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Hey @indycog, The best time to cut a hedge back hard depends on the type of hedge and the season: Deciduous hedges Cut in midwinter when the hedge is dormant and leafless. Evergreen hedges Cut in mid-spring when the hedge is actively growing and the risk of frost has passed. Native hedges Cut in February or March to avoid disturbing nesting birds. Cutting between March and September can also reduce berries for overwintering birds. Informal hedges Cut after the hedge has flowered to encourage flowering the following year. Temperate climates Avoid cutting in early to late autumn when there are many fungi spores in the air that can infect the hedge. Hope that helps!

Pete, honestly I have no idea, worth researching further online. I generally reach for whatever tool, will achieve the task efficiently within my collection. Sharpening the blades and ensuring regular lubricating, put's less strain on the motor too.

Cheers Gen1sis, a bit of a dry subject, but a CRM is the way to go.

UnfinishedSymphony, yer it's always helpful if you can trial one first.

graham, I can understand that. I've heard of people removing guards from strimmer's etc with the same reasoning. My personal take is, I keep mine on. They're enough things trying to undermine our health in this industry already.

There's no way it's gone wrong that much in a year. I'm a professional gardener and mines 3 years old, never had a thing go wrong with it and it gets used all the time. Your either extremely unlucky or exaggerating

@@scotttarry4909 it had gone wrong that much I'm a " professional gardener" and this time of year cut hedges most days , sometimes all day that's why I have 5 batteries

@@scotttarry4909 just got the hla 86 back used it most of the day , just waiting for it to break down again, , hsa 100 still being repaired, fencing the weekend so no worries 😂

@@grahamwatson6570 probably make sense to buy a petrol one again then, be cheaper for you in the long run if it breaks down everyday

​@@scotttarry4909gone wrong again, motor squeeling like a pig ,,new motor I recon, take it back in next week,,great at the height of the cutting season 🤬

What battery equipment did you buy?

tgs, I think moving from petrol to battery takes a little adjustment. 6 months later, I'm curious to hear whether you pushed through the pain barrier, are doing a hybrid approach or receded to what you knew?

Thanks berlewi, great to hear.

gotsloco1810, thanks for commenting and letting us know about Crossbow.

Thanks for the comment yankis. I'll look further into the limestone solution further.

Thanks for commenting TKG, the battle continues!

Hi Laurence, I don't believe the blade does. It has a telescopic handle, which increases/decreases the overall length. 270-390cm according to the stihl 2023 GB catalogue. Overall I've got a lot of use out of it, just make sure you have adequate space to store and transport it.

Laurence, alternatively the HTA 66 has a total length of 240cm, but I don't think it's telescopic.

@@Basjoo Thanks 👍

It looks just as plasticky to me, it's possible that it is a stronger material though. I feel like the plastic on Stihl appears pretty flimsy and cheap.

@@MHumanoid Agreed. It’s really just an upgrade of the previous HSA86…but with a twisty handle & better gearbox greasing access. And it is quiter too. But I found the handle arrangement fiddly. The new Echo is better all round. Just can’t afford it yet!

My 100 did a couple of days box, a mornings beech and the gearbox broke , fixed under guarantee but still don't sound right my opinions on Stihl battery powered tools is getting very low as my HLA 86 is even worse being repaired many times in the last year 😡😡

@@grahamwatson6570 Yes, they’re definitely not built for tougher hedge jobs. Stihl will lose out to other manufacturers in the pro battery equipment category if they’re not careful. They seem to be pushing their profitable domestic products more and more, with TV ads etc. They shouldn’t forget or neglect their roots!

@@stevelanghorn1407 I wouldn't mind but have invested about a grand in batteries 😡

I have been using mine to clear a field, I have been cutting quite a few 1-2 inch thick trees down with a near 3 inch one when I couldn't be bothered to go get a saw. It worked fine. Rain is fine but not used it in torrential rain as I don't need to. Price I got a second hand one but I would even pay the new price. The only annoying thing is that damn tip protector. I haven't even touched my petrol tools since going over to battery powered.

Hi David, thanks for commenting. We all have different attitudes to what we're willing to pay for something. I'm price-sensitive on certain products/services, whilst prioritising things other than cost, with others. I'm sympathetic to the challenges of consumer pressure, however, having originally set up the business in the NW UK, I can testify that better-paying clients can be found.

Thanks for your comment Tony.

Great to hear Marius, thanks for commenting.

I generally find regardless of the membrane or surface, organic matter and seeds still build up on the surface over time. Creating greater effort to weed, rather than just in soil.

Thanks for the comment CJ, feedback noted. All the best.

@ianmackenzie8584, the link for assembly is featured in my description above and also mentioned in my video, for other people to benefit from. As a professional product, I suspect it would regularly need to be transported, but I may be incorrect. "Utter mechanical incompetence", that's a bit harsh, have I somehow caused you some harm, which justifies such a brutal statement?

@@Basjoo he didn't say one thing brutal or rude to you, it just sounds that way because 'incompetence' has negative connotations. Remove your feelers and take the word for what it means and, 2 hours compared to 12 minutes is sort of a massive difference. What else explains that if it isn't your mechanical acuity??? Had he used the word acuity instead, you probably don't even blink.

We present a number of options for green waste upon enquiry. Some of those options are cut and drop, collect and relocate to compost/green bin, or collect transport and responsibly dispose of. We find presenting these options at enquiry, empowers the consumer to make an informed decision. Thanks for the comment @Trident750UK.

On those occassions where we do collect transport and responsibly dispose of, it goes to the same site that the green bins go to.

Thanks for your comment @doomedbook1020.

Hi TwoHawksHuntin. Thanks for commenting. Still using it to this day, works well for us.

Thanks for commenting Joe. Too right, I'm dancing with the idea of getting another mower, this time battery. Have you had any experience with them?

I use a Stihl RMA 443 VC and it works well for me, with a smaller van and a more all round Horticultural based business. If you do a lot of grass cutting stick to petrol mowers and brushcutters.

@Basjoo no I haven't tried a battery mower yet. I think they would struggle on long wet grass. Maybe they would be fine mid season. I'm looking at petrol zero turns at the moment! Plus a bigger van to put it in!

I have the stihl RMA 443vc use with ap300s battery bought this year nice mower to use. Collection rubbish due to blade design, after being disappointed with it, I re cut the blade with a angle grinder with the cutting bevel upwards to keep pushing grass uphill & it's a different mower. Contacted stihl UK. Told them about my experience they where shit customer service they told me to take to a dealer, what to be told you can't do that. I have never seen a mower blade cut the way, that machine come from the factory that way. As for the machine, box great to get on & off, due to mono handle, vary speed a must if contractor, due to thick grass, it has power. quiet machine. I run my hsa86 on ap100 no bother on light stuff. The less weight the better. Good look.@@Basjoo

Thanks@@adrian_dickinson for the comment. Nice to hear about your experience with the RMA443vc. Improvise and overcome, great work.

Hi, I guess it's down to whether you'll be using it on your own land or commercially. On own land, you'll probably fine, commercially, the fatigue kicks in. Either way, I can relate, thanks for commenting.

@DaEternalNoob, although I still have petrol, I can't remember the last time I picked it up. I suspect the battery gear will only go from strength to strength.

It pains me. What would be your advice to anyone looking for a 'low maintenance' solution? I've noted some of ours here www.basjoo.co.uk/low-maintenance

@@Basjoo Well my 1st rule is one years seed equals seven years weed. My go to advise after an initial cleanup usually revolves around dense native plantings and deep mulch. I'm starting to lean more towards drought tolerant plants as well. Watering has become an issue the last few years. Especially for clients without irrigation systems.

Hi Simon, thanks for commenting. Yes PA1 & PA6 are good to have under your belt. I find weed control in whatever form taxing, so charge accordingly. Great to hear you are exploring diversifying the business. I personally enjoy the opportunity to explore, play and try out ways to tweak the business. Keeps the brain active.

Thanks for commenting.

Cheers Joe. Hard work, but the lawn and clients appreciate it.

Hi Joe, not everyones choice, but I think for £30-£50, it's worth it. Great to hear you've acquired the tickets. Thanks for commenting.

Agree @garethcumming667, I see Willow-herb a fair bit. Hairy Bitter Cress I often see in gardens which like their soil regularly disrupted. Thanks for your comment.

I find the strimmer eats the batteries and I'm still using petrol for mower and blower for that reason. Overall I'm impressed, they'res a time and a place for both forms, but it's good for the industry to be transitioning.

@Basjoo agreed. I have the hand held hedge trimmer Hsa86. The hla66 and the extendable hla88 which is heavy. I love the strimmer. Fine for strimming lawn edges. AP500 battery lasts the day. About 50mins. Then we have AP300, and Ap200.

Cheers Joe, thanks for watching and commenting.

Thanks for the comment @TKG, enjoyed watching your stuff too.

Agreed Laurence, work is the gym 💪😅😢. The HTA135 featured in the video is a beast. I have a mwb van and have to position it awkwardly diagnol to fit it in. That's in it's shortest state too. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Hey PL, great to have you here. Thanks for checking in.

Thanks Rob, much appreciated. Hope the week goes well for you. Regulars for me this week, then a new lawn next week, hopefully if not too cold. Cheers, Jon.

Very professional. Once I recover from my recent shoulder surgery, I will be heading out on my own garden maintenance business down in somerset.

Thanks Damien.