⏱ Read time: 7 min | 🌿 Difficulty: Beginner | ⏰ Time: Half a day (4 hrs) | 👷 1 person
Why Your Hedge Won't Trim Itself (Unfortunately)
June through August is peak hedge season in the UK. Everything grows at once, the days are long, and that privet at the front has gone from smart to sorry in about six weeks flat. Whether it is a formal box hedge you are after or just a boundary that stops looking like it has given up on life, now is the time to sort it.
The good news is that you do not need a garage full of expensive kit to deal with it. A hired hedge trimmer, delivered the next working day, and you are sorted. The right tool makes the whole job quicker, safer, and far more satisfying than hacking away with a pair of handheld shears.
Buy the materials. Hire the tools. One order. All in one place. Browse the full hedge and tree cutting hire range at HSS DIY.
The HSS DIY Hedge Trimmer Hire Range
Three machines. Here is which one is right for your garden.
Electric Hedge Trimmer — from £29.40 per day
Our 600W electric hedge trimmer is lightweight, quiet, and does not require any fuel. With an 18mm cutting capacity, it handles established privet, box hedging, and low-growing boundaries without breaking a sweat. Ideal for hedges where you have easy access to a power socket and the job will wrap up in a few hours. Hire the Electric Hedge Trimmer at HSS DIY
Petrol Hedge Trimmer — from £78.78 per day
More power, more reach, and you are not tethered to a socket. The petrol hedge trimmer has an 18mm cutting capacity and works well on longer hedge runs where an extension lead would get in the way. Good call for larger gardens, semi-rural plots, or any job that will take the best part of the day. Hire the Petrol Hedge Trimmer at HSS DIY
Long-Handled Petrol Hedge Trimmer — from £89.88 per day
The one to reach for when the hedge is taller than you are. The extended handle lets you cut at height without standing on a ladder, which is both safer and considerably less tiring over the course of a morning. 20mm cutting capacity and a recoil start 2-stroke engine. Perfect for tall boundary hedges, leylandii, and anything that requires you to look up. Hire the Long-Handled Petrol Hedge Trimmer at HSS DIY
How to Hire a Hedge Trimmer from HSS DIY: Step by Step
Getting the kit to your door is straightforward. Here is how it works.
- Choose your machine using the guide above, or browse the full range at hss.com/hire/c/outdoor-gardening/hedge-tree-cutting
- Select your hire dates. Flexible periods from a single day.
- Order online at hss.com. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Next day delivery on eligible orders placed before 12pm
- Use the machine, then arrange collection when you are done.
Every hired machine comes with operating instructions. Read them before you start.
Add a Strimmer and Actually Finish the Job
Here is the part most people overlook. A hedge trimmer handles the top and sides, but the edges at ground level, the grass under the hedge line, and the awkward bits between the fence and the border are a different job altogether. A hired strimmer takes care of all of that and turns a decent result into a tidy one.
Petrol Strimmer with Cord — from £63.37 per day
The go-to for edging borders, clearing grass under hedge lines, and tidying up after the main cut. Lightweight with a curved shaft for easy manoeuvring around borders and tight corners. Hire the Petrol Strimmer with Cord
Petrol Strimmer with Star Blade — from £63.37 per day
A step up from the cord model for tougher growth: thicker grass, brambles, or stubborn weeds along the hedge base that would break a standard cord. The star blade cuts through without snagging. Hire the Petrol Strimmer with Star Blade
Leaf Blower — from £84.94 per day
Once the cutting and strimming is done, a petrol backpack leaf blower clears clippings off paths, lawns, and driveways in minutes rather than half an hour with a brush. Quietly satisfying. Hire the Leaf Blower
Hire vs Buy: The Honest Maths
If you trim hedges once or twice a year, the numbers rarely favour buying outright. Here is the comparison.
- Electric hedge trimmer: £50 to £120 to buy outright. From £29.40 per day to hire from HSS DIY. Verdict: hire unless you are trimming every other week.
- Petrol hedge trimmer: £150 to £350 to buy. From £78.78 per day to hire. Verdict: hire for most homeowners.
- Long-handled petrol hedge trimmer: £300 to £600 to buy. From £89.88 per day to hire. Verdict: hire, no question.
- Petrol strimmer: £100 to £250 to buy. From £63.37 per day to hire. Verdict: hire for seasonal garden work.
Hired machines are maintained, serviced, and ready to work. No fuel going stale over winter, no blades that need sharpening, and no repair bills when something breaks mid-job.
What to Do With All Those Clippings
Hedge clippings pile up faster than you expect. A tidy trim on a 10-metre hedge can leave you with a surprisingly large mound of green waste on the lawn. You have three options: bag and bin them, compost them if you have the space, or shred them into usable mulch.
A hired garden shredder turns even thick hedge clippings into fine material that works well as border mulch or compost accelerator. Combine it with a shredder hire and the whole job is circular rather than just generating rubbish. Hire a Garden Shredder from HSS DIY
For larger clearance jobs, HSS DIY also offers skip hire. View skip hire options
Case Study: A Proper Weekend Job in Cheshire
Helen from Cheshire had two hedges to deal with: a 20-metre leylandii boundary at the back and a compact box hedge at the front. The leylandii was well over 2m and had not been cut for two seasons. The box hedge was manageable but had gone shapeless.
She ordered the petrol hedge trimmer for the box hedge and the long-handled petrol model for the leylandii, along with the petrol strimmer with cord to tidy the grass line underneath both. Everything arrived in her HSS DIY order the following morning. She started Saturday at nine and was done by two in the afternoon.
Total hire cost for the weekend: around £170. A local garden maintenance company had quoted £325 for the same work. The hedges looked smart, the clippings were bagged, and she still had the rest of the weekend free.
Summer Hedge Trimming: When to Do It
Timing matters more than most people think. Here is a practical guide to the UK hedge trimming calendar.
- Late May to early June: First cut of the year. Targets new spring growth before it gets ahead of you. Good timing for privet, hornbeam, and beech.
- Late July to early August: Second cut for formal hedges including box and privet. Allows recovery time before autumn.
- September to October (if required): Third cut for fast-growing types like leylandii. Avoid cutting after late October as new growth can be damaged by early frosts.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to damage or destroy an active bird's nest. Before cutting any hedge between March and August, check carefully for nesting birds. If you find an active nest, leave that section until the birds have fledged. This applies to all garden hedges, not just large boundary ones. Source: legislation.gov.uk
Health and Safety: Before You Pick It Up
Hedge trimmers are effective tools that demand a bit of respect. Here is what to go through before you start.
- Always read the operating instructions that come with every hired machine before use
- Wear eye protection and hearing defenders with any petrol-powered machine
- Heavy-duty gloves are essential when handling blades or cutting near thorny growth
- Closed-toe footwear, ideally steel-capped, for any cutting work at ground level
- Never use a hedge trimmer from a ladder. Use the long-handled model or a stable working platform for tall hedges
- Keep children, pets, and bystanders well clear of the working area at all times
- For electric models: always use a residual current device (RCD) and keep the cable behind you while working
- For petrol models: allow the engine to cool fully before refuelling. Never refuel near an open flame
- Check blade guards are in position before carrying any trimmer
For full guidance on safe use of garden machinery, refer to the HSE at hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/machinery.htm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hedge trimmer hire?
Hedge trimmer hire lets you borrow a professional-grade electric or petrol hedge trimmer for a fixed period, typically by the day or week. You pay only for the time you need it, with no storage, servicing, or repair costs. HSS DIY offers next day delivery on eligible orders placed before 12pm.
What is the difference between a hedge trimmer and a strimmer?
A hedge trimmer uses reciprocating blades to cut the top and sides of hedges. A strimmer (or brushcutter) uses a rotating cord or blade to cut grass and weeds at ground level. They do different jobs. For the neatest finish, use a hedge trimmer for the hedge itself and a strimmer to tidy the edges and base.
Do I need a petrol or electric hedge trimmer?
For small hedges close to a power socket, the electric model is lighter, quieter, and perfectly capable. For larger gardens, longer hedge runs, or anywhere a cable would be awkward, a petrol model gives you more power and freedom of movement.
Can I hire a hedge trimmer for just one day?
Yes. HSS DIY offers flexible hire periods from a single day. Next day delivery is available on eligible orders placed before 12pm. You can also collect from your nearest HSS DIY branch.
Is garden tool hire worth it compared to buying?
For tools you use once or twice a year, hire almost always wins on cost. You only pay for the days you need, and every hired machine arrives ready to work. No maintenance, no storage, no unexpected repair bills.
How do I deal with hedge clippings?
Compost smaller volumes, or hire a garden shredder to turn them into mulch for your borders. For larger clearance jobs, skip hire through HSS DIY is the straightforward option. Browse garden shredder hire at hss.com/hire/c/outdoor-gardening/garden-shredders-wood-chippers
Time to Get the Garden Looking Its Best
A well-kept hedge does more for the look of a garden than almost anything else. Sharp lines, tidy edges, clippings cleared. With the right hired equipment, most hedge jobs are done in a morning rather than dragging through the weekend.
Buy the materials. Hire the tools. One order. All in one place. Browse hedge trimmer hire and strimmer hire at HSS DIY
The Home of Great Projects. Get DIY Happy.
