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How to use a hedge trimmer safely

Updated: October 2026

How to use a hedge trimmer safely in the UK is mostly what you do before the blade moves: look for nests, keep people clear, stay off a wet hedge, and keep the cable behind you. Cut the sides first, then the top, with a string if you want the line straight. This page does not rank the three models in the [Black+Decker hedge trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/black-and-decker-hedge-trimmer). A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The steps follow the RHS, Electrical Safety First, the BEHT201 manual and the wildlife rules that apply in England. Peter F. has not filmed a cut.

How to use a hedge trimmer safely in the UK is mostly what you do before the blade moves: look for nests, keep people clear, stay off a wet hedge, and keep the cable behind you.

Our top picks

Black+Decker Black+Decker GTC1845L20-QW

Best overall

Black+Decker Black+Decker GTC1845L20-QW
9.4/10about £125
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Black+Decker Black+Decker BEHT201-GB

Rank 2

Black+Decker Black+Decker BEHT201-GB
9.3/10about £44.94
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Black+Decker Black+Decker BCHTS36B-XJ

Rank 3

Black+Decker Black+Decker BCHTS36B-XJ
8.1/10about £83.49
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On this page
  1. 1.Before the blade moves
  2. 2.How to cut
  3. 3.The cable
  4. 4.When to stop

Before the blade moves

Walk the hedge first. In England it is an offence to damage a wild bird, a nest in use or being built, or an egg. The RSPB suggests cutting from 1 September to 28 February and still looking. The RHS notes nesting from early March to early August, sometimes longer. If a nest is in use, leave that stretch. Wear goggles and thick gloves. Do not trim in the rain. Corded tools need a UK 3-pin plug and an RCD even in dry weather. If a battery model will not start, check the pack is the right voltage. An 18 V pack on a 36 V tool is the 36 V battery problem, not a flat battery. The BEHT201 manual states a 16 mm limit and a guaranteed sound power of 100 dB(A). If you cannot reach the top with both feet on the ground, stop.

How to cut

Cut the sides first, from the bottom upward, then the top. That is the RHS order. A slight taper, narrower at the top, lets light reach the lower growth. Tie a string between two canes and cut to the string. The BEHT201 manual says the same job: a slight tilt, a string line, and the sides upward. Do not force a stem past the tooth gap: 16 mm on the BEHT201, 18 mm pitch on the 18 V listing, 22 mm on the 36 V tool. Take that wood with loppers. Laurel looks better with secateurs. On conifers, stay in the green. Keep both hands on the handles and do not tape a switch down.
Black+Decker Black+Decker GTC1845L20-QW

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Black+Decker Black+Decker GTC1845L20-QW
9.4/10about £125
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The cable

On a corded trimmer the cable is the accident. Electrical Safety First treats a cut cable as a leading garden electrical accident, and the mitigation is an RCD. Put the lead over your shoulder. Do not drag it across a wet hedge, unwind an outdoor extension fully, and do not chain long extensions. Saved UK reviews of the BEHT201 repeat a lead or plug that comes out, and cables cut by the blade. If the plug will not stay in, stop. Do not wedge it with tape. A cordless tool removes that shock path only when the right pack is fitted. The choice is on the corded or cordless page, not in the middle of a cut.

When to stop

Stop when the blade jams. Unplug a corded tool, or remove the pack, before you pull the stems out. A hot smell or smoke is the end of the session. Do not open the housing if you are not equipped to work on it. In England, a qualifying farm hedgerow has a closed cutting season from 1 March to 31 August, with exceptions on GOV.UK. That is not a ban on every garden hedge. The bird offence still applies in a garden in June if a nest is in use. HSE's initial in-use vibration value is 7 m/s². The BEHT201 manual declares 2.5 m/s², uncertainty 1.5. A numb hand is a reason to stop. Change model on the buying guide.

Common questions

Do I cut the top or the sides first?
Cut the sides first, from the bottom upward, and the top afterwards. That is the RHS method, and the BEHT201 manual points the same way: sides upward, a slight tilt, and a string line for the top. Doing the top first drops clippings into the face you have not shaped.
Do I need an RCD if it is not raining?
Yes, on a corded trimmer. Electrical Safety First asks for a UK 3-pin plug and an RCD because a cut cable happens in dry weather too. Rain is a separate reason to stop. Use an outdoor-rated extension, fully unwound. A cordless tool should still stay out of the rain.
Can I trim in June if I see no birds?
Only after you have looked and found no nest in use. The offence in England is damaging a wild bird, a nest that is in use or being built, or an egg. The 1 March to 31 August restriction is for qualifying farm hedgerows, not for every suburban privet.
What if the cable will not stay in?
Stop. UK reviews of the BEHT201 often say the lead or plug comes out. Tape is not a repair. Unplug, and do not carry on if the sheath is nicked. If this happens on every session, this corded model is the wrong one to keep using.
What if the blade jams or smells hot?
Release the switch, unplug or remove the battery, and only then clear the jam. On a 16 mm tool a jam usually means the stem was too thick. A hot smell or smoke is the end of the cut for the day.
Where does the farm-hedgerow ban fit?
It fits qualifying hedgerows on agricultural land in England, where cutting is restricted from 1 March to 31 August, with exceptions on GOV.UK. It does not ban a garden hedge. A garden hedge is still covered by the wild-bird rules.

Related pages

Black+Decker hedge trimmer

BCHTS36B battery not included, pack sold separately

Best Black+Decker hedge trimmer for a small UK hedge

Which Black+Decker hedge trimmer to buy for the UK

Corded or cordless Black+Decker hedge trimmer guide

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these three listings were scored on 22 October 2026.

  1. Black+Decker BEHT201-GB 45 cm hedge trimmer (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. BEHT201-GB manual (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Black+Decker BCHTS36B-XJ tool-only hedge trimmer (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. HSE INDG480 hand-arm vibration (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. GOV.UK wild birds: protection, surveys and licences (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK hedgerow management rules (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Electrical Safety First: hedge trimmers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. RSPB birds' nests and nest boxes (retrieved 22 October 2026)