7 Best Telescopic Tree Pruners of 2024

Coming from reputable tool brand Ryobi, this RPP750S Pole Pruner is one of the best telescopic tree pruners if you need to approach thicker, woodier branches.

It’s a good quality machine, and comes in three separate pieces to allow the length to be adjusted. The handle attaches to the end of one section, the saw to the end of the other, and then there is an additional extension piece. This pruner can be used without the extension, and will measure approximately 1.8 m, or with the extension, measuring 2.7 m.

Instead of having a jaw-like cutting blade, it has a 20 cm saw attachment with a 750 W motor. It’s therefore better equipped for getting through tougher branches than other pruners on this page, requiring minimal effort to do so. Customers have reported being able to cut through branches of up to 15 cm in diameter.

The presence of a motor increases its weight, so it’s not the lightest pruner at 3.8 kg, but there is a shoulder included to help make it more manageable. Whilst the strap does help to some extent, using the RPP750S still requires a fair amount of upper body strength.

When the extension pole is in position, this pruner can be harder to manage because the motor (and therefore the majority of the weight) is at the far end of the pole.

Nevertheless, it’s a powerful tool and can be invaluable whilst pruning bigger branches – it’s just a case of making sure you can control it properly.

Oil is required, to keep the motor running smoothly, and only a small amount is supplied so it will be necessary to buy more. Also, the power cable isn’t very long which can be a little inconvenient, but does reduce the chance of accidentally cutting through it.

If you want to tidy up the garden without having to cart round a ladder, the Fiskars PowerGear UPX86 Telescopic Tree Pruner is easy to use with a substantial reach and a powerful cutting system.

The internal rope pully system is what assists with closing the blades and causes them to cut. Instead of a squeeze handle, which is what many other tree pruners have, this method is easier on the hands. It’s quite a revolutionary way of cutting, and sets the Fiskars pruners apart from others on the market.

With an adjustable handle that can extend from 2.4 – 4 m, this pruner is the longest model featured on this list, and one of the best telescopic tree pruners for reaching higher branches in treetops. Combined with arms-reach, it will be able to access branches approximately 5 – 6 m high.

It’s capable of cutting stems and branches up to 2.5 cm in diameter, assisted by the help of non-stick steel blades. The position of the cutting head can also be altered, to cut in any direction through 230°.

Best suited to cutting fresh, soft stems and small branches, the Fiskars UPX86 will struggle more on harder, woodier material. Once the cutting technique has been perfected, customers have reported being able to cut through some slightly thicker branches, but the blades will get stuck if it’s too much for them.

Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that because of the type of cutting mechanism, there’s a chance the interior rope will break eventually. If/when this does happen, it can be changed for a new one. This process isn’t too complicated and there are videos online to help.

Whether you’re pruning a hedge or neatening up a tree, the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Telescopic Tree Pruner is a great tool to have around. 

These telescopic pruners have a variable length handle that extends up to 2.4 m in length, so you can use them to tackle branches above your head. The bypass cutting action is suitable for soft branches up to 30 mm thick, or thinner branches but with woodier stems. 

These pruners are very good quality, made with a PTFE-coated steel blade and a fibreglass handle. They have been designed to last and are very lightweight at just 1.5 kg, which makes them easy to handle. While any tool will get tiring when held above your head for long periods of time, it’s clear that Spear & Jackson have made a lot of effort to keep the weight down, without compromising on the quality. 

They come with a 330 mm saw which gives the user extra cutting power on larger branches, although it’s worth noting that this saw is a little weak and not particularly effective. The saw also occasionally gets caught on branches and needs to be removed. 

One other issue is that the cord isn’t quite long enough when the handle is at full extension, so you may need to lengthen it if you’re regularly pruning at full extension.

The twist lock on the handle is simple and fairly easy to use, although some users reported it loosening over time. 

All in all, these pruners are a good value and effective tool that are suitable for a range of trimming and tidying jobs. 

If you’re after a set of pruners with a simple mechanism, the Sunorchid Telescopic Tree Pruners  are worth considering. These pruners have a dual use pruning saw that can be used either for pruning tall trees or as a handheld tool for neatening bushes at eye level. 

The blade is made from alloy steel and has sharp, solid serrations. There’s 4 cutting angles to choose from depending on what you are cutting and at what height. There’s no bypass mechanism. Instead, the branch is held in place while the two-way blade produces a smooth and clean cut. 

The pole is very easy to extend to a maximum of 3 m, making this tool suitable for taller trees. The blade can be removed from the handle if you want to use it for handheld pruning. 

They are also fairly comfortable to hold, although noticeably less strong when fully extended. There’s a comfortable non-slip foam grip at the end and in the middle of the handle, so it can be operated with two hands. 

This pruning tool also comes with a good quality blade cover so you can protect the blade from damage when not in use. 

Overall, these pruners are a great option if you’re after a simple, versatile tool. If you’re tackling trees at eye level, the handle can be detached, put back on again when you need a little more reach. 

Whether you need to prune roses, or cut high-reaching bamboo canes, the Garten Primus Rose Cavalier Pruner makes it easy to do all the jobs around the garden without requiring multiple tools.

Able to extend from 136 cm to 206 cm, these pruners have a large working range. They can manage soft/medium stems of up to 10 mm in diameter, so you can use them to tackle smaller (living) branches instead of needing to get the loppers out. With some soft stems, a much larger cutting diameter can be achieved; however, with woodier stems, the size is significantly reduced.

To make it easier to cut stems that are in awkward positions, the top section of the pruner can be adjusted through different angles. It’s therefore simpler to reach specific branches and stems. The cutting head also rotates, to help create precise, well-positioned cuts.

The blade is made from carbon steel, with a non-stick coating, and is sharp enough to easily manage pruning small shrubs like Hawthorne. It also holds onto the stem once it’s been cut (once you get the hang of how to use this feature), making it easier to keep the workspace clear. Because of this, it’s one of the best telescopic tree pruners for neatly trimming areas with ornamental bushes.

One small criticism would be with the number of plastic components on the pruners. Both the extender mechanism, and the cutting head angle adjuster, are plastic, which seems less durable than if all the important parts were made from metal.

Nevertheless, the pole itself is made from a sturdy aluminium, which is also very lightweight. The pruners weigh under 1 kg in total and are easy to support whilst working.

With a blade that cuts and holds whatever gets pruned, the ARS 160ZP Long Reach Pruner is great for dead-heading, manicuring and harvesting. Instead of instantly dropping the pruned material on the spot, where it will never be found again, the blades allow you to have more control over where it will be placed.

They’re chrome-plated and made from carbon steel, resulting in a high-quality tool that can comfortably cut branches up to 6 mm. In some instances, the blades can cut up to 10 mm. The pole is extendable from 130 cm to 200 cm, and is suitable for both mid-range pruning, and cutting higher up.

Instead of allowing free adjustability between its lengths, you can only one of three positions: no extension, half extended or fully extended. Therefore, there are some limitations.

Nevertheless, weighing just under 1 kg, it’s one of the best telescopic tree pruners in terms of manageability; not only because it’s easy to hold, but also because it’s well balanced and allows good control whilst pruning.

The angle of the cutting head can be adjusted to reach specific areas, or further back into flower beds and vegetable patches without risking standing on any plants. Given that the blades are so sharp, the cutting mechanism is easy to use and slices through the majority of stems.

Whilst these pruners aren’t useful for cutting thick, woody branches, they will help with general pruning, especially for bushes, flowers and vegetables.

The Draper Tree Pruner with Telescopic Handle is a simple and effective set of tree pruners, with a 355 mm long cutting blade that’s operated by a cord mechanism. They can be used to cut through reasonably thick branches, allowing you to tackle both soft and woody stems. 

The handle extends from 1.37 m to 2.5 m, so you can neaten up hedges as well as tall trees. Weighing just 1 kg in total, it’s easy to use these pruners comfortably for long periods of time. 

To make it easier to cut stems that are in awkward positions, the top section of these pruners can be adjusted, giving you greater manoeuvrability and allowing you to reach specific stems. 

The blade is made from chrome vanadium steel and feels very good quality. It’s non-slip and sharp enough to prune small shrubs like Hawthorne. Unlike others on the market, it doesn’t hold onto what it’s cut, so you will need to wear a helmet and safety goggles if you are tackling thicker branches. Due to the design of these pruners, anything you cut does tend to fall straight down the handle towards the user. 

One small criticism would be that the sawing function isn’t particularly effective, especially when the handle is used at maximum length. The pruning function however, does work very well, and it’s worth the investment for this alone.