The Best Ladder for Hedge Trimming

From fruit-picking to keeping our hedges trimmed and well-behaved, having the right ladder to use out and about in the garden is not just convenient but crucial, as well. Picking the wrong sort of ladder for the job – one that’s too high, too low, or intended for indoor use – ups the likelihood of an accident with you straining yourself trying to prune your garden, falling off or having the ladder knocked out under you. But how do you know which ladders are the right choice?

For starters, they have to meet certain criteria – they need to be tough enough to withstand outside use, lightweight for portability but also sturdy enough, with the appropriate duty rating, to hold your weight along with the weight of your gear and tools, keeping you steady without the risk of losing your balance as you work. You also need to figure out the right height to suit your needs – typically, you want to be able to look over the top of the hedge at the highest standing level (4 rungs down from the top of an extension ladder and 2 rungs down from the top of a step ladder), at about shoulder level so you don’t strain your arms or shoulders as you clip away.

Get an idea of how tall your hedges are to accurately measure the desired height of your ladder, so you get the right degree of elevation and support as you work. Though the needs of different gardening-enthusiasts will be different, we’ve rounded up a versatile array of picks for the best ladder for hedge trimming.

KEN’S PICK
Little Giant Ladder Systems Alta-One Model 13 Ladder System

We’ll get this out of the way first – this ladder is heavier than your typical lightweight aluminum piece. But we feel this con is quickly overshadowed by the impressive list of pros the brand has to offer, especially with the versatility of this unit. In fact, although it is technically one ladder, it packs the functionality of up to 16 different configurations within it. The 13-foot long ladder has triple-lock hinges and telescoping sides that can be readjusted so you can use this as anything from an A-frame ladder to an extension one, to a trestle-and-plank scaffolding option too. In short, you’re spoilt for choice picking the most comfortable option to let you get at those pesky out of shape hedges for a good trim.

With a duty rating of 250 pounds, this unit is constructed out of heavy-wall, aircraft-grade aluminum, so not only will you not have to worry about durability, but you’ll also feel much safer spending time on it thanks to how sturdy and stable it is. Although it’s heavier than many aluminum ladders on the market, this also contributes toward a greater degree of balance and rigidity, both important for safety when you’re elevated off the ground and working with tools. Stability is enhanced also by the wide-flared legs of the unit, with rubberized pads to hold them safely in position. The flexibility offered by the different configuration options also lets you figure out and use the most convenient position for trimming your hedges, adjusted to the right size and ladder mode so you can go about it without straining yourself or pulling any risky gymnastics to reach. The different configurations also mean you don’t have to relegate this ladder only for gardening use – it can be modified for anything from changing lightbulbs in high-ceilinged rooms to cleaning out rain gutters, making it pretty much the all-rounder of ladders.

KEN’S BUDGET PICK
Best Choice Products Shade 3 Step Ladder

One of the things we immediately liked about this ladder is the tray included as or in the place of the top step. This may be a simple addition to make to a ladder, but makes a world of difference to the gardener who finds him or herself with too many tools to manage without opting for a utility belt or coveralls with endless pockets, or making countless trips up and down the ladder to switch out their gear.

But that’s not all. The wide steps are a huge plus, serrated surfaces offering better grip and friction and making it easier to plant our feet as we get about business, toolbox or gear safely within reach on the top rung/tray. Top-grade steel construction also makes this a sturdy and highly durable unit, foldable for convenient storage when not in use. The ladder has an impressive duty rating of 330 pounds, and has a height of roughly 27 inches or a little over 2 feet (from the top step to the ground), rubberized anti-skid pads at the feet making it perfect for use both indoors and out.

RUNNER-UP
VonHaus 2 Step Stool Ladder

For those jobs that require a little more leverage than a stepping stool or chair can provide, this rugged two-step ladder is perfect for the job. A great option for moderately sized hedges, this compact unit has a duty rating of 330 pounds, its heavyweight functionality not to be underestimated compared to its smaller size. Constructed out of highly durable, highly sturdy powder-coated steel, the roomy steps of the ladder are spacious enough to give you a comfortable foothold without compromising your balance, metal treads increasing friction and grip to keep you from slipping. The unit features a foam-cushioned handrail and rubberized feet to prevent skidding on even surfaces, the top step measuring about 20 inches (a little over 1 and ½ feet) from the ground. Weighing about 14 pounds, this is a portable and convenient unit to move around without breaking a sweat when tending to your garden.

RUNNER-UP
HBTower 3 Step Ladder, Folding Step Stool

Another ladder ideal where you need an extra boost to reach the top of your hedges (or that hard to reach kitchen cupboard or lamp sconce with the lightbulb burning out), this unit is available at both 2, 3 and 4 step versions/heights. The wide, roomy steps of the ladder are an immediate plus for allowing us a secure and comfortable foothold, the serrated rubber surfaces of the steps offering the right degree of friction to prevent you from slipping or losing your balance. The unit is also extremely portable, weighing just shy of 12 pounds and with an intuitive folding system that lets you stow it away without eating into too much storage space. Compact and perfect for use both indoors and out, this unit has a duty rating of up to 500 pounds!

SOURCES

The Spruce

Hints and Things

Dummies


Get to Know Sanders and Their Features

wooden tableBe it for carpentry, a little bit of do-it-yourself home maintenance on your hardwood floors or finally getting around to giving an old piece of furniture a much-needed fresh coat of paint, sanding is an essential process cropping up in the life of your average DIY enthusiast, no matter how tedious and time-consuming it may sometimes feel. Sanding down a surface, and essentially smoothing it out, can constitute prep-work – getting rid of any bumps, scratches and dings before you paint a surface down, or removing old varnish to put down a new layer – as well as the final finish, leaving surfaces like wood and metal sleek and flawless. Sanders can also have other applications, including sharpening and grinding knives.

To get the right effect, though, rather than a dresser top that looks like a map of crop-circles or a staircase step with a depression left in the wood, the user needs to familiarize themselves with the technicalities of using a sander, and be able to distinguish which type of this power tool is suitable for which jobs. Though you can choose to sand by hand – though this is definitely going to require more elbow-grease and time – electric sanders, if chosen properly and handled right, can deliver exceptional results as well.

Grit

carSandpaper is graded based on grit, or how much abrasive material there is per square inch – the lower the number, the coarser the grit, while the higher the number, the finer the grit. While you technically can start off with higher numbers, be prepared for this to take a lot more time than you’d be using if you start off lower, around grades 60-80 – coarser grits remove material faster, so they’re more effective when getting rid of rust on metal surfaces, or smoothing out joints or uneven surfaces on rough wood, while following this up with progressively finer grits removes any scratches and swirls left by previous grits for a smoother finish. For DIY woodwork projects, sandpaper grit can go as high as 320 – for polishing metal, the ideal number can be anywhere as high as 600 to 2,000 (the latter often ideal for removing scratches on car body paint).

Sandpaper type

The type of sandpaper you use will vary depending on the type of surface you’re going to sand. For metal, closed-coated sandpaper (the entire surface is covered by abrasive material) is suited for tackling the challenge. Sandpaper made of aluminum oxide or silicon carbide is typically recommended.

Meanwhile, the type of wood you need to sand will determine the type of sandpaper you’ll require for best results. Garnet paper is often used for hardwoods and for achieving a smooth finish for woodworking projects, while coarser grits to remove imperfections, paint, scratches and so on could be found in aluminum oxide or ceramic sandpaper. The latter leaves a very rough finish, and is recommended more for prep work on thick pieces of wood, rather than, for instance, on plywood or veneer.

Sander types

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the three main types of sanders available to us for home use, and what they’re good for.

Belt sanders

These are the most heavy-duty of the lot, ideal for use on large, wide, flat surfaces. Better recommended for the experienced sander than a novice DIY trial-runner, this machine works quickly and aggressively to remove a lot of material, typically used at the beginning of the sanding process to get rid of any imperfections before you move on to finer grits for a smoother finish. Often outfitted with ceramic sandpaper, belt sanders are the right choice for levelling very rough or uneven surfaces, shaping wood and sanding over curved and rounded edges, as well as for removing old paint and varnish off surfaces in need of a new or fresh coat.

As the name suggests, the sander operates using a sanding belt looped over two cylindrical drums, rolling to move the belt in a linear fashion as you sand over your desired surface. If sanding wood, always remember to sand with the grain, no matter what type of sander you’re using, rather than against or across it, for the smoothest and most immaculate finish. A rookie mistake to avoid, also with any type of sander, is to push down on your machine as it runs – let the machine’s weight regulate the pressure.

Although we’ve already mentioned this, it’s worth repeating – belt sanders are heavy-duty machines, and if you’re not careful they may end up taking a chunk out of the surface you’re sanding, leaving it uneven or with a depression. Some practice and experience is needed to operate one without winding up with a damaged project, since the machine can often be difficult to control for a beginner. We’d recommend starting off with the compact and easier to control 3 x 18-inch standard if this is your first time operating one.

Orbital Sander

Lightweight and more user-friendly, orbital sanders are better suited for getting the perfect finish, smoothing out a freshly-dried coat of paint or polish, sanding out hardened putty and giving your woodworking projects the sleekest finish. The sanding pad, square-shaped and with two clamps holding on to a fraction of a standard sheet of sandpaper cut to size, moves and vibrates in small orbits and can subsequently be used to sand in any direction.

Random Orbit Sanders

These are arguably the most versatile, and likely the sander a woodworks-enthusiast would be sure to have in their toolkit. With a circular pad which both vibrates and moves in orbits, this sander combines the two motions to eliminate the likelihood of leaving behind swirls when you’re done sanding. Although not as ideal for rough-use sanding as belt sanders, this sander can nonetheless be used for both prep-work removal of material and for getting that sleek, pristine finish for our carpentry projects, without any weird scratches or swirls left behind.

For more detailed projects…

If you’re working an intricate surface with many nooks and crannies needing attention, you could opt for a detail sander to get into areas other sanders find hard to access. Sanding by hand is also an option for really getting into any crevices you can’t otherwise reach.