Hedge shears are an essential component of every gardener or landscaper’s toolbox. Many people use this tool to prevent overgrowth and maintain hedges, while others use premium-quality hedge shears for pruning bushes and hedges into creative shapes. Luckily for you, we've compared the best hedge shears of 2024 in this buying guide, consider several factors, such as the use of hedge shears and the features you should look for before buying one. We closely looked out for weight, size, maintenance, ease of use, and so on. The OARA Garden Hedge Shears win our vote as the best hedge shears of 2024, with the others following closely behind.
Our Top Picks For Hedge Shears
The Best Hedge Shears
Best Overall
This brand is noted for its commitment to quality products and service delivery, evident in the OARA Garden Hedge shears. With these gardening pruning shears, you will easily cut down your fatigue while quickly trimming branches, thus allowing you to enjoy the benefit of gardening. This trimming hedges shear uses premium quality 65MN carbon steel. It has a sharp edge that can effortlessly cut different branch types. It is perfect for manicuring and shaping boxwood, shrubs, hedges, and decorative plants.
One other department where this shear is impressive is its ergonomic design, where it has soft vinyl cushion grips that give it improved comfort. Also, it has shock-absorbing bumpers, which help prevent jarring vibrations and cut down shoulder fatigue. The blade comes with Teflon coating, which helps in preventing rust. All these things considered, it’s no surprise this pair of shears is our best overall pick.
Pros
- Soft vinyl grips for good comfort
- Teflon coating to prevent rust
- Durable and quality materials
Cons
- A bit heavy
Runner Up
The Gonicc professional adjustable hedge shears are the perfect equipment for shaping and trimming your decorative plants and shrubs. With this tool, you can reach any shrub regardless of height and distance. It has a length in a closed position of 25″ while the extended length is 33″. The tool is made using rubber and aluminum, and its non-slip handle is made using the best quality materials. Additionally, it has an ergonomic design which makes it more durable, stable, and comfortable when being used.
Another outstanding feature of this rake is its adjustable blade pressure, making it possible to prune all kinds of plants. It is made using good quality carbon SK-5 steel, which is very strong, so you don’t bother about the pruning blade becoming dull. Finally, it has a shock-absorbing design which helps prevent shock while trimming.
Pros
- Durable, adjustable handles
- Adjustable blade pressure
- Made using durable material
- Shock absorbing capabilities
Cons
- Can accumulate rust if exposed to water or humid conditions
Honorable Mention
Few shears do the type of job GARTOL extendable handle hedge shears do. These unique tools are best used for vineyards which is why they come with a heavy-duty design that can handle your garden and yard duties. It has an extendable length range of between 17 inches and 25.6 inches which means you can reach any shrug high and far. Also, this shear comes with a tension control knob which means you can adjust the blades for cutting dense stems and branches. It is built using hardened precision-ground SK5 premium carbon steel 9in, so the edges retain their sharpness over time.
Other features include its shock-absorbing bumpers, which help arrest noise and vibrations. The tool is made using comfortable adjustable handles, making them suitable for prolonged use without getting blisters.
Pros
- Good and comfortable grip
- Comes with unique shock-absorbing bumpers
- Precise cuts
- Adjustable blade tension
Cons
- Blade is not suitable for cutting branches that are too big
Contender
Fiskars Power Lever 8-inch hedge shears is a unique tool that gives the user extra leverage when cutting plants. These well-hardened precision-ground steel blades come with a serrated edge that helps you grip while cutting as well as a self-sharpening design that enables you to cut crisply and cleanly. Also, it is rust-resistant, and the low-friction coating helps you get perfect cuts. The shock-absorbing bumpers help capture unwanted vibrations while you enjoy a non-slip grip with the durable steel.
This tool is perfect for shaping and trimming decorative shrubs and hedges. It has power-lever technology that helps multiply leverage to give you twice the cutting power which regular single-pivot shears cannot offer.
Pros
- Double leverage for cutting
- Low-friction coating optimizes the performance
- Self-sharpening design
Cons
- A newbie may not find it easy for use
Sharpest Option
If you want to enjoy precise and smooth cuts regardless of the foliage, then the Okatsune hedge shears is a great option that you must consider. It eliminates chewed and crushed cuts. Note that blades are made using hot hammer-forged steel, which is usually used for making Japanese swords. This gives it maximum power and sharpness. Using this shear, you are sure of getting good quality work done without injuring yourself in the process.
Pros
- Very sharp blades
- Easy to use
- Not heavy on the hands
Cons
- Care should be taken when using the blades as they are too sharp
Easiest to Use
This list will not be complete without the Corona Extendable Hedge shear. This shear is made to produce the best quality work with little effort and less risk of injury. It is made using 8.5 inches forged high carbon steel blade, which makes it more solid and durable. Also, the ShockStop bumper helps to cut down shoulder and arm fatigue when used. In addition to this, the precision-made pivot bolt ensures you enjoy smooth cutting action at all times.
Pros
- Strong and durable
- Lightweight build
- Smooth cutting action
Cons
- May rust if exposed to water and air
Most Lightweight
The Colwet hedge shears make our list of the best hedge shears for a few reasons. Firstly. It is 21″ long and weighs about 1.8lbs which means it is pretty lightweight, durable, sharp, and produces perfect cuts. This tool is ideal for manicuring and shaping boxwood, shrubs, hedges, and decorative topiary plants. The blades of this tool are made using forged carbon steel which gives it high performance and enhanced durability.
Additionally, this tool has an ergonomic, comfortable design because the design of this hedge clipper is made to give you a pleasant and easy pruning experience. Also, the shock-absorbing bumper helps to soften jarring vibrations of unplanned stops.
Pros
- Pleasant and efficient trimming
- Comfortable design
- Lightweight and durable
Cons
- The frame can bend if used on branches that are too thick
A Buying Guide to Hedge Shears
Shears are built in different styles, shapes, prices, and sizes. One person’s choice may not be the best for another, so you may need to select a multi-purpose tool if your work demands that. If what you have is a topiary garden, you should consider getting smaller shears.
Vital Things To Consider Before Buying Hedge Shears
Size and weight
Because heavy trimming can be repetitive and requires climbing above shoulder height, you need to consider the tool’s weight. Using a heavy device will quickly wear you out, and you may also need to get giant telescope handles for a perfect job. You will find shears made from lighter materials such as fiberglass and aluminum, while wood and steel are heavier.
Pattern of cutting
The Geared technology gives you room to cut larger branches with minimal effort. This feature may be pretty helpful. You may not require added power if you are someone who shears your shrubs regularly.
Ease of use
Search for shock-absorbing bumpers and cushioned handle grips as they will help reduce wear and tear on your arms. Also, be sure to check the tool’s action before you buy because devices require a lot of effort to open and close, while some have scissors-like action.
Spare part availability
Just as it is with pruners, premium brands always come with provisions for replacement parts. If you sharpen, clean, and refurbish your tools regularly, having replacement tools is always great.
Blade type
If you are cutting hedges and shrubs close to you, you ought to pick a blade that is about six inches and has a short handle. However, if you aim for long-distance and professional cuts, get a large pivot hedge with longer holds and make sure the blade measures up to twelve inches.
If you want to get a blade you can sharpen easily, you should go for shears with straight edges because they can be easily sharpened using a milestone. But blades that have serration on both parts are perfect for cutting and gripping twigs greater than a quarter of an inch. Also, you may want to consider blades that come with a non-stick coating which ensures the edges don’t rust or gum together. You should also consider shears that have adjustable pivot-bolt.
Cost
Hedge shears are affordable, and you can get one for as low as $15 and a high-end version for as high as $120. Just have a budget of at least $40 if you want to get quality shears.
Shock absorption
People who have used an old pair of hedge shears before will remember hitting the knuckles together. The modern clippers are made to add some shock-absorbing features, which helps cut down this issue. Hedge shears can cut down shock by including rubber grips in the handle, which helps absorb sweat and vibrations, thus giving a better grip.
Tips for Using Shears
Usually, people who own shears use them for pruning and gardening. You need to keep the bushes trimmed for your health because if you let them become overgrown, it becomes difficult for the plant to thrive, thus creating an eyesore for the garden or lawn. Also, ensure to stay safe when using the shears and safely store them when you are not using them. Whatever you do, never allow children to access these shears, and always clean and dry them after every use before storage. The blades also need to be regularly sharpened, and you have to store them in a dry place.
Final Thoughts
Getting a premium quality gardening tool is your surest bet to maintaining large hedges. Ease of use and safety are the most critical factors you should consider when getting shears, which is why you must conduct thorough research as a buyer of such tools. Hedge shears are capable of lasting a long time, depending on how you use them. You can hardly go wrong choosing any of the devices on our list.
Now that you’ve gotten to know what you should look out for in high-quality hedge shears, watch this video by Fiskars Europe to see how to properly use them!
Hedge Shears FAQ
How best can I sharpen my hedge shears?
The perfect way to sharpen your tool is to use a sharpening tool for the blade’s edge. You will find different options of stone out there which you can use at home.
What is the main difference between straight and wavy blades?
The main difference between straight and wavy blades is that the wavy ones are cleaner and more accurate in cuts. Also, they help in preventing the blade from getting gummed up and creating blunt and bad scratches.
How best can I clean my blade?
When cleaning your blades, ensure you wash them using a hose so that all the organic materials and dirt can be cleaned off the edge. Also, if we are using a power washer, it would do a better job. Upon washing the blade, ensure you dry off the blades to avert rust before placing them back into storage.
