Whether you want to keep your hedges in line or transform them into a work of art, you’re going to need a good hedge trimmer. Ryobi offers excellent battery-powered trimmers small enough to tweak and beastly enough to shred even the most stubborn hedges. They also offer pole-mounted trimmers for tall hedges.
The best Ryobi hedge trimmer is the Ryobi 40-Volt 26-Inch High-Performance Brushless Battery Hedge Trimmer. It’s Ryobi’s biggest, strongest hedge trimmer with the longest-lasting battery, so you can complete any task in one go.
Ryobi hedge trimmers come in three types.
Ryobi hedge trimmers are all battery-operated. This makes them quiet and able to tackle jobs anywhere. However, battery-operated trimmers are the weakest. If you need extra power, you can find non-Ryobi trimmers that run on electricity or gas. Electric trimmers have restricted movement due to their cords but are more powerful and sustainable. Gas models have the most power but are dangerously loud and damaging to the environment.
Ryobi hedge trimmers are often available as tool-only or bundled with a battery and battery charging cradle for an extra charge. You need to get a trimmer with a battery kit if you don’t already have a battery.
Ryobi hedge trimmer blades can be either single- or double-sided.
The best blade length is one that’s a little longer than the hedge is wide. This lets you complete your task as fast as possible. However, keep in mind that longer blades are harder to control. Ryobi hedge trimmer blades come in 8- to 26-inch lengths.
The blade gap is the distance between the blade’s teeth. A hedge trimmer can only cut through branches up to the size of the blade gap. Ryobi hedge trimmer blade gaps can be as small as five-sixteenths of an inch or as large as 1 inch.
They can cost as little as $100 or as much as $200. Shrubber trimmers typically cost $100-$125, while most standard trimmers cost around $150. Pole trimmers and the largest standard trimmers cost around $200.
A. Always wear gloves, safety glasses, a mask, long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover all exposed skin. You don’t need to wear ear protection since Ryobi trimmers use battery-operated motors, but it doesn’t hurt either. Also, never use a hedge trimmer while standing on a ladder — if you need to reach high hedges, use a pole trimmer.
A. Only the blade needs to be maintained. There are steps to take after each use and after 60 hours of use.
A. Ryobi hedge trimmer batteries last roughly 30-45 minutes on a full charge and take roughly 90 minutes to fully charge from dead. Having a spare battery wouldn’t hurt if you have more hedges to trim than you can manage in this window.
Ryobi 40-Volt 26-Inch High-Performance Brushless Battery Hedge Trimmer
What you need to know: This is Ryobi’s biggest and most powerful trimmer.
What you’ll love: The 26-inch-long single-sided blade has a 1-inch blade gap for tackling the biggest, toughest hedges. The handle rotates so you can trim comfortably at any angle. The trimmer and battery have five- and three-year warranties, respectively. It can be purchased with or without the battery set.
What you should consider: Even with its power, it still takes some time and effort to get through the thickest branches. A few consumers found it on the heavy side.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Ryobi One+ 18-Volt Battery Grass Shear And Shrubber Trimmer
What you need to know: This little trimmer is great for putting on the finishing touches.
What you’ll love: The 4-inch shearing head and 8-inch double-sided trimming head with a five-sixteenths blade gap are easy to swap between. The body’s small size and light weight place it among the easiest Ryobi trimmers to use. It can be purchased with or without the battery set.
What you should consider: This is only for finishing touches or trimming small plants such as bonsai trees. A few customers had issues with either head jamming.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Ryobi 40-Volt 18-Inch Battery Pole Hedge Trimmer
What you need to know: Use this pole trimmer on tall hedges rather than trying to use a ladder.
What you’ll love: The pole extends up to 8 feet, and the double-sided blade has a five-eighths-inch gap. The head pivots for trimming at any angle, and a variable speed trigger helps with control and accuracy. It can be purchased with or without the battery set.
What you should consider: It’s heavy, which can make it hard to wield, especially when extended to its full length. The blade is small compared to non-pole trimmers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
