Some time ago, in a bygone age of secateurs and elbow grease, hedgerows had to be maintained manually, which was time-consuming and often a little dull. In some ways it’s a wonder that anyone even bothered with the whole hedge-maintenance thing at the time, but since most formal hedgerows throughout history have been owned by the landed gentry they probably had people to do it for them. Nowadays, however, tools like Shindaiwa’s DH232ST-24 double-sided hedgetrimmer mean that routine hedge maintenance is a breeze, so there’s no excuse for letting things slide (regardless of whether you’re a member of the aristocracy or not).

With power supplied by a hardworking 21.2cc two-stroke petrol engine, the DH232ST-24 is a powerful yet manoeuvrable hedgetrimmer ideal for shaping and pruning hedgerows and dense shrubs. The combination of power and precision which it provides means that the DH232ST-24 is perfect for varied work in larger gardens or on extensive commercial properties, so both professional and private users will want to take advantage of its superb cutting abilities.

At the sharp end of the DH232ST-24 we find a strong and lightweight double-sided reciprocating blade, offering a cutting length of 48.4cm perfect for both precision trimming and heavier pruning work. A durable tip guard, meanwhile, is included to protect the blade and boost operator safety. And with its lightweight design (only 5kg) and rotating rear handle (which allows you to achieve an optimal working angle for trimming in awkward areas), the DH232ST-24 is also pleasingly easy to handle regardless of the situation at hand.

This impressive combination of clout and precision is accompanied by a level of user-friendliness not always found in commercial-grade hedgetrimmers. This inclusion of a generously-sized 0.37 litre fuel tank, for instance, increases runtime and reduce the number of stops you will make for refuelling. Equally important in the time-saving stakes is the inclusion of Shindaiwa’s clever Soft Start system, which reduces starter cord resistance for dependably quick starting every time. In addition to this a spring-supported anti-vibration system is included to prevent strain over extended periods of operation, thereby ensuring user comfort.

For all of its impressively convenient qualities the DH232ST-24 is a tough little beast too, with a high quality air filter and durable components used throughout to boost reliability. In fact, Shindaiwa’s confidence in the DH232ST-24’s longevity is such that every Shindaiwa tool even comes with either a five year domestic warranty or a two year commercial warranty as standard. You can therefore rest assured that an investment in Shindaiwa’s DH232ST-24 is also an investment in years of superb cutting performance.