farmergiles

So there's this 9 foot high leylandi hedge. I'm trying to trim it. Edit- to 6 ft.

The reciprocating trimmer thing won't cut through the big branches.
I tried a small electric 1 1/2 foot chainsaw but that doesn't work either because the smaller branches just bend a bit and don't cut. I think this chainsaw is fairly useless, probably blunt, but I don't know much about chainsaws.
It is impossible to get access with a tractor and hedgetrimmer.
I can cut each branch by hand individually but it will probably grow quicker than I can hack the fucker back .

Anyone know much about hedges and stuff?

Should I get a 5 foot chainsaw or will I probably cut my own head off?

Pic stolen from internets (not mine).

Attached Images

 

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Lloydy

you have an excuse to buy a massive chainsaw and you're asking us if you should do it?

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farmergiles

You've been watching zombie films!

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Kompressor

Changing your chain or getting a larger chainsaw is probably your easiest bet.

Probably will have to do two sweeps, one with the chainsaw for the larger branches then again with the trimmer for the smaller ones.

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SageTree

Heh.... As a landscape gardener I'd be asking why take it down after it's gotten that tall?

How long is your hedge you are cutting? A good pruning saw might help you nip them... I mean... it just takes time to do something like that. That thing didn't get 9ft tall in a day and you aren't going to take 3ft off of it in that time either

You could get a bigger chainsaw that would actually work great and then you could go back and make it look nice finished and clean, in a second sweep.

Don't be scared of it man. Get some chaps, leather gloves, ear protection and eye protection. A hard hat might be an over kill, but you are cutting something above your head.

I personally do a lot better when running things, like a stone cutter, when I have good safety gear on. Shit stays out of you eyes and you're not in shock from the noise The chaps are just a good idea and will prohibit you from sawing off your leg.

Most importantly... if you're running that thing is to have a spotter. It's not a good idea to run a machine alone, especially if you have some apprehension about using it.

Get a feel for it, cut something smaller down, get up on a good ladder and cut that shit Farmer G!!


But again... if possible, let that shit grow

Good luck and safe playing.

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farmergiles

Thanks for the advice folks. Down to the tool hire shop for me then .

Yeah PPE is a good idea when using big diamond cutters and chainsaws or similar for sure.

Dunno if you get leylandii over there Sagey, it's a cutting from a sterile cross between monterey cypress and alaskan cypress. It's the devil's shrub- it grows a foot a year in poor soil and grows to over 100 ft tall.

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Kompressor

Around here the deer keep my hedges trimmed.

It's awesome cuz not only do they do my gardening, but a same doe gives birth every year in the same spot in our backyard. They've also learned to stay away from my actual garden so it's a wonderful symbiotic relationship.

I just have to cut the muffin tops that are out of the deer's reach.

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Bad dog

you might want to try a ladder.
nice hedge btw

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Flamingnun

Seriously, are you insane? Don't even consider raising a tool that far above you from ground level, especially since you mentioned you're PPE conscious!

Personally I'd use a ladder as a last resort, get yourself down to SpeedyHire (You're in England, aye?) and rent a set of lightweight staging for the week, or even an alloy handrail;

Lightweight Staging - Alloy --- Speedy Hire

Alloy Hand Rail System --- Speedy Hire

The alloy hand rail's cheap as chips to hire for a week, but personally I'd go for the staging, speaking from experience cutting 15"+ hawthorn bushes (much worse than Leylandi!) it's invaluable equipment, especially considering it's cheap to rent for the week and fits reasonably easily in most cars, with the seats down.

A good (sharpened) Stihl hedgecutter should see you through even the toughest of branches, albieit with a touch of sawing for those over about 2.5", even in the pissing rain. Get yourself one of the hardhats with a fold down mesh screen/visor, and ear defenders on the side, they're awesome for the job, especially when you're cutting things above your head with bits raining down on you.

Best of luck!

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farmergiles

That's not my pic, the hedge I'm fighting is only 9 ft high! lol

I'm hearing you about the Stihl and the proper hat though.

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The Rev

Use explosives.



The Rev

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Flamingnun

*Topiary college, actually.

Still high enough to render a chainsaw out of the question, personally. I'd still rent one and cut something down though, just because you can. And it's super awesome fun. Just wear a chainmail suit if you're waving it about above your head, horizontally.

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The years go fast and the days go so slow

~1~

What you need, is one of these...





Thanks to the fact they used an Ozzy song for the background music means you'll probably have to go to YouTube to see it, but it's worth it. I could see some other uses for a machine like this.

Crowd dispersal?

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farmergiles

Lol I'm not sure dispersal is the right word...

Disembowelment?

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mothernature

If those are your hedges, you might want to consider cutting them to ground level!!!

Leyland Cypress are notoriously fast growing and short lived. You will be hacking them every single year until they finally die of old age. They only live about 20-25 years.

There are much better choices for the home landscape.

farmergiles

I didn't know they are so short lived- I did know they are clone only (edit or f1 lol).

Yeah for sure there are better choices naplm the fuckers I say!!11

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SageTree

Thinking about you today Brother when I was pruning up the cedar hedges around a property today

Nun you the man !!!!

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farmergiles

Cheers for all the advice, the hedge is now about 6' high.

The petrol trimmer disintegrated so I had to finish the last little bit by hand. Maybe a fucking massive chainsaw was the right tool for the job but anyway it's done now.

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SageTree

Thanks for the finale' brother. Good work

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