As the hedge cutters we put on test ranged from top-spec contractor machines to more farmer-orientated machines, a direct comparison would be impossible.

All the machines were supplied with a tractor and driver. The driver ran through the operation of each machine before we used it and got a feel for the ease of operation and the quality of work that it produced.

From the machine with the smallest output to the contractor-specification machines, they all will cut hedges in a tidy and stress-free way.

The only difference is the output and the longevity that is required from the machine.

If serious output is required, then the bigger, more expensive machines are required, but in most cases the smaller more compact machine will do the job on most Irish farms.

This was the smallest machine at the event and by far simplest to use. It came with a reach of 4.8m vertically and the ability to work to a maximum hedge height of 4.1m. The horsepower requirement for this machine was the lowest of those on show at 70hp. The hydraulic power output to the head of the Kuhn is 34hp, with the input at the standard 540rpm.

The little Kuhn has a straight arm. The controls on the machine we had were via an electric joystick and the biggest difference between this and the other machines was the lack of proportional control.

The machine has open hydraulics, which means that when you move the joystick the movement of the head can be very swift until you get used to it. Having spent some time at the controls of this machine on the day, they were precise after getting used to them once gentle inputs were used. The Kuhn Agri-Longer is a good little machine and would cut most farmers’ hedges at its ease.

The simplicity of it makes it a good choice for the operator who needs to maintain and keep their own machine running. The manufacturers state that a work rate of 100 hours per year is a good amount of work for this machine – in the correct hands this would be enough time to cut a lot of hedges.

On the day, the boot-flailed machine was producing a very good finish on the hedge when the forward speed was sensible and the operator wasn’t too greedy.

The McConnel machine that was at the event was a serious piece of kit. The machine has a massive 8m reach.

McConnel says that this machine requires 140hp to run it and a tractor weight of 6t to handle it. The horsepower requirement is correct but a lighter tractor should handle it.

The hydraulic power from this machine is an impressive 85hp, giving this massive cutting power. The arm layout on the McConnel allows it to move in and out telescopically and also to work alongside the tractor.

From the driver’s seat, it is a pleasure to work without straining back to view the cutter head.

Controls

The controls of the McConnel are very precise, with proportional control and smooth operating switches to move the header in every imaginable way.

On the day, the ability to be very precise very quickly, after sitting into the driver’s seat, was striking. The controls make it very simple to do good work even when an operator does not have a huge amount of experience.

Float

The machine has some lovely features, including the ability to float both the head and the arm.

This allows the McConnel to follow the ground very precisely and make verge-trimming easy.

The ability to raise and lower the roller on the head also allows the closeness of the cut to the ground to be adjusted on the move and to fully retract for cutting hedges.

In the cab, along with the very easy-to-use control lever, is a handy screen that allows you to monitor power output and the rotor speed.

This Irish-built machine is very popular among contractors across Ireland. It is a well-built machine which has been on the market in different forms since 1998.

The machine that came to the event was owned and operated by a local contractor and he said that it has served him very well for the past few seasons.

In the operator’s seat, Arbocut is very simple to use, with a straightforward joystick which allowed for ease of operation with no experience straight away. It was very intuitive and seemed well-built and solid.

Even looking at the arm and frame, it seemed more robust than any of the other machines.

One nice touch is the mounting bracket which incorporates the pickup hitch as a brace to keep the machine at the correct height while not having all the weight on the link arms.

Driving the Arbocut was a straightforward experience and you can see that the years of collaboration with contractors has made it a very user-friendly machine. Once up to speed, the standard of work done by the big Arbocut was good with the ability to move on and still get a good clean finish.

This was one of the smaller machines at the event, with a 6.7m reach. Twose is a branch of the larger McConnel group, so this machine shares a lot of equipment with the previous generation of McConnel machines. This is not a bad thing as the previous generation of McConnel hedge-cutters were, and still are, much-loved by farmers and contractors around the country.

This TW 67-5 requires a tractor with at least 70hp and a weight of 3t. It was one of the larger tractors at the event and it was well-overpowered. The hydraulic power of the Twose is rated at 65hp, which was more than enough to drive the head fitted on the machine. This machine is mounted on the three-point linkage and uses parallel linkages in the arm to make of a stable and precise control of the head. In the cab, there is proportional electric control, similar to the other machines. Control is via a low-pressure hydraulic system, which gave full proportional control. We found that that system worked very well and that the single control lever with three sets of button allowed for the machine to be very easily operated from the start. It was also noted how quiet it was in the cab.

This green machine is a serious hedge cutter with its 6.5m telescopic reach. The power is delivered by a 75hp fully independent hydraulic system. Spearhead suggests using a tractor of at least 100hp and a weight of 4,000kg with it. This machine uses electric hydraulic proportional control, which we found to be very responsive but still smooth to use. Even for the less experienced operator, this machine can do good work.

The control in the cab is carried out on a single-control joystick for on-the-move functions and there is a control box where the direction of the flail head can be selected, as well as the reset function and warning lighting for when working on the public road. There were also two programmable buttons on this box for the operator to assign if a higher specification was ordered. The Spearhead has a 220-litre oil tank on board and weighs in at 1,475kg.

The Shelbourne Reynolds HD875VFRT is similar in size and capability to the McConnel – both are top-of-the-range machines. The Shelbourne Reynolds HD875VFRT has a maximum reach of 7.5m. With 85hp from the hydraulic system, this hedge cutter is capable of cutting the toughest of grass verges and hedge with no problem.

Control of this machine is done via the digital proportional control joystick. This, in conjunction with the visibility afforded from the VFR, meant that this machine was very similar to the McConnel in its ease of use and ability to get though the work. The tractor requirement for this machine is 5t. The machine itself weighs in at a hefty 2.25t, one of the heaviest on site.

The Bomford Hawk Evo T65 is a member of the McConnel family. It has a 6.5m reach and requires 100hp to run it. It also produces 65hp from its on-board pump. The machine is operated by electronic proportional controls (EPP). We found it to be very easy to drive and with the 900mm stroke of the telescopic boom, it was capable of getting into awkward places with ease. We found this machine easy to use overall and one of the quietest at the event. The Hawk Evo was attached in a similar bracket to the Twose with a bracing bracket mounted on a top-link pin, giving added stability to the machine. The joystick on this machine was very intuitive and took no time at all to do good work. The finish on the hedge was very good and there is plenty of power to cut without the out-and-out power of the bigger machines.

The Blaney C650 is an Irish-made machine that is well-liked by contractors and farmers. This machine has a 6.5m reach and is very well built like other machinery from the Northern Irish manufacturer. Control of this machine is via an electrically proportional low-pressure hydraulic system. This machine was carried on the three-point linkage and also featured a bracing system from the top link mount to steady it. This brace is similar to some of the other machines at the event. It is possible to get the hedge cutter with forward reach but it was not specified on this machine.

Controlling the Blaney C650 was very intuitive but there seemed to be a slight issue with the smoothness of the movement at the start. This was overcome with a bit of time and concentration. The rotor was driven by an 80hp hydraulic motor, making it capable of hacking through the tough stuff but still having the speed of rotation to do a very neat and tidy job.