Hedges are an attractive shrub to put in front of your home to provide curb appeal. Aside from being trimmed with a hedge trimmer, they don’t require much maintenance.
After the rain, you can use an electric hedge trimmer, but there are certain safety considerations to take. To reduce the chance of electrocution, use a battery-operated trimmer, wear gloves with a firm grip to keep the trimmer from slipping, and grease the trimmer blade to avoid rust.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about cutting your shrubs with an electric hedge trimmer after it’s rained. Let’s get started!
Is it safe to prune shrubs when they are wet?
Simply put, trimming shrubs is significantly more difficult when the garden is damp. Tool handles become slick, and dangling branches splash water in your face or irritate your clothing. Wet branches might be difficult to grab and hold stable while assessing their health and determining where the pruning cut should be made. Because pruning blades are sharp and can easily cut fingers when they close, it’s best to wait until the landscape is drier and your tactile awareness and overall hold on equipment are consistent. Wetness on the pruning blades accelerates wear and can lead to corrosion, which reduces their usefulness.
Is it possible to use electric hedge trimmers to trim damp bushes?
Cutting wet hedges is safe, and the branches are likely to be weaker and easier to cut. A damp hedge will dry out in the majority of cases within 24 hours. It may be more difficult to trim them without risk of harm if there is substantial rain or high humidity for longer than this period.
Wet hedges are easier to cut than dry hedges because the leaves and branches are softer, making hedge trimming more enjoyable and manageable. It’s crucial to remember that while wet hedges are simpler to cut, they may not be as safe because the soaked leaves make them heavier. It is up to you to decide whether the advantages exceed the hazards.
When is it not a good idea to use a hedge trimmer?
Hedge pruning, trimming, and shaping may be a lot greater and more meticulous work than most people believe. Not only is pruning a time-consuming and physically demanding chore, but it can also cause major harm to your hedges if done incorrectly.
Hedges are utilized to frame and border a yard and are often made up of multiple bushes planted in a row. They can be an excellent natural solution to create seclusion, block the wind, reduce noise, and enhance the appearance of an outdoor place. They’re often evergreen shrubs, which means they don’t drop leaves or needles in the winter, so they look lovely all year and don’t get too messy or require a lot of upkeep. Laurel, Golden Leylandi, Arborvitae, Emerald Cedar, and Viburnum are also popular hedge types.
Late winter to early spring is the optimal time to prune hedges. In Oregon, the months of February, March, and May are ideal for pruning. Trim plants when they are dormant and not forming buds. Trimming hedges and trees that are actively growing is not a good idea. In the summer, hedges grow rapidly, and pruning them too soon or too violently might result in browning leaves and tree limbs dying. A splotchy hedge is the last thing anyone wants. You should resist the urge to prune your hedge right now because you could do catastrophic damage.
There are a few things to bear in mind when trimming your hedges that may help you be more successful:
- Invest in a hedge trimmer. You might be in danger if you planned to prune your hedge with shears and pruners. This method may work for tiny hedges, but in most cases, a more powerful tool will be required. Hedge trimmers are the quickest and most efficient method. If your hedge is taller than you, look for one that has a longer reach. It will save you a lot of time (rather than climbing up and down a ladder) and let you to take a step back and evaluate your technique to ensure the hedge is even.
- Take precautions. There is a certain element of risk when using high-powered equipment like a saw or hedge trimmer. Wear gloves, eye protection, and earmuffs if possible. Also, keep the hedge trimmer far away from your body and grip it tightly so that if you strike a particularly difficult branch and it bounces back, you’ll be safe.
- Trim as much as you can. Do yourself a favor and push the leaves and needles back if you’re going to take the effort to trim and shape the entire hedge. If you only lightly cut the hedge, it will quickly grow back and you will have to repeat the process. You want a lot of light to go to the inside of the shrub so that it can grow on the inside as well. The hedge may not look fantastic for a few weeks after pruning the foliage back, but it will quickly recover and begin to look excellent.
Consider hiring a professional to trim your trees and hedges if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself. We make cautious not to over-trim or make unsafe cuts that could harm the trees in the long run at Green Acres Landscape. We take great pride in keeping our hedges straight and well-kept.
Is it safe to use electric hedge trimmers?
Follow our short hedge trimmer safety checklist to ensure that the task is done correctly and that you and your loved ones are safe.
Safety first
- Ensure that you purchase a hedge trimmer from a trustworthy retailer and that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter.
- It’s crucial to register a new hedge trimmer with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a recall or safety alert is issued. It also makes returning a defective product or ordering a repair easy. Visit our Product Registration website to register any of your appliances, regardless of age.
- To see if any of your electrical items have been recalled, use our Product Recalls Checker.
- Check for a UK plug on your appliance; if it doesn’t, don’t use a UK travel adaptor. Make contact with the retailer and request that a UK plug be installed.
- Check the plug and socket for burn marks, arcing sounds (buzzing or crackling), or if it feels too hot to touch on a frequent basis. If your fuses are blowing or your circuit breakers are tripping, call a licensed electrician to examine.
- RCD (residual current device) protection should be installed in any socket where a hedge trimmer will be plugged in. An RCD is a life-saving device that guards against electric shock and helps to prevent electrical fires. Consider adding an RCD socket or plug if your fuse box does not offer RCD protection for your sockets. This will safeguard you and your property from serious appliance problems.
- If you must use an extension lead, ensure sure it is weatherproof, has a thermal cut-out, and is completely unwound before using it.
Using your hedge trimmer safely
- Wear appropriate, non-slip footwear when using the hedge trimmer, as well as gloves and safety eyewear.
- If you come across a particularly thick section of growth, don’t drive the hedge trimmer over it; it may rebound and inflict harm.
- If you smell a burning odor or hear strange noises, turn off the hedge trimmer right once and call the retailer and/or manufacturer.
- If a fire does break out, don’t try to put it out. Get to safety and dial 999 as soon as possible.
- Always disconnect or turn off the hedge trimmer before cleaning it, and carefully follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Is it possible to use an electric trimmer on damp grass?
In damp weather, you should avoid using an electric or battery-powered weed trimmer. To begin with, these conditions might place additional strain on the motor, reducing the grass trimmer’s operational life.
What makes a hedge trimmer different from a hedge cutter?
Hedge Cutters are best for cutting back larger bushes and breaking down larger branches. They should only be used on more established shrubs and hedges. Hedges are usually cut once a year (depending on the type of bush/hedge you have), but this can vary depending on the type of bush/hedge you have. Conifer, Evergreen, Hornbeam, and Beech may need tending up 2/3 times a year however, some may cut and shape every 6 weeks or so during the growing season.
Is it possible to use a hedge trimmer on shrubs?
Remove any little offshoots that are developing around the base of the shrub with an electric or battery-powered hedge clipper. They can deplete the nutrients available to the rest of the limbs, lowering the overall quality of the plant’s growth.