Greenworks G40PSHK2 Cordless 2-in-1 Pole Hedge Trimmer Review

Assembling this hedge trimmer is simple – all you need to do is slot the two halves together, with or without the extension pole. With the extension bar in, the hedge trimmer reaches up to 2.1m while the pole saw extends to 2.4m. 

The fact that this is a two-in-one product would be a big appeal for many. All you need to do is swap over the cutting head pole to change which head you use, and this means that you’ll be able to tackle both hedges and trees with one tool.

The hedge trimming head comes with a 51cm laser cut blade. This is the longest blade of all of the hedge trimmers that I tested – ideal for people who either want to get the job done quickly or have a lot of hedges to trim. 

The head tilts to seven different positions, with a total range of 105°. Again, this is more than what many other hedge trimmers offer. Adjusting the angle of the head is done differently too – instead of squeezing a button, you pull a lever, making it much faster and more convenient to re-angle the head. 

In terms of the pole saw attachment, this boasts a 20cm Greenworks bar and chain. For a cordless pole saw, this is pretty good. The only downside is that it doesn’t come with any chainsaw oil, so order some up if you’re hoping to use it straight away.

I was also very impressed with how the shoulder strap attachment is completely adjustable. Although this hedge trimmer is quite heavy, being able to place the strap anywhere on the pole really helps with balance. That said, it would have benefited from a secondary D-handle.

Due to the fact that it was pretty heavy, I didn’t think that I would enjoy using this hedge trimmer as much as I did. However, as soon as I turned it on and started tackling my very overgrown beech hedge, I was extremely impressed. 

The blade’s teeth are spaced 18mm apart, enabling it to tackle thicker branches better than any of the other hedge trimmers that I tested. It whizzed its way through my hedge in no time, getting the job done much faster than some of the other machines that I used. Once my hedge was done, I moved on to clearing some brambles and nettles, and, again, this tool made light work of it all.

It’s definitely easier to manoeuvre without the extension bar in, but, even when fully extended, it’s not as top-heavy as some of the other hedge trimmers out there. It feels sturdy and stable, which makes it much easier to achieve a clean finish. This is, of course, helped by the high quality blade fitted into the machine – there didn’t seem to be anything that it couldn’t handle!

I then switched over to the pole saw head to give some of my sycamore trees a haircut. With a cutting speed of 8m/s, this pole saw is the real deal – it’s not just a last-minute add-on conceived by Greenworks as a way to sell more products. 

Instead, once the high-quality chain grips onto a branch, it takes it down in no time, no matter the size of the branch. Up until now, in terms of chainsaw and pole saw chains, Oregon has always been my favourite, but this Greenworks version truly rivals those.

There were no flaws whatsoever when it came to this machine’s performance, leaving me very impressed. 

As I mentioned earlier, Greenworks specializes in battery-powered tools. They have more than 1000 unique patents for battery design and technology, and that expertise really shines when it comes to this hedge trimmer.

Unlike most of the cordless tools out there that take an 18v or 20v battery, this hedge trimmer runs on a 40v, which immediately gives it more power. You can clearly feel the difference when using the machine – compared to other battery-powered hedge trimmers, this one is in a class of its own. I wouldn’t say that it’s as powerful as a petrol hedge trimmer, but it’s just as capable as those powered by mains electricity, yet you don’t have to worry about extension leads and trailing cables.

I used a 2aH battery with this hedge trimmer. With most other machines, this would give you a runtime of 20 minutes or so. However, Greenworks doubles this, allowing you to cut continuously for about 45 minutes. I usually recommend that people buy a larger battery when using garden tools such as this. However, in this case, the 2aH was more than enough, especially since your arms will likely need a rest after 45 minutes of hedge trimming.

Due to how this hedge trimmer feels more powerful than the others that I tested, I would have expected it to be louder as well. However, at 96dB, it’s pretty much in line with the other cordless hedge trimmers that I reviewed. If you have neighbours in close proximity, then this would be a hedge trimmer worth considering, as its noise output won’t annoy them too much!

There are a few key safety features that have been designed into this hedge trimmer. For starters, it has a dead man’s switch. This means that you need to press a button before you’re able to pull the trigger to get the machine going, which prevents anyone from unintentionally turning it on.

It comes with high-quality plastic guards for the blades too (one for the pole saw head and one for the hedge trimming head). These feel strong and sturdy, unlike the flimsier guards that you get with some other machines.

As I mentioned earlier, the shoulder strap attachment can be adjusted too – you can place the strap pretty much anywhere on the pole. In my opinion, this makes the hedge trimmer much safer to use, as it means that you can balance it in a way that works for you.

The pole saw attachment comes with its own set of safety features too. From the electric chain brake to the chain catcher, these are all what you would expect to see from a high-end pole saw.

When you account for the cost of the battery, this was one of the most expensive hedge trimmers that I tested. That said, it offers fantastic value for money. You may be paying more in comparison to some of the budget machines out there, but the fact that this tool can be used as both a hedge trimmer and a pole saw really sweetens the deal.

Its other unique features help to justify the higher price tag too. It’s more powerful, has a long-lasting battery, boasts a longer blade with a wider tooth spacing…the list goes on! Even without the pole saw attachment, this hedge trimmer would still be worth paying more for.

I wasn’t overly familiar with the Greenworks brand, but it’s safe to say that I’m now a big fan. The only flaw that I could find with this tool was its weight, but even then, it still feels better balanced than many of the other hedge trimmers out there – it may be heavier but its balance makes it easier to manoeuvre. 

Other than that, it comes with several design features that other hedge trimmers don’t have, and it easily outperformed the other battery-powered hedge trimmers that I tested. The fact that it also has a pole saw attachment is a huge bonus. If you’re looking for a multi-tasking hedge trimmer capable of quickly and neatly pruning both trees and hedges, then the Greenworks Cordless Pruner and Long Reach Hedge Trimmer 2 in 1 would be a great investment.