- Is your property surrounded by unruly, unkept hedges or are you thinking about improving your landscape with perfectly pruned hedgerows?
Either way you will need decent tool for the job. Hedgerow management shouldn’t be a chore, or rather it should be an enjoyable chore providing you have a reliable and durable hedge trimmer. But there are some rules, if you are new to hedge maintenance then it is essential to understand the importance of hedgerows before you start giving them a good trim.
Did you know that in May 2024 the government passed a rule that aims to protect hedgerows growing on or next to land used for agriculture this includes: - Horticulture
- Fruit growing
- Seed growing
- Dairy farming
- Meadow and grazing land
- Allotments
- Breeding and keeping of livestock (horses/ponies etc)
This is because the hedges are “ecological building blocks across our landscapes” they are usually intended to slow soil erosion and act as water run offs, whilst also providing habitats for nesting birds and other small animals and insects important for pollination. Therefore, if your hedgerow is covered by these rules then you must not cut or trim any hedges from 1st March to 31st August.
Luckily most hedges only need cutting once a year and this is usually towards the end of the summer season, early Autumn. For fast growing hedges these can be trimmed 2 to 3 times a year including spring and summer months, provided they are not covered by the Government ruling or if they are causing obstruction to private / public pathways, obstruction of signs or light from public lamps.
If you have newly planted or young hedges, they do benefit from formative pruning which can be conducted in the winter or early spring. It Is also advised to avoid trimming or pruning in extreme hot or cold weather conditions as this can stress the hedges.
In this blog we would like to recommend one of World of Power’s and STIHL’s bestselling hedge trimmer’s- The HS45 24” Petrol Hedge Trimmer. This domestic machine from STIHLs petrol range of machinery has a robust 24” / 60cm double sided cutting blade with 30mm tooth spacing allowing you to cut up 30mm in branch diameter. Powered by a 27.2cc 2-mix engine , this economical hedge trimmer is powerful and will make light work of cutting your hedges into shape!
The lightweight design means that the HS45 is well balanced and features an anti-vibration system which reduces vibrations in the handle for a much more pleasant and comfortable cutting experience when being used for longer periods of time. Designed with a manual fuel pump and ElastoStart Easy Start function, this hedge trimmer is easier to start with less back breaking pulls of the pull cord.
It’s clear to see why the HS45 is a best seller, proving to be one of our most popular selling petrol hedge trimmers, thanks to the well-known reliability that is guaranteed from the STIHL brand. This model is also part of STIHL’s extended warranty programme; you can extend your domestic warranty from 2 to 3 years with the purchase of 5 litres of STIHL MotoMix fuel. As an approved dealer, here at World of Power we will register your machines warranty at the point of purchase, so you don’t have to worry. This shared database means you can visit any Stihl approved dealer for after sales care of your machine.
Here are some handy tips you should know that will help you get the best service life out of your STIHL HS45. As it is a 2-stroke machine the recommended mix ratio is 50:1, this means 100ml of 2-stroke should be mixed with 5 litres of fuel. If using E10 unleaded fuel your mix will only have a shelf life of around 30 days before it is considered “off”. This is due to the higher ethanol content in E10 fuel as it will start to draw in more water and cause fuel separation which if used in your tools can cause damage to your machine’s inner parts. If you use E5 Supreme fuel, this has a longer shelf life of up to 3 months.
STIHL’s Motomix will not only extend the warranty of your tool, but as the mix is ethanol free fuel and Ultra 2-stroke oil, the shelf life is considerably longer, up to 5 years.
If your cutting performance and behaviour starts to deteriorate, such as the blades snagging on branches, this could mean that it’s time to sharpen your blades, it is recommended that this is conducted by a STIHL approved dealer / service agent.
To keep your blades in tip top condition we recommend the use of STIHL Superclean Spray, this magic spray stops resin gluing to your blades and protects against rust. The graphite and lubricating mineral based oil spray dissolves the resin, removes dirt build up and lubricates your blades for efficient cutting performance.
To prolong the service life of your hedge trimmer we also recommend STIHL Multipurpose Grease, for lubricating the gear systems as part of your machine’s user maintenance, this is usually required after about 50 hours of operation.
We also recommend that your HS45 should be serviced annually, this again can either be conducted by a STIHL approved dealer or if you are familiar with the serving of petrol machines you can use the STIHL Service Kit 46. This kit includes the most common serviceable parts required- Air Filter, Fuel Filter and Spark Plug. There is also a scannable QR code on the reverse of the packaging that takes you to a handy How To video to easily replace the parts.
And finally, if you do not intend to use your hedge trimmer for periods of 30 days or longer, we recommend that you either run the machine dry or drain and dispose of your fuel mix appropriately (unless using MotoMix as this is safe to be left in your machine).
Clean your cutting blades of any resin build up and ensure they are free from dirt and debris, then store your machine in a dry and safe location ready for next time.