Citrus Pruning Tools by Cindy Fake, County Extension (UCCE), California

1. Pruning tools
Cindy Fake
University of California Cooperative Extension,
Placer & Nevada Counties
January 2012

2. Essential Pruning Tools
• Secateurs or hand pruners
• Lemon clippers for harvesting
• Loppers for branches >½” diameter
(1.25 cm)
• Pruning saw
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3. Pruning Tools for Larger Trees
• Pole pruner/saw
• Orchard ladder
• Chainsaw
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4. Pruning Tool Care
• Tools need to be sharp &
clean
• Sterilizing pruners is not
necessary for most bacterial
and fungal diseases
• For vascular diseases and
those which form oozing
cankers, pruning shears can
transmit disease.
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5. Sterilizing Pruning Tools
• Sterilization of pruners is important
in orchards with virus diseases or
wet cankers
• Sterilize with bleach
• Heat does not kill viruses
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6. 6
Pruning tools
• Cindy Fake
• University of California Cooperative Extension,
Placer & Nevada Counties
• January 2012