A hedge trimmer comprises: a drive motor (30, 130) disposed in a casing (21, 121); a gear mechanism disposed in the casing (21, 121) and connected to the drive motor (30, 130); and a blade arrangement having at least one cutter bar (20, 120). The at least one cutter bar (20, 120) is driven in a reciprocating manner in a longitudinal direction of the blade arrangement by the drive motor (30, 130) via the gear mechanism. The gear mechanism contains at least a first gear setting and a second gear setting producing two different gear-ratios, such that the at least one cutter bar (20, 120) is adapted to be driven at a first speed and torque using the first gear setting, and a second speed and torque different from the first speed and torque using the second gear setting. By providing two different trimming output modes, the hedge trimmer may provide either a high-speed/small-torque trimming capability or a low-speed/large-torque trimming capability to accommodate requirements under different operation circumstance
