Calling on the expertise of garden designer and TV presenter Matthew Wilson, WIRED tested the latest hedge-trimmer technology. Scoring out of ten for each model, we timed how long it took for Wilson to cut a 2m x 2m section of hedge. Each model was then assessed for versatility, how creative you could get with it, ergonomics and battery life.

With 3.3cm tooth spacing on its 62cm double-edged blade, the Stihl (above) is effective on thick foliage. Wilson liked the simple controls and powerful battery: "It felt more like a petrol model, in terms of power and ability," he says. The downside is its weight: after ten minutes of trimming, Wilson's arms felt the effects. 9/10 - £460 (including battery) stihl.co.uk

Time taken to cut hedge: 235 seconds Blade length: 62cm Tooth spacing: 3.3cm **Weight:**4.6kg **Charging time:**55 minutes Operating time: 120 minutes

At 65cm, this design had the longest blade of all the trimmers on test. Matthew Wilson was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy it felt. Much like Stihl's design, however, power came at the expense of weight. "Its battery and charger works with other items in the EGO range such as the lawnmower and blower, but it made the trimmer heavier than the others," Wilson says. "The long blade was helpful for getting extra reach. Its length shaves time off trimming larger hedges." It was the quickest in our test. 7/10 - £452 (including battery) egopowerplus.co.uk

Time taken to cut hedge: 210 seconds Blade length: 65cm Tooth spacing: 3.3cm Weight: 6kg Charging time: 30 minutes Operating time: 50 minutes

Wilson said this model initially felt underpowered, but "cut well and was light to use". He was pleased that the 15aH Li-ion battery can be used with other products, such as a strimmer and leaf blower, and found it suitable for inventive work on box hedges and topiary. 6/10 - £65.99 domu.co.uk

Time taken to cut hedge: 290 seconds **Blade length:**51cm Tooth spacing: 1.5cm **Weight:**2.8kg Charging time: one hour **Operating time:**15 minutes

Wilson thought this design was most suitable for creative work on topiary or for trimming low box hedges. At 2.6 kilograms, it's lightweight, and Wilson thought it was the most comfortable to use. It features a 55cm blade with "quick-cut" technology for cutting hedges in one sweep. "It had a good power-to-weight balance and an impressive blade, but wasn't as capable as the Stihl at cutting thicker twigs," Wilson says. 8/10 - £145 bosch-garden.com

**Time taken to cut hedge:**260 seconds **Blade length:**55cm Tooth spacing: 2cm Weight: 2.6kg **Charging time:**one hour Operating time: 50 minutes

This comes with an extendible handle, but its blade is half the length of other models. The trimmer can be plugged into the mains and is most suited for trimming the tops of hedges. "The tilting head and pole made it comfortable to hold," Wilson says. "I used it one-handed without having to strain my back and was surprised at how well it cut. However, it's hard to tackle a whole hedge with it." 7/10 - £99 gtech.co.uk

Time taken to cut hedge: 340 seconds Blade length: 24.6cm Tooth spacing: 1.2cm Weight: 1.7kg Charging time: 3 hours **Operating time:**45 minutes

Photography: Chris Hoare; Roger Stillman

This article was originally published by WIRED UK