Best telescopic pruners: 8 options for those hard to reach spots

If you have a tall tree in your garden that needs some attention, or a hedge level just out of reach, it may be worth investing in a telescopic pruner.

Instead of overreaching and just falling short, or harming your back while tending to ground level greenery, a telescopic pruner will help you deliver a clean and tidy job without the strain otherwise involved.

We’ve put together our picks of the best pruners for those hard to reach spots, keeping in mind weight and length, and any bonus features like an additional saw so you can truly stay on top of your garden.

Best telescopic pruners to buy in 2024

ARS Long Reach Pruner

• Length: up to 3m
• Weight: 1.25kg
• Lopper-style head

Designed for difficult branches on hard to reach areas and tricky stems, this telescopic pruner boasts a carbon steel blade which shouldn't have any problems cutting through any pesky hang-ons. Not only does this mean the metal pruner will be sharp and easy to use, it should also be a durable item that won't struggle with awkward areas.

Customer review: "Not only can I now reach to the top of my trees to trim the highest branches I can also easily pick the highest fruits and lower them safely with the cut and hold feature. Much safer than climbing or standing on step [l]adders."

Spear and Jackson Razorsharp Telescopic Tree Pruner

• Length: up to 2.3m
• Weight: 2.2kg
• Lopper and saw

This versatile pruner features a carbon steel lopper capable of cutting through branches up to 30mm thick, but it doesn't stop there. It also has an additional 13 inch saw to help you take on those larger branches that may be beyond your normal reach, so this is a great 2-in-1 design.

Customer review: "Easy to use even at full extent, unbelievably effective at trimming/cutting."

Kent and Stowe Telescopic Tree Lopper

• Length: up to 3m
• Weight: 1kg
• 4-gear bypass lopper and saw

Boasting a powerful cut, these telescopic pruners have a 4-gear mechanism to make the work as easy as possible, with a bypass system that creates a scissor effect which makes the cutting action even easier. The blade itself is made from carbon steel with a non-stick property so it shouldn't get stuck mid-cut, with branches coming off easily instead of becoming crushed and damaged.

The full reach extends to three metres and can be locked in place with a simple twist. It even has a pruning saw attached to the end for any particularly thick areas.

Customer review: "Extremely sharp and easy to [manoeuvre] with long saw blade as extra."

Fiskars UP86 Telescopic Universal Tree Prune

• Length: up to 4m
• Weight: 1.9kg
• Bypass lopper, compatible with branch saw and fruit picker

Cut your way through dense greenery and easily tackle the tips of trees with this powerful tree pruner from Fiksars, which can take on branches that are up to 32mm thick.

All the strings are inside the pole so you wont have to worry about any of the mechanisms getting caught in the tree. The ergonomic handle also leaves a satisfying pump action when squeezed so you can really enjoy the process of cleaning up your garden.

Customer review: "The two pulling handles give useful options when needed and the mechanical advantage was enough to cut through even the thickest growth."

Gardena Telescopic Tree Lopper

• Length: up to 4.1m
• Weight: 1.5kg
• Lopper-style head

The internal steel gearing may sound like there's a lot going on with its 12-speed gear ratio, but it's all tucked away inside the pole, which means it won't get caught in any trees or hedgerows.

Alongside the pruners there's also a handy hook which can be used to remove any chopped branches that have fallen from the tree and become stuck in the leaves, ensuring a tidy area once the job is complete.

Customer review: "very well made, very light to handle, very easy to adjust with simple levers to lock the sliding movement which can be adjusted tighter as required, and the head is beautifully engineered. It has a very smooth precise cutting action, and [...] the amount of pressure [the] gearing provides is immense."

Draper Tree Pruner with Telescopic Handle

• Length: up to 2.5m
• Weight: 1.2kg
• Rope-operated loppers and detachable saw

You can extend this telescopic pole between 1.37 metres and 2.5 metres to find the length that works best for the task at hand, easily locking it in place with a simple twist system. This is a versatile garden tool as it features both a rope-operated blade for pruning, and a removable saw blade for thicker branches.

Customer review: "Works well on branches up to thickness specified, and lighter than others [of] this type, so less strain to use."

Darlac Adjustable Telescopic Snapper

• Length: up to 3m
• Weight: 1.1kg
• Lopper-style head and detachable saw

This telescopic pruner also functions as a snapper, holding onto the stem once it has been cut, which is ideal for easy clean up or picking fruit from hard to reach spots. It's a lightweight item made from aluminium and zinc alloy steel, and has a carbon steel blade that can handle branches up to 16 mm thick.

Customer review: "very well constructed, light enough to use for quite a long period and has a cutter which slices every twig/tendril with superb accuracy"

VEVOR Pole Saw Telescopic Tree Pruner

• Length: up to 8.2m
• Weight: 5.1kg
• Saw head

This telescopic pruner is more of a kit than a single item, with eight fibreglass poles that can be added together to a length of your choice, reaching up to 27 feet. Alternatively, you can use the head on its own as a hand-held tool for any branches lower to the ground.

Customer review: "Poles screw together well. Ideal canvas carry bag. Blade cuts well."

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For a great overview of the best tools to use for pruning, see our buyer's guide, where you can also find our recommendations of the best secateurs, loppers and gardening knives, among other lists.