I don't need a minister to call me a (Garden) Groom.

July 3, 2008 4:18 AM

Does anyone have direct experience of using a Garden Groom hedge trimmer?

It looks jolly excellent but I'm wondering whether it'll cope well with a hundred feet or so of eight-foot high privet. Yes, I know their site is full of glowing testimonials and positive reviews, but I'm still sceptical.

Currently I'm using a crappy conventional electric trimmer that constantly jams on twigs and weighs far more than I'd like. Which means that right now I cut the hedge only when it's seriously overdue.

Whaddayathink?

posted by le morte de bea arthur to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

Well, I do not have any personal experience, but since you're asking for my thoughts, too...

It has a rotating blade. When trimming grass, a rotating blade whacks off the grass in messier manner than a spindel mower. The spindle mower is said to actually cut the grass. The proper cut is supposed to be healthier for the lawn. Myself, I use a rotating blade mower anyway, but with a hedge a good cut that doesn't bruise the twigs too much seems to be more important.

What is the maximum diameter of wood the Garden Groom can trim? It might get stuck anyway. Did you sharpen the blades on your old hedge trimmer?

But I have to admit, that the twig collecting system seems to be very attactive.

Some points from German Gardening fora:
-collecting is nice
-need to go over the hedge several times, since it doesn't cut as deep as you want the first time.
-a little bit louder than standard hedge trimmers
-hard to clean
- gets pretty heavy by the time the collecting sack is full
- the high point is the collecting system

And here I found an englisch review site.
posted by mmkhd at 5:29 AM on July 3, 2008

FWIW, the Pro model will cut branches up to .8 inches in diameter (green wood).
posted by vers at 6:32 AM on July 3, 2008