Abstract: The invention discloses pruning apparatus of the compound action hook and blade type. At the upper end of a longitudinally-extending handle, a stationary hook is fixed and extends upwardly therefrom in a plane parallel to and offset from the longitudinally-extending plane of the handle. It defines a downwardly-facing arcuately-shaped limb-engaging-surface for engagement with a limb. There is a movable blade which has a cutting edge and is operable to be reciprocated in an intersecting manner through cutting and return strokes with relation to the engaged limb and to the limb engaging surface of the fixed hook. A lever is pivotally mounted relative to the hook and a link pivotally interconnects to each of the lever and movable blade. The hook and movable blade and lever and link are each disposed contiguous to a common vertical plane.