10910 Favourite Tools?

We are complete newbies at looking after olives but having read the copious threads on the subject I feel able to tackle the job.
We are going to prune mid December and have about 60 trees all of a similar size - see pic. We are not particularly interested in maximising oil production but want to keep the trees healthy and maintain their size and shape. In fact the ones around our house are part of our passive solar plan so are needed for shading.
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So heavy pruning is out, but we will cut out the old wood, make sure they stay open in the middle, break off suckers etc.

Now my question is what are the BEST tools to use. We have absolutely no gardening equipment out in Italy at the moment as our house will not be complete until Jan 09, so will need to purchase some.

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 07:42

Olive wood is very hard, so a small chainsaw is recommended for anything of at least the thickness of an arm.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 08:26

Best wishes and let us know how you go.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 08:38

You need a pruning saw (sega per potatura, seghetto) - which is a single blade with big teeth, often slightly curved. Also a bow saw - again this has big teeth. A really strong pair of secateurs (curved blades) is also useful.

You'll find these in any of the suppliers of small agricultural stuff, and they shouldn't cost much. The thin seghetto is very useful, because it means you can get into bits of the tree where the branches are crowded. Don't leave any stumps when you cut off small unnecessary branches.

I have dismally failed to find any pics of the saws I am suggesting!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 08:43

Here you go Charles, this one folds away.
[ATTACH]2204[/ATTACH]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 09:23

"moved to italiauncovered.co.uk"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 09:57

Ha Ha Richard. Of course the project manager being on a bonus might help!!

Now if you want to help with the pruning .......!