A pruning tool comprising an elongated hollow tube, which may be in sections, a cutter on one end of the tube having a pivoted cutting element, a piston and cylinder at the other end of the tube and a flexible cable passing through the center of the tube and connected to the piston and cylinder at one end of the cutting element at the other end wherein the cutting element is operated by applying tension to the cable by means of the piston and cylinder. Centering means are provided for the cable so that the cable, when tensioned, stresses the tube only in compression, without introducing any substantial bending moment.
