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Hedge trimmer – maintenance: step-by-step instructions
Regular and professional maintenance of your hedge trimmer will guarantee the power tool's longevity. We show you what to look out for.
07.05.2025
Overview: how to maintain a hedge trimmer
- Hedge trimmer maintenance is important to extend its service life and reduce the risk of accidents
- Visually inspect your hedge trimmer and check its most important functions regularly
- If you have a petrol hedge trimmer, check the fuel tank, air filter and spark plugs
- If you have a hedge trimmer with an electrical connection, always perform the maintenance with the electrical connection unplugged
- If you have a battery hedge trimmer, don't forget the battery and charger
Yes, you should oil your hedge trimmer regularly so that the cutting attachment works reliably in the long term.
Oils that can act as both a lubricant and protection against corrosion at the same time are suitable for use on hedge trimmers. We recommend using STIHL Superclean for the regular care of your hedge trimmer. This spray for cutting attachments loosens dirt and reliably protects the attachment against corrosion.
For optimal care of your hedge trimmer, we recommend a quick deep clean after every use. For this, first remove coarse dirt from the cutting attachment using a brush. Then treat the cutting blade with resin solvent and run the trimmer briefly. This distributes the lubricant and allows it to work optimally. We recommend thorough cleaning before lengthy storage periods.
If the hedge trimmer does not work, you should perform a thorough maintenance. Perform a visual inspection and check the hedge trimmer's most important functions. Clean and oil the cutting attachment. If the hedge trimmer still does not work, contact your STIHL dealer.
Why maintaining your hedge trimmer is important
Your hedge trimmer is subjected to heavy loads every time it is used, leaving traces of wear and tear. Regular maintenance enables you to quickly detect and eliminate these problems, reducing major damage and malfunctions. Hedge trimmers should always be used with care.
Regular maintenance of your hedge trimmer enables you to identify damaged areas and so minimise the risk of an injury caused by the machine.
The 2plus1 extended warranty
If you are a domestic user and you take your STIHL tool to your dealer for servicing within two years of purchase, you will receive a one-year warranty extension – because we believe in the quality and long-term performance of our products! Make an appointment with your STIHL dealer.
How to properly maintain your hedge trimmer
There are specific maintenance measures that should be carried out before and after working with the hedge trimmer. These recommendations apply to both battery and petrol hedge trimmers.
Safety first: personal protective equipment
Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing.
Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with STIHL power tools. Find out more in the user manual for your product. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use.
On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working.
A visual inspection of the entire hedge trimmer
- Is the rubber coating in good condition or is it cracked?
- Do the screws need to be retightened? Or are they in fact too tight? You can tell by whether the cutting attachment is moving more sluggishly or not. In this case, it helps to apply a little oil and anti-rust protection to the screws.
- Are the blades sharp enough or do they need to be sharpened?
- Carefully check that the most important functions are working
Check the trigger, trigger lockout, control bar and retaining latch. You can find detailed instructions in your hedge trimmer's user manual.
Clean the entire machine, particularly the cutting attachment.
Simply wipe off dirt and moisture with a damp cloth and remove any leaf and branch debris. Then treat the blades with a maintenance oil or spray and run the hedge trimmer briefly so that the oil distributes itself.
- Sharpen the cutting blades and have damaged or worn blades replaced if necessary. (Blunt blades damage your hedge and make your work unnecessarily difficult. In addition, the machine itself is put under greater stress, which can have a negative effect on its performance.)
- Clean the cooling air intake opening.
- To lubricate the gear, have the multi-purpose grease topped up by your dealer.
- Retighten the accessible screws.
Oiling and lubricating your hedge trimmer
Whether you have a battery, petrol or electric hedge trimmer, it’s worth oiling and lubricating your STIHL hedge trimmer regularly. Proper care will keep the cutting attachment smooth and increase your power tool’s service life.
Avoid using a penetrating oil when oiling your hedge trimmer and instead use a special hedge trimmer oil. STIHL Superclean, for example, is ideal as it acts as a lubricant and protection against corrosion at the same time.
Maintenance of battery, petrol and electric hedge trimmers
In addition to the usual maintenance measures, every type of hedge trimmer has unique maintenance requirements. We have listed the most important here:
Battery hedge trimmer maintenance
If you have a battery power tool, you should pay attention to the battery itself and the charger during maintenance. Remove the battery from the hedge trimmer after each use and clean it with a damp cloth. Dry the battery.
Are the LEDs on or flashing as they should do? If they are red or do not light up at all, remove the battery from the device. See the “Troubleshooting” section of your hedge trimmer’s user manual for detailed instructions on what to do if you see a warning symbol.
You can find many more tips on troubleshooting batteries in our support area.
Petrol hedge trimmer maintenance
The following additional maintenance measures apply for petrol hedge trimmers:
- Check the carburetor at idle before starting work and readjust it if necessary.
- Check that the machine is leak-tight and make sure that there is no fuel leakage.
- Check the spark plugs regularly. We recommend replacing them after every 100 hours of runtime.
- Clean the fuel tank. If the hedge trimmer is not going to be used for three months or more, the tank should be emptied before storage and the old petrol should be disposed of properly.
- Have the pickup body in the fuel tank replaced by a STIHL dealer annually.
Electric hedge trimmer maintenance
Before performing maintenance on your hedge trimmer, be sure to unplug it, as otherwise there is a high risk of an accident!
If you are using an electric hedge trimmer with a power connection, you should check the connecting cable and the mains plug before and after each use.
- Are they well insulated?
- Do they look old or broken?
If you notice any damage during maintenance, do not use the power tool. Electrical components must only be replaced or repaired by qualified electricians.
- Have the motor's carbon brushes checked every 100 hours by a dealer.
- You should have the gear and connecting rod checked by a dealer after every 50 hours of runtime.
Care of your hedge trimmer: maintenance spray and lubricating grease
Every time you use your hedge trimmer, it is exposed to external influences and stubborn dirt. Our carefully selected range of STIHL care products offers everything you need to maintain your power tool’s functionality.
