There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with a perfectly manicured garden, a sense of order wrested from nature’s relentless desire for chaos. But before that moment of pride, there’s the work. I remember staring at my own privet hedge last spring; it had exploded into a wild, unruly beast over the winter months, encroaching on the pathway and casting long, unwelcome shadows over the lawn. My old shears were no match for it, turning a simple task into a gruelling, day-long ordeal of aching arms and uneven lines. This is a struggle every homeowner with a garden knows well. Letting it go isn’t an option—it diminishes curb appeal, can lead to disputes with neighbours, and makes the garden feel smaller and less inviting. The right tool isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for reclaiming your time and your outdoor space.
- 500W CORDED HEDGE TRIMMER: This NETTA 500W Corded Hedge Trimmer is the ideal tool for getting your garden into shape. Boasting a blade cutting length of 55cm and 16mm tooth openings, this hedge...
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND POWERFUL: The 500W motor will provide you with enough power to take on the overgrown bushes and hedges in your garden and the diamond ground blade ensures a neat and clean cut....
What to Consider Before Buying a Hedge Trimmer
A hedge trimmer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for maintaining the health, shape, and size of your hedges and shrubs with efficiency and precision. The main benefit is a massive saving in time and physical effort compared to manual shears. A good trimmer delivers clean, sharp cuts that promote healthy regrowth, preventing the bruised, ragged edges that can invite disease. For anyone who values a tidy garden but has limited time, a powered hedge trimmer transforms a dreaded chore into a manageable, even enjoyable, task. It’s the difference between a garden that’s a source of stress and one that’s a source of pride.
The ideal customer for this type of product is a homeowner with small to medium-sized hedges who needs a reliable tool for seasonal tidying. They are likely budget-conscious and don’t require the brute force or go-anywhere freedom of a professional-grade petrol or high-end cordless model. This tool is perfect for shaping boxwoods, trimming privet, or cutting back overgrown forsythia. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large, extensive properties, or those needing to tackle exceptionally thick, woody branches (typically over 1.5 cm in diameter). For such heavy-duty tasks, a more powerful electric model or a petrol-powered alternative would be a better investment. Similarly, if your hedges are extremely tall or far from a power source, a long-reach or cordless model would be more practical.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Power & Cutting Capacity: For corded electric trimmers, motor power is measured in Watts (W). A 500W motor, like the one in the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer, is generally sufficient for domestic use on common hedge types. Pay close attention to the tooth opening or blade gap (e.g., 16mm), as this determines the maximum branch thickness the trimmer can comfortably handle. Trying to force it through thicker branches will strain the motor and produce a poor cut.
- Blade Length & Type: The blade length (e.g., 51cm) dictates how much hedge you can cut in a single pass. Longer blades are faster for large, straight hedges, but shorter blades offer more control for shaping and intricate work. Look for blades that are dual-action (both blades move, reducing vibration) and laser-cut or diamond-ground, as these stay sharper for longer and provide a cleaner cut.
- Weight & Ergonomics: This is one of the most critical factors. A hedge trimmer can become very heavy after just ten minutes of use, especially when working at shoulder height or above. An “ultra-light” model, advertised at around 2.5kg, can make a world of difference in reducing user fatigue and improving safety. Also, check for features like a soft-grip handle and good balance, which enhance comfort and control during operation.
- Safety & Convenience: Essential safety features are non-negotiable. A two-handed safety switch, which requires both hands to be on the handles for the blade to operate, is standard and crucial. A hand guard protects you from flying debris. For corded models, the cable length is a key convenience factor; a 6-meter cable offers a decent radius, but for larger gardens, you will almost certainly need an extension cord.
Understanding these elements will empower you to choose a tool that not only fits your budget but also perfectly matches the demands of your garden, ensuring years of satisfactory performance.
While the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer is an excellent choice for those on a budget, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, including cordless options that offer greater freedom, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 500W CORDED HEDGE TRIMMER: This NETTA 500W Corded Hedge Trimmer is the ideal tool for getting your garden into shape. Boasting a blade cutting length of 55cm and 16mm tooth openings, this hedge...
- Long Reach Hedge Trimmer: The Terratek telescopic hedge trimmer is ideal for clipping tall, awkwardly-sited or hard-to-reach hedges and shrubs thanks to the 1.3m extendable pole providing you with a...
- The Easy Garden Tools from Bosch – for small and medium-sized gardens
First Impressions: Lightweight Agility Meets Basic Design
Unboxing the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer, the first thing that struck us was its remarkable lightness. The advertised 2.6kg weight feels accurate; holding it, you immediately understand that this tool is designed to minimize arm strain. Assembly was refreshingly straightforward, requiring only the attachment of the protective hand guard with a few screws. There’s no complex setup—it’s essentially ready to go out of the box. The overall construction is, as expected for the price point, predominantly plastic. It doesn’t have the robust, premium feel of a Bosch or a BLACK+DECKER model, but the soft-grip handle is comfortable enough for short bursts of work. The bright orange and black colour scheme is practical for visibility in the garden. The 51cm diamond-ground blade looked sharp and capable upon initial inspection, and the 6-meter power cable, while not exceptionally long, is a decent starting length for small to medium gardens located close to the house.
Key Benefits
- Extremely lightweight design (2.6kg) makes it easy to handle and reduces user fatigue.
- Very affordable, offering an accessible entry point for occasional gardeners.
- The 51cm blade length is effective for quick work on small to medium hedges.
- Simple, no-fuss assembly and operation with a two-way safety switch.
Potential Drawbacks
- Significant concerns about motor durability, with multiple reports of overheating and failure.
- Struggles with branches approaching its stated 16mm capacity, better suited for softer, newer growth.
A Deep Dive into the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer’s Real-World Performance
A hedge trimmer’s worth is proven not on the spec sheet, but in the garden, amidst the thick of overgrown branches and tangled leaves. We put the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer through its paces on a variety of common garden shrubs—from soft privet to slightly woodier laurel—to see if its budget price point translated to genuine value or simply to frustration. Our findings were a mix of pleasant surprises and significant concerns, painting a picture of a tool with a very specific, and limited, ideal use case.
Handling and Ergonomics: Its Greatest Strength
Without a doubt, the standout feature of this trimmer is its weight. At just 2.6kg, it feels almost toy-like compared to heavier, more powerful models. This isn’t a criticism; it’s the trimmer’s primary selling point. We found that this lightness translated directly into longer usage times before fatigue set in. Trimming the top of a six-foot hedge, a task that often becomes an exercise in arm-burning agony, was noticeably less strenuous. As one user happily noted, it’s “Much lighter than my previous one,” and we wholeheartedly agree. This ease of handling makes the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer an excellent option for elderly gardeners or those with limited upper body strength.
The balance of the tool is decent, though slightly blade-heavy, which is typical for this design. The soft-grip handle provides adequate comfort, preventing blisters during a 20-30 minute session. The two-way safety switch system is implemented well; it requires one hand on the rear trigger and the other on the front loop handle, a standard design that prevents accidental startups. While operating, the cord generally stayed out of the way, but as with any corded tool, vigilance is key. We were reminded of this by one user’s candid admission: “This product was great.. Until I kind of cut the wire. Oops!” It’s a crucial reminder to always be aware of your cable’s position and to use a residual-current device (RCD) for safety.
Cutting Performance: Capable, But Know Its Limits
Powered by a 500W motor and equipped with a 51cm diamond-ground blade, the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer made light work of the season’s new growth on our privet hedge. The blades are sharp and delivered clean, neat cuts on stems well under 10mm thick, leaving a crisp finish. For general shaping and light maintenance on small to medium hedges, it performs admirably. One user was “pleasantly surprised” that it “tackles some pretty thick stems,” and on softer wood, we found this to be true. It powered through the bulk of the job with ease.
However, the 16mm tooth opening specification should be viewed as an absolute maximum for soft, green wood only. When we moved to an older, more established laurel hedge with woodier branches in the 12-15mm range, the trimmer began to struggle significantly. The motor’s pitch changed, the cutting action slowed, and it would often snag rather than cut cleanly, requiring a second or third attempt. This aligns with feedback from a user who found it was “not good on slightly thicker branches.” For anyone whose garden contains mature, woody shrubs, this trimmer will likely lead to frustration. It is decidedly a tool for light-duty work, not for aggressive reclamation of a wildly overgrown garden.
The Durability Dilemma: A High-Stakes Gamble
This is where our review must take a serious and cautionary turn. While our test unit performed without failure during our evaluation period, the volume of user feedback reporting catastrophic failures is impossible to ignore and raises significant red flags about quality control and long-term durability. This is the critical trade-off for the trimmer’s low price. Numerous users reported the exact same issues: the motor began smoking, often within minutes of the first use, before cutting out entirely. “Cheap dangerous rubbish it was smoking before it even looked at a hedge,” one frustrated buyer wrote. Another reported, “the trimmers started smoking after 15 minutes of use and then cut out.”
Even more concerning are reports of components failing in potentially hazardous ways. One user stated that on their second use, “it overheated and a screw melted through the plastic body and the shears ceased to operate.” This suggests a fundamental issue with heat management in the motor housing, posing a serious safety risk. These aren’t isolated incidents; they form a distinct pattern of feedback that suggests a high failure rate. While some users have had positive experiences, purchasing the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer feels like a lottery. You might get a perfectly functional tool that serves you well for light tasks, as some satisfied customers did. Or, you could receive a unit that is, at best, a waste of money and, at worst, a potential hazard. This is a significant risk that any prospective buyer must weigh against the tempting price tag.
What Other Users Are Saying
Sifting through the experiences of other gardeners reveals a deeply divided opinion on the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer. The feedback splits neatly into two camps: those who are delighted with the value and those who feel utterly let down by the quality. On the positive side, many echo our findings about its weight and ease of use. One happy customer stated simply, “Excellent! simply i am very satisfied and suggested to buy. Easier to handle and no hassle for fitting.” Another, who bought it for occasional use, said, “I am pleasantly surprised. It does everying what you would want it to do with ease.” These reviews highlight that for light, infrequent jobs, the tool can represent fantastic value for money.
However, the negative feedback is severe and consistent. The recurring theme is sudden and catastrophic failure. “It worked on 3 occasions the 4th time just don’t work,” lamented one user, frustrated by the inability to return it. The most alarming comments focus on safety issues, such as motors burning out. One of the most damning reviews described it as a “dangerous tool” after a screw was lost and the machine began “trembling a lot.” This stark contrast in user experience suggests a significant inconsistency in manufacturing quality, making it a high-risk purchase.
How Does the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer Compare to the Alternatives?
The NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer occupies the ultra-budget end of the market. To understand its place, it’s helpful to compare it against some popular alternatives with different features and price points.
1. BOSCH UniversalHedgePole 18 Cordless Telescopic Hedge Trimmer
- The Universal tools from Bosch, versatile and strong with intelligent solutions for bigger projects
- Ideal for tall and wide hedges. Pivoting head: 135°
The Bosch UniversalHedgePole 18 operates in a completely different league. Its key advantages are its cordless freedom and telescopic pole, allowing you to safely trim tall hedges from the ground. It offers Bosch’s renowned build quality and reliable battery performance. For users with tall hedges or gardens far from a power outlet, the Bosch is infinitely more practical and safer than balancing on a ladder with a corded model. The trade-off is a significantly higher price and more weight. This is the ideal choice for someone who prioritizes convenience, safety, and reach over the rock-bottom price of the NETTA.
2. BLACK+DECKER BEHTS501-GB Electric Hedge Trimmer
- Powerful 600W motor
- 60cm dual action asymmetric steel blades
This BLACK+DECKER model is a more direct competitor, being another corded electric trimmer. However, it offers a step up in power (600W vs. 500W) and cutting capacity, featuring a saw blade tip for tackling thicker branches up to 35mm. It boasts a longer 60cm blade and better overall build quality from a more established brand. For gardeners who need to handle slightly more demanding jobs and are willing to pay a small premium for increased power, durability, and brand reputation, the BLACK+DECKER is a much safer and more capable investment than the NETTA.
3. DEWINNER Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer 20V
- Light Weight: 2.4m telescopic pole, lightweight aluminum alloy design.
- Battery and Charger Include: Come with 20v Li-ion batteriy, fit most trimming jobs. With a 1 hour fast charger. Battery sharing for all DEWINNER power tools.
The DEWINNER offers a compelling middle ground between the budget NETTA and the premium Bosch. Like the Bosch, it provides the convenience of a cordless, long-reach pole design, making it great for taller hedges without the constraint of a power cord. While it may not have the same brand recognition or refined build quality as the Bosch, it provides a similar feature set at a more accessible price point. Anyone who finds the NETTA too basic and limiting but considers the Bosch too expensive might find the DEWINNER to be the perfect compromise, offering versatility and cordless freedom.
Final Verdict: A Cautious Recommendation for the Right Person
So, should you buy the NETTA 500W Hedge Trimmer? The answer is a qualified “maybe.” If your primary, and perhaps only, concerns are an extremely low price and a lightweight design, then this tool warrants consideration. For someone with a very small garden, minimal and infrequent trimming needs (e.g., a short run of soft privet once or twice a year), and a willingness to accept a significant risk of product failure, it could serve its purpose. Its feather-light construction makes it genuinely easy to wield, and on the right kind of soft growth, it cuts cleanly.
However, we cannot recommend it for anyone who values reliability, durability, or peace of mind. The sheer volume of credible reports detailing smoking motors and premature breakdowns is a major deterrent. The risk of the tool failing after only a handful of uses is simply too high for us to give it a broad endorsement. For just a little more investment, alternatives from more reputable brands offer a substantial leap in build quality and power. If you decide the risk is worth the savings, we strongly suggest you check the latest price and warranty details before you buy, but proceed with caution.
Last update on 2025-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API