Hedge now 10' What tool?

17 years ago

Dad got old & let his hedge grow to about 10'. City & Owner association spec max 4' hedges. Without a ladder I can reach to 6-7'. I do have stable 7' painter's ladder also.

Do I need to do this iteratively, that is cut from 10 to 7, then from 7 to 5, and then final pass a 3-4'

Is a hedge-trimmer the right tool? There's budget for Echo professional trimmer. I see in Stihl catalogue an power lopper, but expensive for a one-off project.

I'm in no mood to rake, gather, and set out for association p/up. I see men from gardening services using blower, wearing a backpack, & somehow ending with mulched product. Should I search on "blower" or is there special nomenclature.

These estimates may indicate magnitude of task:

Home owner's Association crew: $375-400.

Licensed arborist: $3,300. (More inclusive: additional trimming and thining; do something with diseased tree; chemical weedicide to kill invasive species.)

Last, do I need to know much to trim off 6'; and what can I do to ensure not getting hurt? (e.g. which way will branches fall, & c.

Many thanks to all,

Richard Moss

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Comments (6)

jimtnc
17 years ago
The shrub variety that makes up the hedge might be the difference between using a hedge-trimmer or a chain saw.

I have Hollies that grow fairly fast, and if i want to lower the shrub more than 6" I have to use a Sawsall with a pruning blade or loppers...just depends how think the branches got. Slow work, but it'll do. I'm sure others have their ways of pruning too.
masiman
17 years ago
As jimtnc says, I'd research the particular plant you are dealing with to determine the best pruning method (time of year, how to prune, how much you can prune reliably prune, etc.). Alot of plants are best pruned in late winter/very early spring before their juice start to flow. But check on your variety. You may find that these plants will not take a hard prune and might be better off removed. Removal is something you could do if you have a landscape bar, nursery shovel, pick axe with adze (optional), chain or strap, pulling vehicle and a way to haul. It is hard work but I would guess maybe ~1 hour per plant.

With a hedge, my guess is that a chainsaw would not be useful because of all the small stuff and how dense it likely is to get to the main leaders that are big enough to take a chainsaw too. You might be better off with a sawzall and a pruning saw and loppers to get the job done. All of those tools would have great reuse value.

I'm not sure how these plants are going to look after loosing 60% or more. Try to do the pruning so that they will have a chance to reform in the coming years into something that is healthy and looks decent.
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weed_cutter
17 years ago
This varies with the type of hedge, but generally you can get after it now (early spring). Bring it down to 3' with BIG loppers on the main trunks, or if the trunk diameter is over 2" use a $50 electric chain saw, then use clippers (gas electric or manual) to shape up what is left. It will look awful when you're done but by mid-summer new growth will be shooting all over the place and you'll have to get after it again. Unless you want to rent a chipper there is no easy way that I know of to get rid of the clippings other than placing them by the curb. Generally the larger the sections you cut the easier it will be to drag them. Check the local restrictions of the waste haulers as to size and amount. Stay flat footed on the ground for safety, limbs fall where gravity takes them so be mindful of which way they are leaning.

Once again, expect them to look like stumps n' trunks when you're done. Any kinder gentler way will take years.
yungman
17 years ago
Depend on how many hedges you have. If not too many, the cheapest is to get a manual pole saw( don't know the exact name!!) I got one in HD and it is a extendable pole that you can screw on a small saw and you just cut the branch and the trunk. I was amazed how fast it cut. I cut 4" tree trunks with it. It can extend to over 10' and can reach high. It also have a pull rope loper to cut branches up to 3/4".

I don't think a gas hedge trimmer is the way to cut it down. If you want to be fancy, you can always get a multi tool attachment trimmer. Get the pole saw attachment ( like a small chain saw) and a short reach articulate hedge trimmer attachment. But that is going to cost you.

I don't know the plants, how to cut it down, better listen to the others. I just thought the manual pole saw work pretty well if you have time and it cost about $29 to $39 only. But it will not trim the hedge after you cut them down, you do need a hedge trimmer for that.
masiman
17 years ago
With that manual pole saw that yungman mentioned, I would recommend the Corona. They have a HO level package for ~$130. Costco has them sometimes.
yungman
17 years ago
Mine is only $29 to $39!!! I got it in Home Depot. I cut tree trunk with it!!! Well that was 3 years ago, so.......

I am still using it to help my neighbor trim the branches off.