I tested the Felco 290 pole pruner – it was so easy to use I felt like I'd been given a gardening superpower

Sometimes the right tool really can revolutionise your gardening game. Before I even unboxed the Felco 290 pole pruner, I had high hopes for this review. As a gardener who values quality over quantity when it comes to her tools, Felco is a brand I am very familiar with.

However, I had some reservations. Comprising of a telescopic pole, sliding handle, and a series of pulleys, the Felco 290 pole pruner has a reach of up to 8.5ft when fully extended. I am 5ft6 and of slim build, so I was a little worried about how I'd be able to handle this tool to reach the highest tree canopies in my backyard.

I have used these tools before with mixed success. During my years as a full-time florist, I would often need to prune high tree branches from my eucalyptus and pine trees, and although I could reach them easily with a pole pruner, I sometimes found the tools heavy and didn't feel completely safe using them. This wasn't the case with the Felco 290 pole pruner, although its substantial reach did make it tricky to see exactly what I was doing when fully extended.

Specifications

Set up

The set up could not have been easier - and I'm confident this would be the same for someone who has never used a pole pruner before.

The instructions and safety guidelines were taped around the pole, and very easy to remove. All that is needed before you get started is to remove the plastic safety guard which is clipped around the blades, and you're good to go.

I spent some time practicing with adjusting the length of the pole and the angle of the cutting head before heading out, both of which were incredibly simple to do.

How does it cut

I tested this pole pruner on a variety of woody and softer stems in my yard, including a bay tree, mature beech hedges, a birch tree, pine branches, lemon cypress, wild brambles and creeping clematis vine.

The carbon, non-stick blade excelled at cutting every type of stem, producing clean cuts in one go. When I tried it on the thicker cypress and pine branches there was no resistance.

On the thinner, younger branches I didn't experience any tearing or ripping, which gives huge peace of mind when it comes to the health of my trees and hedges.

Ease of use

The one thing I was worried about before testing this pole pruner was being able to control it when fully extended.

However, the aluminium material meant it was incredibly lightweight, and easy to manoeuvre into position. I also found there was no strain on my shoulders, back or arms even after testing it for more than half an hour. The pully mechanism required minimal effort, even on the thicker branches I pruned. The handles were comfortable and secure to hold - I definitely felt I had a good grip. There is also a wrist loop for extra control.

I have a 10ft beech hedge bordering one side of my yard, and a very mature birch tree - both of which were perfect to test the pruner at full reach. Extending the tool was super easy. Where I found it more difficult was being able to see exactly what I was cutting once the pole was in place. Being able to adjust the angle of the cutting head was helpful here, but when pruning verdant evergreens and the denser hedge branches I found it hard to see and make sure I was being precise.

H&G Verdict

Having struggled in the past with long pruning tools like this, I was really hoping the Felco 290 pole pruner would be a game changer - and it delivered. The ease and efficiency of this tool is unrivalled.

When it comes to your essential pruning tools, if you do have lots of mature trees and high hedges in your yard, the Felco 290 pole pruner is an investment you will not regret. Of course, pruning needs to be done at the right time of year to avoid damage to your trees and shrubs. You can learn more here about when never to prune trees, to keep yours healthy and happy.