Hedge cutting platform

Strapped

Hi, just wondering whether anyone has any advice about the best way to tackle a hedge cutting issue. We have a conifer hedge at the front of our garden, but the garden is raised up above road level. It's no problem cutting the hedge (about 6ft / 2m) from the garden side, but from the road side it's about 12ft high at the highest point. (I say highest point, as we are also on a hill, to further complicate matters, so the road slopes).

So far we have just about managed with a precarious arrangement of me standing on a stepladder held by hubbie, while waving a hedge trimmer around but it's a stretch to do the highest bit.

I looked at the telescopic hedge trimmers, but they don't look that great tbh.

So now I'm looking at work platforms to access the hedge a bit more securely. Does anyone have any suggestions please? I've seen this Wickes/Youngman one but I'm not sure what height platform it will safely create. Plus it's a bit more than I wanted to spend (but if I must then I will). http://www.wickes.co.uk/professional-5-way-combi-ladder+deck/invt/170008/

Any other suggestions welcome. (Other than getting a pro in, because we've also tried that a couple of times and they've done a terrible job :rotfl: I'd sooner do it myself and get the job done properly)

lardlikesdogs

I would only go for a platform if the ground is level and it is safe to site one , A long handled henge trimmer would be a better bet, and its what I use in my gardening business you get what you pay for sadly.

aylesby

Google
Henchman Garden Platform
Then sigh at the price but they are the daddy.

cyclonebri1

Strapped wrote: »

Hi, just wondering whether anyone has any advice about the best way to tackle a hedge cutting issue. We have a conifer hedge at the front of our garden, but the garden is raised up above road level. It's no problem cutting the hedge (about 6ft / 2m) from the garden side, but from the road side it's about 12ft high at the highest point. (I say highest point, as we are also on a hill, to further complicate matters, so the road slopes).

So far we have just about managed with a precarious arrangement of me standing on a stepladder held by hubbie, while waving a hedge trimmer around but it's a stretch to do the highest bit.

I looked at the telescopic hedge trimmers, but they don't look that great tbh.

So now I'm looking at work platforms to access the hedge a bit more securely. Does anyone have any suggestions please? I've seen this Wickes/Youngman one but I'm not sure what height platform it will safely create. Plus it's a bit more than I wanted to spend (but if I must then I will). http://www.wickes.co.uk/professional-5-way-combi-ladder+deck/invt/170008/

Any other suggestions welcome. (Other than getting a pro in, because we've also tried that a couple of times and they've done a terrible job :rotfl: I'd sooner do it myself and get the job done properly)

That's ma boy:T:T:T:T

cyclonebri1

And getting serious, don't go up on a platform or steps to cut a hedge.

Couple of questions, why do you need the hedge to be 12ft high on the roadside?, I get privacy but 12ft is surely not needed, drop it?

Why not go for a Ryobi multi functional tool, someone will post the link.

It's a petrol engined jobby that becomes hedgecutters/chainsaw etc, and with all extensions, the TRANSFORMER of the gardening world.

cootuk

We have a Ryobi Expand-It petrol trimmer. It gets a good reach if you put an extension rod on the shaft, though 12ft would still probably need a work platform...not sure if you could put a couple of extension rods on the shaft, can't see why not. It would get a bit unwieldy.
The only thing to remember is to use petrol stabiliser otherwise the rubber seals can perish.

For our work platform I use an adjustable multipurpose ladder with a scaffold board across the rungs.

leveller2911

If its going to be a regular job then go for one of these.Good quality for the price and you can use it for other jobs around the house.They do lots of different models and specifications.You can adjust each wheel up to around 500mm so ideal on a gradient.

http://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/Loyal_Aluminium_Industrial_Scaffold_Tower_Single_Width_-_3.7m_Working_Height.html

This one is 6' 7" wide x 3'6" deep and ideal for this type of work.
I have the one that has a 24ft working height but they also sell one that is 9 feet wide, 3'6" deep and has a working height of nearly 47ft high........


Booger that height and only 3'6" deep, talk about up in the heavens..lol:D

cyclonebri1

cootuk wrote: »

We have a Ryobi Expand-It petrol trimmer. It gets a good reach if you put an extension rod on the shaft, though 12ft would still probably need a work platform...not sure if you could put a couple of extension rods on the shaft, can't see why not. It would get a bit unwieldy.
The only thing to remember is to use petrol stabiliser otherwise the rubber seals can perish.

For our work platform I use an adjustable multipurpose ladder with a scaffold board across the rungs.

Yes the ryobi expandit was the 1 I was thinking about, sil has one.


Leveller, not quite got the flavour of your post but standing on any flimsy platform waving either a set of hedgetrimmers or a chainsaw is an odds on recipe for hospital food, think that's what you meant;););)

leveller2911

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Leveller, not quite got the flavour of your post but standing on any flimsy platform waving either a set of hedgetrimmers or a chainsaw is an odds on recipe for hospital food, think that's what you meant;););)

I was suggesting an industrial grade tower scaffold Bri.I did post a link, may be worth a look.They are BS quality with a weight rating of nearly 1000kg so hardly flimsy Bri.

Trouble is these days we have far too much health and Safety bullsh*t which sadly has create a lack of common sense.

Trimming the tops out of a 12ft hedge should not be beyond anyones capability with the use of common sense.

Here you go Bri...fill ya boots.

http://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/Loyal_Trade_Industrial_Scaffold_Towers.html

Rockingit

firstly, I'd suggest if you do want to go the route of access platforms then simply hire one - any builders merchants or local HSS will do weekend deals for a fraction of the purchase cost (though you may have to collect/return to get the best rate). Second....by the time you've done all that, it might have been cheaper to have gotten someone with the right gear to have done it for you!

Strapped

Wow, thanks for the suggestions guys. I should say, the hedge is 6ft all along its length, it's just that because the road drops away, as we are on a hill, that it ends up being 12ft above road level - 6ft of hedge on top of a 6ft high retaining stone wall.

Maybe I'll bite the bullet and get a pro in but as I said, both sets we've used so far (both recommended by neighbours) were awful