• One of the most effective ways to keep your yard looking its best is by keeping your hedges trimmed. The key to keeping hedges trimmed properly is a hedge trimmer you can rely on for consistent quality. Whether your hedge trimmer uses a cord, runs on gas or uses a battery, there are many choices available in a range of prices to suit your needs.
  
  

Electric Hedge Trimmers

• The benefit of electric hedge trimmers is not needing to recharge a battery. Electric hedge trimmers are typically more consistent in cutting quality than cordless trimmers because there is no danger of a battery gradually getting weak. The downside is having to maneuver around a long extension cord. Black and Decker makes some of the highest rated electric hedge trimmers, including the Black & Decker HH2450, around $70.00 as of 2010, and the Black & Decker HT018, which has a smaller blade and a smaller price tag (around $45.00 in 2010). An electric trimmer that receives a perfect rating from customers on Sears.com who use the product is the Craftsman 79442, which has a 22-inch blade and runs about $50.00 as of 2010.
  
  

Cordless Trimmers

• The Black & Decker NHT518 receives an average four out of five stars from users who have purchased the product on Amazon. As of 2010, this model's retail is about $80.00. The downside to this trimmer is its short battery life, which can be around fifteen or twenty minutes. Another high-rated cordless trimmer on Amazon is the Ryobi 18 Volt Lithium Hedge Trimmer, which retails around $100.00 as of 2010.
  
  

Gas Trimmers

• Gas hedge trimmers provide the convenience of cordless and the power of electric. The downside is that gas models are more expensive than other types of trimmers and typically heavier. Echo gas trimmers get consistently high ratings. According to to editors at Popular Mechanics magazine, the Echo HC-150 is one of the best gas powered trimmers on the market. As of 2010, this model retails for about $280.00. The Poulan Pro 25HHT ($190.00 in 2010) and the Craftsman 79634 ($170.00 in 2010) are also high-rated, powerful hedge trimmers.