Cut and Hold Long-Reach Pruners-2

In the first part of this series of posts I introduced the cut and hold pruner along with its benefits for all gardeners, especially those with disabilities or special needs. In the second part I presented a number of cut and hold hand pruners. The third and fourth parts will cover pruners that extend the reach of the pruner by inserting an aluminum pole between the squeeze handles and the cutting head. These are often called "long-reach" pruners and range in length from about 1' to 10' long.

In the third part of the series I covered those that are 3' or less in length. In this final post of the series I will cover long-reach pruners that are greater than 3' in length.

Cut and Hold Long-Reach Pruners - Greater Than 3' Long

I will present eleven pruners from six different companies. All of the pruners are by-pass type pruners with hardened blades. They all have aluminum extension poles. Some of these have telescoping poles, i.e. the poles length can vary over a range. I'll list the pruners by company and summarize a portion of the information in a table at the end.

Corona

Corona brand tools are well-known for quality and huge selection. For more than 80 years, Corona has forged a reputation for quality that professional and amateur gardeners can depend on for heavy-duty, durable design. The Corona LR 3460 Long Reach Cut and Hold Pruner is nearly 4' long and weighs a little over a pound. Corona specifies a 1/2" cutting capacity, but from the reviews I read this would only be for soft woods like pine. The cutting head rotates 180 degrees on the pole allowing you to get a good angle at what you're cutting. Overall the reviews on this pruner were outstanding. Moreover, they included some folks in wheelchairs and a 84-year-old gardener. It has a lifetime warranty as well.

Giraffe

The Giraffe cut and hold pruners are made in the USA and are unique in that they have a triangular shaped pole rather than the typical round one. This purports to be stronger than other pruners. They have a 5 foot model called the Giraffe GIR105. They have the capacity to cut heavier wood than the other pruners since they are able to cut 3/4" diameter soft woods like pine. The reviews I've read on these have all been very positive. There is also an optional Giraffe 100 T-Rex 15-Inch Saw Blade Attachment available at $16.00 for both pruners which would provide the capability to trim much larger branches.

ARS

ARS stands for "Always Really Sharp" and they are located in Japan. They have a large selection of cut and hold long-reach pruners, five of which are greater than 3' long. Three of them are from the "ZR" series, their newest pruners. They redesigned the mechanism and components for increased durability and strength. Perfectly balanced for ease of use and accuracy, these poles are light and maneuverable and provide sharp and accurate precision pruning at heights that would otherwise require a ladder. The New Swing Head System is made of strong-die-cast aluminum with hand adjustable bolt to lock the angle tightly in place (+/- 30 degrees tilt). A single Operation Lever simplifies operation while maintaining the same strength of cutting power. They have an ergonomically designed grip made of light and strong die-cast aluminum with non-slip plastic coating for comfort and ease of handling. 

The ZR models include: 160ZR203 - telescopes from 4'-7'; 160ZR305 - telescopes from 6'-10'; and 160ZR18 - 6' fixed length. All these models have a revolving arm which allows you to turn the pruner blades in any direction without moving the hand grip. The two that telescope have a single-lever telescoping pin to make the adjustment easy.

The 160R12 and 160R18 have fixed lengths of 4' and 6' respectively. They are similar to ZR models but don't have the new Swing Head System.

All five pruners have the capacity to cut branches up to 1/4", which is less than most others. However, these have become a favorite for water gardening; the blades, aluminum pole, and zinc alloy rod are all rust resistant.

Barnel

 

For more than 25 years Barnel, a Portland, Oregon company has been a manufacture of superior quality hand tools for the professional or serious hobbyist. Their products are sold in 60 countries worldwide. They manufacture two long-reach pruners: the B188Z6-10 - telescopes from 6'-10'; and the B188Z4-6 - telescopes from 4'-6'.

These tools are ideal for light-duty, high production pruning. Using this tool, you'll be able safely, quickly and easily prune small to medium-sized branches and "suckers" without using a ladder. Features include single push button quick connecting telescopic extensions and a self-oiling center bolt. The rotating alternate hand grips feature inlaid thermoplastic rubber and will slide and lock anywhere on the pole. The Ultra-Reach pruners feature a "cut and hold" spring mechanism that automatically adjusts for various sized cuts and high carbon sword steel with a hard chrome finish. All pruners also include an easy-mount tri-edge saw blade for converting to a pole saw.

Berger

Berger crafts a small but powerful line of long-reach pruners. They are great traditionally-designed lightweight tools that you can depend on for stability and durability time and time again. Berger pruning tools are made in Germany.  Their longest model is the Berger B4072 which is 45" long and weights 20 ounces. One negative I've heard on this was that the handles are spread fairly wide apart creating discomfort for individuals with smaller hands.

Wildflower Seed and Tool Company

Wildflower Seed and Tool Company has been in business for 23 years and is located in Napa Valley, CA. They sell a proprietary line of garden tools that are designed to be ergonomically friendly and manufactured of the highest quality of material. Their longest cut and hold long reach pruner can telescope from 4'-6 1/2', weighs 30 ounces, and has a cutting capacity of 3/8".

Summary

The following table summarizes some of the key parameters of the cut and hold pruners that are 3' or less in length. 

Wrap Up

This concludes my four-part series on cut and hold pruners. I hope I have provided enough information to assist you in making an informed decision on what pruner would be right for you. I would welcome comments from readers who purchase a pruner and would like to share their experiences with the rest of us.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the series I have not yet purchased a cut and hold pruner. Having completed my investigation I'm even more inspired to make that purchase. I have decided that the Giraffe GIR103, presented in part 3, is the best pruner for me. The most important factor leading to this decision is the 3' length of the pruner. I believe the 3' length is the ideal length for me. It's long enough to reach low and into my flower beds and raised bed garden, while at the same time being short enough that I can operate it with one hand. It is also a good length for my wife since it doesn't require her to bend over when working in the flower beds. In addition it's very reasonably priced, has the capacity to cut larger branches and has the optional saw attachment if I decide I need that at some point. I plan to order the pruner from Amazon today as an early Christmas present to myself :-). Once I get a chance to use it for a day or two I'll add a post on how well it works.