The pruner has an articulated joint (16,18,22) between the handle (12) and the pruning shears. The cutting plane of the shears is offset from the articulation axis (20). A support (54) for a guide pulley roller (50) is mounted to swivel about an axis parallel to the cutting plane of the shears or lies in it. The mouth of the pruning shears comes to lie in at least a downwardly folded position next to the handle. When the shears are folded down and the mouth open, the handle changes into a stop in the mouth to act as a branch guide. An extension arm connects the swivel joint with a centre part of the fixed arm (34) of the shears.
