Hedge trimmers buyers guide
Category Guide

How to choose the best RYOBI hedge trimmer for your garden

This guide offers a practical approach to choosing the right type of trimmer, the appropriate battery system, bar length and whether a pole attachment is needed for taller hedges. It focuses on RYOBI hedge trimmers and accessories.

RYOBI NEW ZEALAND Mon, 09/07/2026 - 19:32

Healthy hedges not only add curb appeal to a home, but they can also help turn an average garden into a shapely, neat and well organised space. Getting a clean finish to a hedge is much easier when you choose a hedge trimmer that suits the size, height and maturity of your plants. For instance, a compact shrub trimmer can be ideal for light shaping, while a longer-bar, more powerful model is a better match for dense, established hedges. And if the top of your hedge is above shoulder height, an extended-reach option can help you trim safely from the ground rather than relying on a ladder.

What to look for in a cordless hedge trimmer
 

Start with the hedge, not the tool

The best hedge trimmer choice usually comes down to three simple questions: how large is the hedge, how thick is the growth, and how high do you need to reach? Small or newly planted hedges often only need light, controlled trimming. Medium hedges need a longer blade to keep lines straight. Large, mature hedges need more power, a wider cut capacity and features that help reduce jams. Tall hedges call for extra reach and an articulating head so you can shape tops and sides without awkward body positioning.


Battery system: 18V ONE+ or 36V?

RYOBI 18V ONE+ hedge trimmers are a convenient choice for everyday trimming, especially if you already own ONE+ tools and batteries. They suit regular maintenance, smaller gardens and users who appreciate lighter handling. RYOBI 36V hedge trimmers are designed for larger jobs where extra power, longer runtimes and higher cutting performance are useful. If you are maintaining thick, mature hedges or cutting for longer sessions, 36V is generally the better option. If you need even more power and runtime, HP tools and batteries may be better suited to your tasks. HP models are available in both 18V and 36V ranges.


Choosing by garden type

For courtyards, townhouses and smaller gardens, an 18V compact or mid-size trimmer is usually the most practical choice. For suburban blocks with several hedges, a 50cm 18V trimmer offers a good balance of reach, value and battery compatibility. For large properties, boundary hedges or older dense growth, a 36V trimmer will generally make trimming more efficient. For hedges above comfortable shoulder height, choose an EZ Reach pole hedge trimmer or an Expand-IT hedge trimmer setup with an extension pole.

RYOBI’s best cordless hedge trimmers in New Zealand

Ryobi ONE+ Hedge & Grass Shear 2Ah Kit

Compact 18V ONE+ hedge trimmers

Best for small hedges, shrubs and topiary

For small hedges, new growth, soft shrubs and detailed shaping, choose a compact 18V option or a shorter-blade hedge trimmer. These tools are light and easy to manoeuvre around curves, edges and garden beds. This makes them a good fit for topiary, low hedges and regular touch-ups. They are also a sensible entry point if you want cordless convenience without stepping up to a larger, heavier trimmer.

  • Lightweight handling helps reduce fatigue when shaping small hedges, soft shrubs and detailed topiary.
  • Shorter blade lengths improve control around curves, corners and delicate new growth.
  • 18V ONE+ battery compatibility can save money and storage space if you already own compatible RYOBI tools.
18V ONE+ Hedge Trimmers
Ryobi 18V Hedge Trimmer 2Ah Kit

45cm to 55cm 18V hedge trimmers

Best for medium hedges

A mid-size 18V hedge trimmer is a great all-rounder for many New Zealand gardens. Models in the 45cm to 55cm range give you enough bar length to keep hedge faces straight while remaining manageable for routine maintenance. For example, a RYOBI 18V ONE+ 50cm hedge trimmer with diamond-ground blades (blades that stay sharp for a long time), 22mm cut capacity, a round handle and a Hedge Sweep accessory, is well suited to neat, repeatable trimming on medium hedges and bushes.

  • 45cm to 55cm blade lengths cover more hedge with each pass, helping achieve straighter sides and cleaner top lines.
  • Cut capacities around the low-20mm range suit established garden growth and many routine maintenance jobs.
  • Features such as Hedge Sweep accessories clear loose clippings from the blade path for a smoother finish and fewer jams.
18V ONE+ Hedge Trimmers
Ryobi 36V 60cm Hedge Trimmer

36V 60cm to 65cm hedge trimmers

Best for large and mature hedges

If your garden has broad, dense or mature hedges, stepping up to a 36V hedge trimmer can make the job faster and more controlled. Longer 60cm to 65cm blades cover more area per pass, while higher cut capacities are useful for thicker branches and tougher seasonal growth. Longer blades, however, need more power in order for them to cut efficiently through that amount of growth in each pass. Hence, RYOBI’s powerful 36V range of high-performance hedge trimmers are a great choice.

  • Longer 60cm to 65cm bars reduce the number of passes needed across wide hedge faces.
  • 36V battery power is better suited to demanding trimming sessions and thicker mature growth.
  • Brushless and anti-jam-style performance features can help maintain cutting speed and reduce interruptions.
36V Hedge Trimmers
18V ONE+ EZ Reach 40cm Pole Hedge Trimmer

EZ Reach pole hedge trimmers

Best for tall hedges

For tall hedges, reach and control are just as important as cutting power. RYOBI’s EZ Reach range is designed around a common power head and telescopic pole, helping users trim, cut and prune overhead areas while keeping both feet on the ground. RYOBI’s 18V ONE+ 40cm EZ Reach pole hedge trimmer delivers up to 3.1m extra reach (pole length), has a 40cm blade, 16mm cut capacity, articulating head and detachable Hedge Sweep accessory, making it a practical option for tall hedges and shrubs.

  • Extended EZ Reach pole length helps trim taller hedges safely from the ground, reducing the need to work from ladders.
  • Articulating heads let you adjust the cutting angle for hedge tops, faces and hard-to-reach sections.
  • 18V ONE+ compatibility keeps the system convenient for users already invested in RYOBI cordless garden tools.
EZ Reach Hedge Trimmers
Expand-It 45cm Hedge Trimmer Attachment

Expand-IT Hedge Trimmer Attachment

Best for budget

The Expand-IT system allows compatible attachments to be swapped onto one 18V or 36V power head, helping save money and storage space. The RYOBI Expand-IT 45cm hedge trimmer attachment has dual-action blades (back and forth), a 25mm cut capacity, a 10-position articulating head and up to 3m reach when used with a compatible power head and extension pole.

  • Compatibility with Expand-IT power heads lets one motor unit operate several garden attachments.
  • A 45cm dual-action blade and 25mm cut capacity suit tall hedges, bushes and small branches.
  • A 10-position articulating head improves trimming angles for hedge tops, sides and low-level shrubs.
Expand It Hedge Trimmers

Hedge Trimmer Comparison Guide


Features worth comparing before you buy

Blade length affects speed and straightness. A longer blade cuts a wider sweep, which is helpful on large flat hedge faces, while a shorter blade can feel easier to guide around tight spaces. Cut capacity indicates the branch diameter the tool is designed to handle, so thicker mature hedges generally call for a higher capacity, with the power to match. Dual-action and diamond-ground blades can help deliver cleaner cuts and reduce vibration, supporting a neater finish and healthier regrowth.

Comfort features also matter. Round or rotating handles can make vertical and horizontal cutting easier, while articulating heads on pole hedge trimmers help you find the right angle without over-extending. Accessories like a Hedge Sweep attachment can clear loose cuttings away from the blade, which helps reduce jamming while letting you see which areas still need trimming to maintain a crisp line along the top of a hedge.

Ryobi 18V ONE+ 50cm cordless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, displayed on a clean, white background.
R18HTR40
18V ONE+ 50cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP 55cm brushless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring a green and black design with ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, suitable for precise garden maintenance.
R18XHTR10
18V ONE+ HP™ Brushless 55cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 36V 60cm cordless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, displayed on a clean white background.
R36HTR10
36V 60cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 36V HP™ brushless 65cm hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring a green and black design with extended reach and precision cutting blades, suitable for efficient garden maintenance.
R36HTRBL
36V HP™ Brushless 65cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 18V ONE+ 50cm cordless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, displayed on a clean, white background.
R18HTR40
18V ONE+ 50cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP 55cm brushless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring a green and black design with ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, suitable for precise garden maintenance.
R18XHTR10
18V ONE+ HP™ Brushless 55cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 36V 60cm cordless hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring ergonomic handle and dual-action blades, displayed on a clean white background.
R36HTR10
36V 60cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Ryobi 36V HP™ brushless 65cm hedge trimmer, tool only, featuring a green and black design with extended reach and precision cutting blades, suitable for efficient garden maintenance.
R36HTRBL
36V HP™ Brushless 65cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
Price
$ 199.00
$ 249.00
$ 249.00
$ 399.00
Key Features
  • 50cm dual action blades for making precise cuts
  • 22mm cutting capacity for medium-large hedges, shrubs, and bushes
  • 2700 stroke speed for making clean cuts
  • HEDGESWEEP™ attachment clears away clippings while you trim
  • Diamond ground blades help promote healthy plant regrowth
  • 18V ONE+ platform powering over 200+ products
  • 55cm dual action blades for making precise cuts
  • 24mm cutting capacity for medium-large hedges, shrubs, and bushes
  • 3100 stroke speed for making clean cuts
  • HEDGESWEEP™ attachment clears away clippings while you trim
  • Anti-Jam™ technology help to dislodge thick branches when caught in the blades
  • Diamond ground blades help promote healthy plant regrowth
  • In-line handle for easy grip and control
  • Powerful 18V HP brushless motor deliver higher performance
  • 18V ONE+ platform powering over 200+ products
  • 60cm dual action blades for making precise cuts
  • 25mm cutting capacity for medium-large hedges, shrubs, and bushes
  • 32000 stroke speed for making clean cuts
  • HEDGESWEEP™ attachment clears away clippings while you trim
  • Diamond ground blades help promote healthy plant regrowth
  • 36V platform powering over 35+ products
  • 65cm dual action blades for making precise cuts
  • 28mm cutting capacity for medium-large hedges, shrubs, and bushes
  • 3000 stroke speed for making clean cuts
  • HEDGESWEEP™ attachment clears away clippings while you trim
  • Rear rotating handle for ultimate user control
  • Anti-Jam™ technology help to dislodge thick branches when caught in the blades
  • Low vibration cutting action produces less noise
  • Powerful 36V HP brushless motor deliver higher performance
  • 36V platform powering over 35+ products
Usage
  • Hedging
  • Pruning
  • Shaping
  • Hedging
  • Pruning
  • Shaping
  • Hedging
  • Pruning
  • Shaping
  • Hedging
  • Pruning
  • Shaping
Reviews
Specifications
Motor
18V
Brushless 18V
36V
Brushless 36V
Bar Length
50cm
55cm
––
65cm
Cut Capacity
22mm
24mm
25mm
28mm
Blade Speed
2700SPM
3100SPM
3200SPM
3000SPM
Noise LWA
89.6dB(A)
93dB(A)
––
93dB(A)
Tool Weight
2.4Kg
2.4Kg
3.63Kg
3.3Kg
Blade Length
––
––
60cm
––
Inclusions
  • 18V ONE+ 50cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
  • Hedge Sweep
  • Scabbard
  • Owners Manual
  • 18V ONE+ HP™ Brushless 55cm Hedge Trimmer
  • Scabbard
  • Hedge Sweep
  • Owners Manual
  • 36V 60cm Hedge Trimmer Tool Only
  • Hedge Sweep
  • Owners Manual
  • 36V HP™ Brushless 65cm Hedge Trimmer
  • Scabbard
  • Hedge Sweep
  • Owners Manual
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Final word from RYOBI

RYOBI hopes this guide has helped make choosing the right hedge trimmer simpler. Whether you are tidying a small front hedge, maintaining mature screening plants or shaping tall boundary hedges with EZ Reach or Expand-IT, matching the tool to the job will help you work more comfortably and achieve a cleaner result. Explore the RYOBI hedge trimmer range at RYOBI New Zealand and Bunnings Warehouse to find the option that best suits your garden, batteries and trimming needs.

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Frequently asked questions

    How often should I trim my hedge in New Zealand?

    Most New Zealand hedges benefit from 2–4 trims per year: a heavy trim in late winter before new growth, a light shaping in late spring or early summer, and a tidy-up trim in autumn. Fast-growing species like lilly pilly and photinia may need trimming every 6–8 weeks during peak growing season (September to March). Always trim before growth becomes woody — lighter, regular trimming is easier than recovering from heavy overgrowth.

    Can a cordless hedge trimmer cut through thick branches?

    A cordless hedge trimmer with a 19mm tooth gap cleanly cuts branches up to 19mm thick — adequate for most established residential hedges. Branches thicker than the tooth gap should be cut with loppers or a pruning saw first, then trimmed. Forcing the hedge trimmer through oversized branches damages the blade and risks kickback. If your hedge has significant woody overgrowth, consider a light chainsaw or pole saw for the initial cutback.

    What personal protective equipment (PPE) should I wear when using a hedge trimmer?

    Always wear: heavy-duty gardening gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and enclosed footwear. Long trousers are recommended when trimming near leg height. Ear protection is optional for short sessions but worthwhile for extended trimming. Never use a hedge trimmer near children or pets — the blade cuts in both directions and debris is expelled at speed.

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