Seven reasons to choose old-fashioned muscle power and the superior reach of a pole saw, when you are pruning a tree: • Manual pole pruners are often the best choice for pruning smaller or higher branches. They are lightweight, easy to handle, and will not leave you with a sore back (if you are careful). • They can be found in much longer lengths than powered saws. Professional pole pruners can reach up to 21 feet, and you don't need to be Hercules to use one. • You do not need to run cables or struggle to start a gas engine that has been laid up for too long.

• Some trees have dense growth patterns and tangled twigs that can jam chainsaws. I would never use power tools on an old, gnarled apple tree, for example. • Working with a pole allows you see the overall shape of the tree as you work. You can make better pruning decisions as you sculpt it to thing of beauty.

• Ladders are downright dangerous. • The long reach keeps you clear of thorns, ants or anything else lurking in vegetation. • A manual pruner offers the genuine satisfaction of working in a quiet, relaxed way. A few things to consider as you choose: • The blades on a bypass pruner can separate on tough branches leaving them damaged but uncut (see illustration below). • Anvil pruners will never separate but softer stems can be 'bruised' and left open to infection by an anvil cutter. • Saws are always going to be the best choice for thicker, tougher branches and you will usually need the option for tree pruning. • Poles that flex too much can make you feel like you are 'fishing' for branches.

Price: The Fiskars Power-Lever Stik Pruner is a decent quality manual pole saw - it's lightweight, not overly expensive and features both saw and lopper with. Pruning Stik® Extendable Tree Pruner (7.9'–12'). (9240 telescoping pruning stik). Fiskars products are warranted to the consumer purchaser to be free.

• Cheap telescopic poles can start to twist around each other, or slide up and down, as the friction lock wears out. Oval or hexagonal poles will never twist, • All pole pruners involve ropes, chains or straps to operate the cutting head. Ropes on the outside of the pole are more likely to get tangled in small branches than chains. Games For Ti 84 Plus. Chains or ropes inside the pole are ideal; they will never get tangled up.