Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the scions without replanting. While chain saws are used in orchards, par-
ticularly commercial orchards, they increase the risk of personal injury and
damage to trees. Unless you are rehabilitating older trees, topworking, or re-
moving trees entirely, chain saws are most often used only in larger commer-
cial orchards. Chain saws may be gasoline, electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic.
Pneumatic,hydraulic,andelectricpruningtools.
These pruners use air pres-
sure, hydraulic liquid pressure, or electrical solenoids to operate. They have
two great advantages in that they require less hand pressure to make the
cuts and they provide greater reach. Pruners range from about 8 inches to 12
feet in length and often consist of a cutting head mounted on interchange-
able or adjustable extension rods. Chain saws, likewise, have handheld units
that can be mounted on extension rods up to nearly 12 feet long. These
powered tools are extremely valuable for commercial orchards because they
increase speed and efficiency while reducing fatigue. Most cuts can be made
from the ground, reducing the need for hauling and setting up ladders. On
the downside, they are much more expensive than handheld pruning tools
and require dragging hoses or cables about the orchard. They also require
separate air compressors, hydraulic motors, or electrical generators.
