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If you have a tall hedge, a pole hedge trimmer can save a lot of awkward work on a ladder. I bought the Worx WG252E mainly to tackle the top of a tall Leylandii hedge from ground level.
I’ve been using it alongside the Worx WG737E mower as part of the same PowerShare battery setup, so I’ve also been able to see how well it fits into a wider cordless garden-tool system.
The WG252E is very good at what it is designed for: reaching high growth and keeping established hedges under control. On fresh Leylandii growth it cuts cleanly and the adjustable head makes the top and upper sides much easier to reach.
Its limitations become more obvious once the hedge gets woody. This isn’t a heavy-duty trimmer for cutting back thick branches, and the long pole also makes it noticeably more tiring to use when fully extended.
Our Quick Verdict
★★★★☆
A practical long-reach hedge trimmer for maintaining tall UK hedges from ground level.
After using the Worx WG252E on a tall Leylandii hedge in my own garden, I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Its 2.8 m reach, adjustable cutting head and PowerShare battery compatibility make it a very useful tool for regular hedge maintenance, although it becomes noticeably more tiring when fully extended and is better suited to fresh growth than thicker woody branches.
- 2.8 m reach for trimming tall hedges from ground level
- Adjustable cutting head and rotating rear handle for awkward angles
- Compatible with the Worx PowerShare battery system
- Quiet and low-maintenance compared with petrol equipment
- Best suited to regular trimming rather than heavy cutting back
Best for: gardeners with tall hedges who want a cordless way to maintain the top and upper sides without relying on a ladder.
If that sounds like the job you need it for, you can check the latest price below:
See the Worx WG252E Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer on Amazon UK
Key Features at a Glance
Here are the main specifications that matter in practice with the Worx WG252E. The standout features are its 2.8 m reach and adjustable cutting head, while the 16 mm cutting capacity gives a good indication of the lighter hedge growth it is designed for.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery | 20 V PowerShare system (18 V nominal) |
| Blade Length | 45 cm laser-cut dual-action blades |
| Cutting Capacity | 16 mm |
| Reach | Up to around 2.8 m with the telescopic pole |
| Cutting Head | 10 adjustable positions, plus 180° rotating rear handle |
| Battery Supplied | 2.0 Ah PowerShare battery |
| Weight | Approx. 3.6 kg with battery |
If you don’t need the extra reach, a standard hedge trimmer will usually be easier to control and better suited to everyday hedge cutting. I’ve compared that directly in my hands-on Worx WG261E cordless hedge trimmer review, which is worth reading before deciding between the two.
What I Like
Long Reach Without the Ladder
The main reason I bought the WG252E was to reach the top of a tall Leylandii hedge without constantly moving a ladder around. With the pole extended, it reaches up to around 2.8 metres, which is enough for most of the upper growth in my garden.
The cutting head can be adjusted through 10 positions, and the rear handle rotates through 180°, which makes it easier to change your grip when trimming the top, sides or awkward corners.
Assembly is straightforward and takes very little time, with no tools needed.
Because the WG252E uses the same Worx PowerShare batteries as my other garden tools, I don’t need a separate charger or battery system just for the hedge trimmer.
In practice, I prefer using a lighter 2 Ah battery on the trimmer because it keeps the weight down. I use larger batteries for tools such as the mower, then swap them between tools when needed.
That flexibility is one of the main reasons the WG252E makes sense if you already own Worx cordless equipment.
Quiet and Easy to Live With
Compared with petrol equipment, the WG252E is much easier to live with for occasional hedge maintenance. There is no fuel, no engine servicing and very little preparation before using it.
Vibration through the handles is modest, and the blades leave a clean finish on fresh Leylandii growth.
Useful Safety Features
The controls feel sensibly designed, with a safety switch to prevent accidental starting and a blade sheath for storage.
At full extension, the tool still needs to be handled carefully because of the extra leverage created by the long pole, but the controls themselves are straightforward and predictable.
Optional Pole Saw Attachment
The same pole can also take the Worx WA0307 chainsaw attachment.
That is useful if you occasionally come across branches that are too thick for the hedge-trimmer blade. Rather than forcing the WG252E through woody growth, the attachment lets the PowerShare pole double as a lightweight pole saw.
I’d stop the section there. The existing final sentence — “All of this works best when you’re maintaining a hedge regularly…” — can go, because that point is already established in the Quick Verdict and will come through much more convincingly in the Real-World Use section next.
Real-World Use
Before and after trimming the Leylandii hedge with the Worx WG252E cordless pole hedge trimmer in my UK garden.
I used the Worx WG252E on a tall Leylandii hedge in my own garden, with some ivy beginning to work its way through the growth.
On the softer green growth, it cut cleanly and made it much easier to tidy the top of the hedge from ground level. Once I reached thicker, woodier stems around the tool’s 16 mm cutting limit, it needed more than one pass and became noticeably less effective.
The adjustable cutting head was one of the most useful features in practice. I changed the angle several times while working across the top and upper sides of the hedge, which made it easier to keep the cut level and reach awkward areas without constantly changing position.
The 180° rotating rear handle also helps here, because you can change your grip after altering the head angle rather than twisting your wrists into an uncomfortable position.
The main drawback is the balance at full extension. As the pole gets longer, more of the weight sits further away from your body, so you start to feel it in your shoulders and arms quite quickly.
I found the lighter 2 Ah battery better for this reason, and the included shoulder strap helps take some of the load during longer stretches of trimming. For occasional maintenance of a tall hedge, I found it manageable, but I would not want to use it fully extended for a long continuous session.
The WG252E uses Worx’s PowerShare battery system, so the same batteries can be used across a wide range of compatible garden and DIY tools.
That matters most if you already own other Worx equipment. Instead of buying a separate battery and charger for every tool, you can build around one battery platform and swap packs between jobs.
For me, that makes the WG252E more appealing as part of a wider cordless setup than as a completely standalone purchase.
If you’re comparing battery platforms, see my PowerShare battery systems comparison guide, where I look at how Worx compares with alternatives such as Bosch and Ryobi.
Where It Could Be Better
The main weakness is the balance when fully extended. The WG252E becomes noticeably front-heavy, and that extra leverage starts to tire your shoulders and arms quite quickly when you are working above head height.
Its 16 mm cutting capacity is the other clear limitation. It is fine for fresh hedge growth, but once stems become thicker and woody, cutting slows down and you can find yourself making repeated passes.
The supplied 2 Ah battery keeps the tool lighter, which I prefer, but it also means longer jobs may need a spare battery if you have several hedges to get through.
For occasional thicker branches, the WA0307 pole saw attachment is a better option than trying to force the hedge-trimmer blade through them.
If most of your hedge work is at normal height, a standard trimmer will usually be easier and more comfortable to use. My Worx WG261E review is the more relevant comparison for everyday hedge cutting.
Pros
- Long 2.8 m reach for tall hedges
- 10-position adjustable cutting head
- 180° rotating rear handle
- Compatible with Worx PowerShare batteries
- Clean cutting on fresh hedge growth
- No fuel or engine maintenance
Cons
- Front-heavy when fully extended
- 16 mm cutting capacity limits thicker woody growth
- Can become tiring during longer sessions
- Supplied 2 Ah battery may not cover several large hedges
If you think this is the right hedge trimmer for your garden, you can check the latest price and availability below.
Final Verdict
I’d rate the Worx WG252E ★★★★☆ (4/5).
For maintaining tall hedges from ground level, it does its job well. On my Leylandii it handled fresh growth cleanly, and the adjustable head made the top and upper sides much easier to reach without relying on a ladder.
Its main compromise is comfort at full extension. The tool becomes front-heavy, and the 16 mm cutting capacity means it is much better for regular maintenance than for cutting back thick, woody growth.
If you have a tall hedge and already use Worx PowerShare batteries, the WG252E is a particularly sensible addition. If most of your hedge cutting is at normal height, a standard trimmer will usually be easier to use.
Worx WG252E FAQs
Is the Worx WG252E suitable for thick hedges?
The WG252E is better suited to regular hedge maintenance than heavy cutting back. It has a 16 mm cutting capacity, and in my own use it handled fresh Leylandii growth well but became less effective on thicker, woody stems.
Yes. The WG252E is part of the Worx PowerShare system, so compatible PowerShare batteries can be swapped between other Worx garden and DIY tools.
Is the Worx WG252E heavy to use?
It is manageable for shorter jobs, but it becomes noticeably front-heavy when the pole is fully extended. I prefer using a lighter 2 Ah battery, and the shoulder strap also helps during longer trimming sessions.
Does the Worx WG252E replace a standard hedge trimmer?
Not really. The WG252E is most useful when you need extra reach for the top and upper sides of tall hedges. For hedge cutting at normal height, a standard trimmer is usually easier to control and more comfortable to use.