is charged, you have nothing holding you back, and they’re very easy to maintain. If it helps, the weight of each trimmer is included in the tool specs to help you decide.