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5 best tractor hedge trimmers

Keeping your hedge tidy and contained requires the right equipment. By understanding the benefits and applications of various tractor attachments, you can achieve a professional result while boosting your efficiency. 

In this article, we explore the leading brands in New Zealand, focusing on hedge trimming, reach mowers, and mulchers you can attach to your tractor. 

Types of hedge trimmers

Hedge cutters

A hedge cutter, also known as a hedge mulcher or hedge topper, features one or more blades to trim hedges to a desired shape and size. This creates well-defined edges and enhances visibility and safety. Compared to handheld tools, a tractor attachment has more reach and manoeuvrability so you can quickly and precisely cut your hedges.

Reach mowers

A reach mower, also known as a boom mower or arm mower, is a type of hedge cutter designed for trimming vegetation in hard-to-reach places, such as roadsides or orchards. They typically feature an extended arm or boom that can be manoeuvred to access tall grass, brush, or branches near steep slopes, ditches, or overhanging obstacles.

Types of cutting heads

Sickle bar

For more decorative hedging in NZ or where less wind draught is needed when cutting, a sickle bar head is a great option. The sickle bar oscillates horizontally when activated, which minimises damage to the plants while creating accurate cuts. There are various cutterbars available, generally ranging from 20mm to 50mm in diameter.

Using a cutter bar or sickle bar has the disadvantage of only cutting material and dropping it to the ground, so you must clean up the trimmings afterwards, and even when trimming a hedge, clippings can build up in front of the cutterbar, causing it to jam.

Mulching flail heads

A mulching flail head is the most commonly used machine hedge cutting in NZ. The major advantage is that it cuts and mulches simultaneously. Mulching flail heads have a horizontal rotor with flails on the end, and there are multiple types of flails and heads available. A mulching head can have the downside of being thick, which can make it hard to get down behind fences where there is a narrow gap.

Saw blades

A circular saw blade head is used for cutting larger branches and taller shelterbelts. They can range in size or length and the number of blades fitted. Its benefits are similar to those of a sickle bar but on a larger scale. It has a nice clean cut, is capable of cutting large timber/branches, and can cut 2.4 meters in one pass. However, the downside is debris left behind, and you usually need to fit extensive guarding to your machine or prime mover.

Best hedge trimmers in NZ

Hedge trimmers in New Zealand need to be reliable, durable, and built to endure various weather conditions. Based on our years in the industry, the following brands have proven their worth: 

McConnel mowers

Hedge trimmer

Based in Britain, McConnel is a multi-award-winning company and is highly regarded in the global agricultural industry. They have developed a comprehensive range of power arms, rotary and flail mowers, and cultivation machinery. This brand is known for producing high-quality machinery, with loyal customers in over 40 countries.

Download the McConnel Mowers brochure >

 

Spearhead Mowers

Hedge trimming

Since 1988, Spearhead Machinery has manufactured a wide range of mowing and mulching equipment to increase efficiency. These machines are Ideal for agriculture, amenity land, airfields, and military sites, making large-scale vegetation management easier.

Spearhead Machinery has the equipment to lighten your workload and offer a long lifespan. Responding to what their customers need, Spearhead has designed their reach mowers to be easy to use and reliable.

 

Bomford Mowers

Boom mower

Since the late 1800s, Bomford has been pioneering the latest in agricultural machinery. Since developing the first arm mowers in the late 1940s, this brand combines strength, manoeuvrability, safety, and longevity. 

All Bomford machinery range is designed, built, and tested on-site where everything is closely monitored, from start to finish. Every machine is powder-coated to achieve maximum durability and strength on the exterior surface. This matches the interior strength of the machine, ensuring the longest possible life and lower overall operating costs.

Download the Bomford Mowers brochure >

 

Marolin Mowers

Hedge topper

The Marolin range of mowers is designed for smaller-scale hedge-trimming applications. They are most commonly used in confined areas, parks and public grounds. With over 60 years in the agricultural and hedge care industry, they specialise in hydraulic bush cutters for maintaining small shrubs, hedges, vineyards, and crests. 

TwigaReach mower

The range of Twiga reach mowers is designed for professional operators, with comfort, visibility, stability, and versatility in mind. The range includes seven different model types, offering arm sets from 6-metre to 17-metre reach. Other key features include optional engine horsepower, selectable steering configurations, and a host of attachments.

Hedge trimmers and reach mowers in NZ

Here at AgriQuip, we’ve been supplying high-quality equipment from brands like McConnel, Bomford, Spearhead, Tuchel, and Major since the 1970s.

With over 40 years in the agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, and civil industries, we know what makes for a good hedge cutter or reach mower. To find out which machine is right for your application, speak with our experts today. We can discuss your unique environment and needs to ensure your mower is efficient, practical, safe, and built to last. 

 

Browse reach mowers and hedge trimmers

 

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