How to cut garden plants: an overview of modern technology

Photo: ShutterStock/Fotodom.ru

There are many types of electric and petrol tools for working garden plantings. We have already written about some of them — lawn mowers and trimmers — and we will not touch on them now. Moreover, gardeners have to cut and trim not only grass, but also shrubs and trees. Appropriate devices have been developed for them.

Photo: ShutterStock/Fotodom.ru

Brush cutters (motor shears)

Husqvarna 122HD60 gas shears (14,990 rubles). Photo: Husqvarna

The tool, in principle, resembles a hair clipper with serrated blades. Of course, the size of the cutting blade of the brush cutter is much larger: the cut length reaches 60 cm, the size of the teeth and their pitch is 2–4 cm. There are models with both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (gasoline). Brush cutters are intended mainly for cutting and cutting young shoots that have not had time to stiffen. But they can handle thicker branches too. The maximum thickness is usually indicated in the characteristics of the device and is approximately ⅔ of the tooth pitch of the blade. And it is especially convenient with the help of brush cutters to form crowns of ornamental shrubs and trees, trim hedges.

Pay attention to the material of the gearbox housing: a metal housing is preferable to a plastic one, as it does not overheat during prolonged operation; it is no coincidence that a metal gearbox is often found on professional equipment.

Husqvarna 115iHD45 cordless scissors (10,990 rubles). Photo: Husqvarna

Choose a brush cutter for productivity, which depends on the power of the tool, as well as on the length of the cutting blades. With the growth of productivity, the dimensions and weight of the tool increase, this should not be forgotten. Small cordless hedge trimmers have cutting blades 15–20 cm long and usually weigh no more than 1.5–2 kg. Such a tool can be held with one hand. There are also quite crumbs, like a Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver with a brush cutter attachment (a tool with a nozzle weighs about 0.5 kg) or a Gardena Classic Cut cordless scissors for trimming small plants. Professional models have canvases 50–60 cm long, the weight of the tool is 5–6 kg, and it already has to be held with two hands.

Modern hedge trimmers are usually equipped with a pair of blades for counter cutting. These canvases visually resemble a double-sided hair comb: on both sides there are a row of teeth 20–30 mm high with approximately the same pitch. The side edges of the teeth play the role of cutting blades. The distance between them determines the quality of cultivation of plantations. Blades with a small pitch (2 cm) give a visually more even and neatly trimmed surface.

The large pitch (3 cm) provides better performance. There are models with one-sided arrangement of teeth, but they are presented only in the professional segment.

Greenworks G40HT61 cordless brush cutter, semi-professional model with a cutting blade length of 61 cm. Battery life — 60 minutes on a single charge of 4 Ah batteries. Photo: Greenworks

How to choose a brush cutter

Battery hedge trimmers PowerCut Li-40/60 (Gardena) (20,690 rubles). Photo: Gardena

When choosing a tool, it is necessary to correctly evaluate its ergonomics and choose a model that suits you personally in terms of size and weight. After all, the brush cutter will have to be held in your hands — perhaps even on outstretched arms and for quite a long time. The tool must be well balanced so as not to tire the muscles of the wrists. Handles should be comfortable so that you can hold the tool in mittens. It is desirable that they have soft anti-vibration pads. The tip of the guide bar with moving blades must have a protective overlay made of metal or durable plastic. This protection makes it easier for you to work close to the ground or along walls and protects the blades from damage.

Accumulator garden shears. Photo: Gardena

Polecutters

Grass cutter attachment for Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver. Photo: Bosch

You can think of them as a kind of electric or gasoline chain saws. Their power mechanism consists of a drive and a cutting mechanism, which are placed on a long (for cutting branches at a height of up to 4–5 m) telescopic handle. The pole saw tire is usually shorter than that of chain saws; for household models, it does not exceed 20 cm. This length allows you to cut trunks, branches and branches up to 12–15 cm thick without much difficulty.

Pole cutters allow you to trim trees and trim branches at a height of up to 5 m without ladders.

model AccuCut Li (Gardena), the set includes two knives for grass and shrubs (8 and 12 cm). Photo: Gardena

When choosing a pole saw, pay attention primarily to the weight of the tool and the convenience of the handle design. Holding a tool weighing 7–8 kg is quite hard work, it is no coincidence that the use of pole cutters is recommended for people who are in good physical shape.

Greenworks G24PS20 pole pruner with a comfortable three-piece compound pole for working at different heights. The battery is compatible with other devices from the G-24 line (a — c). Photo: Greenworks

Garden saw Skil 0788 Lynx network, for trimming branches with a diameter of up to 80 mm. Photo: Skil

It is necessary to work with high cutters in accordance with safety rules. In particular, do not raise the tool too high, the angle of the telescopic handle should not be more than 60 ° (so as not to cut branches that are located directly above your head and can injure you if you fall). The tool must be held with both hands when working. Saw branches and branches, moving the cutting part of the tool from top to bottom. Thick and long branches must be sawn off in several stages, in small (no more than a meter) segments that cannot cause much harm if they fall. In order not to damage the bark when sawing off thick branches, a preliminary rough cut is made at the bottom of the branch.

Pole saw petrol Husqvarna 525PT5. Equipped with a long-lasting X-Torq engine with reduced emissions and significant fuel economy. The stem has a telescopic design, the total length of the tool is 402 cm. Photo: Husqvarna

Reciprocating saws

These are electric saws with a reciprocating saw blade, like a jigsaw. Reciprocating saws are mainly used in construction, but there are several models specially adapted for gardening. They are convenient to use for cutting branches and branches of large thickness (usually up to 10-15 cm).

In addition to electric saws from cordless electric saws, convenient for gardening, we note the one-of-a-kind Bosch NanoBlade chain saw (photo at the beginning of the article). This is an ultra-compact chain saw (weight 900 g) with a miniature bar (cutting depth 65 mm). The continuous movement of the chain ensures smooth cutting and no vibration associated with jigsaws and reciprocating saws.

Tree trimming. Photo: ShutterStock/Fotodom.ru

What food to choose?

Electric pole cutter Sterwins 720 W (4591 rubles). Photo: Leroy Merlin

Tools are produced both with electric motors and with internal combustion engines (ICE). For a garden, a cordless tool is perhaps the best solution, especially if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe site does not exceed four to five acres. For large and neglected areas, you can choose a gas tool. It is powerful and high-performance, but a gasoline engine pollutes the air with exhaust and is about 10-15 dBA noisier than an electric one. The average noise level of a tool with an electric motor is 80-85 dBA, but there are quieter models. Thus, the noise level of the Husqvarna 115iHD45 cordless scissors is 74 dBA.

Pole cutter CG-PS (Hitachi) for petrol multitrimmer CG27EJ. Photo: Hitachi

Mains-powered power tools may not be very comfortable to use. But if the garden is located next to the house, you can stop at this option.

Pole saw petrol Husqvarna 525PT5S (44,990 rubles). Photo: Husqvarna

Today, a mains-powered electric brush cutter can be bought for 3–5 thousand rubles, household battery models are 30–50% more expensive. Even more expensive (from 10 thousand rubles) are professional models Stihl, Makita, Husqvarna with a battery or gasoline engine. Household pole cutters cost 6–8 thousand rubles, reciprocating saws — 5–10 thousand rubles.

Security measures

1. When working with noisy power tools, it is recommended to use ear protection.
2. Protect your eyes from getting small debris and dust into them when cutting plants, use safety glasses.
3. When using a corded tool, make sure that you are adequately protected against electric shock. Wear sturdy shoes with good insulating properties for work.

Battery pruner Husqvarna 536LiPT5 (33,990 rubles). Photo: Husqvarna

• Source: Ideas for Your Home Magazine#229

Material prepared

Boris Bezel