Ease – there’s no comparison – using a pole saw while standing on the floor makes pruning so much easier than having to precariously balance on a ladder with a chainsaw. You’ll achieve a much neater and more accurate finish.

Telescopic tree pruners also come with some nifty features that make-work so much easier. These features are not common in all models but it is normal to run into them in other models.You can also buy pruning saws which we talk about here and maybe use with a good quality tripod ladder. 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. Of course, cutting length matters too . If your branches are on the smaller side, then you may not need anything longer than 15cm, which would make the head much lighter and easier to manoeuvre. However, if you have chunky, mature branches to prune, then look for something longer – our recommended pole saws go up to 30cm in length. It’s also very easy to use. At 7.5 kg, it’s reasonably weighted, although even this will start to feel heavy when used for long periods at full extension. It comes with a shoulder strap that takes some of the weight, but you may still find it difficult to control. There are also pruners on the market which extend further, up to 4m, and are ideal for taller trees.

As the aluminum pole is oval-shaped, you have a very precise control over the direction of the blade, something you will need when pruning at great height. Moreover, this shape gives more strength and rigidity over the full length of the pole saw, and reduces bending to a minimum. 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. I put this machine to the test on a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees to find out how it compares to the other best-selling pole saws out there. Hyundai products can sometimes be a little fiddly to assemble, so I was pleased to find that this pole saw only took about five minutes to put together. There’s not much to be done, other than attaching the handle (the Allen key that you’ll need for this is supplied in the box) and slotting the poles together. Then, fill it with petrol/oil using the provided mixing bottle, pour in some chain oil, and you’re good to go!As with any Silky saw, the teeth stay sharp for a long time. If deemed necessary, the teeth of the Hayauchi can be sharpened with a Silky file. Manual tree pruners are best if you’ll be cutting lots of fresh, live stems and branches . We’re talking bushes, hedges and young trees. In most instances, I recommend looking for pruners that have a cutting diameter of around 2.5cm – this will be suitable for most domestic pruning jobs.