Ditch The Full-Sized Trimmer: Ryobi Has An Easier Way To Prune Small Hedges And Shrubs

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If you take pride in the appearance of your property, you know how important keeping hedges and shrubs trimmed is. A perfectly mowed and edged lawn, for example, can be completely overwhelmed by scraggly and misshapen greenery. Hauling out a full-sized trimmer works just fine, but it can be overkill for routine maintenance and unwieldy to use. Fortunately, Ryobi has a gardening tool under $100, which offers users an easier, smaller option for pruning small hedges and shrubs.

Retailing for about $60, the Ryobi USB Lithium Shear Shrubber Kit is an affordable and compact handheld trimming tool. It comes with both a hedge shrubber and grass shear attachment, resulting in a device that performs well over a versatile range of tasks. Its compact battery boasts up to 35 minutes of runtime on a full charge, and the LED indicator light signals when it's in need of a recharge. The device also boasts 1,000 SPM (strokes per minute), as well as a ⁵⁄₁₆-inch cut capacity.

Customers have given the tool set a 3.9-star average from over 200 reviews, at the time of writing. Buyers generally appreciate that the tool is lightweight and highly portable. They also mention that the blades are easy to change. One 5-star review on Home Depot's website states: "Needed a small device to trim around new holly bush plantings that were too low for the weedeater. This has been perfect! Super easy and quick to charge the battery, and easy to change blades."

Individuals who have lots of smaller bushes on their property might find the Ryobi Shear Shrubber Kit to be a worthwhile purchase, but the utility of the tool might depend somewhat on expectations. For starters, several customer reviews mention that the battery's charge doesn't last very long. One review says that it wears out after only 10 minutes, while other reviews hint at it dying even faster than that. Not all buyers have had this issue, but it may be best to use the shrubber for smaller clean-up and shaping jobs rather than full-blown bush and shrub trimming. You can also purchase a set of replacement batteries ($40 for a two-pack from Home Depot). By keeping a back-up battery or two ready to use, you can eliminate the frustration of waiting for the device to be usable.

Another factor to be aware of is the overall strength of the tool itself. Multiple customers complain that the trimmers are not useful for anything woody or with thicker branches. While the shrubber is ideal for bushes that have thin branches that are easy to cut, those who are trying to trim thicker bush branches or tame severely overgrown shrubs should opt for a full-sized or more powerful unit, like Consumer Reports' top-rated hedge trimmer. Even still, this Ryobi product shines for those who might struggle with bigger and heavier tools, thanks to its lightweight and handheld size.