One of the most intensive jobs available at an orchard would probably be the pruning work post-harvest. While the task itself can be considered to be quite demanding and time-consuming, it has to be said that good pruning work can be noticed by anybody with a keen eye. Proper pruning is also essential for general orchard maintenance work, not to mention that it helps trees and shrubs grow healthier and stronger with each passing year.If you are a good orchard owner, you should have understood the benefits of pruning your trees on a regular basis. While it is good to be concerned about your fruit trees, you also need to take care of yourself whenever engaging in this type of work. Otherwise, you could very well face serious accidents that could lead to injury, thereby preventing you from even visiting the orchard for a long period of time.Being aware of the following points should definitely benefit you in case you want do vine pruning on your own, so take some time to read them and understand what they imply:
Equip Yourself with the Right Tools for the Job
Pruning trees would simply be impossible without the right set of tools. They range from large saws for cutting down branches to small hand pruners meant to take care of twigs and soft tissues on your plants, meaning that there is quite a large variety of implements that you can use to your advantage. However, make sure to properly read instruction manuals before using new tools, especially when you don’t have any prior experience with them. Also, take time to make good purchases: quality tools found at farm equipment sales can easily last you for a lifetime if properly taken care of.
Be Careful About the Weather
Pruning work should be done under clear weather condition. Doing it while it’s raining can be dangerous, not to mention that you risk getting sick due to the cold winds battering you on the field. Make sure to dress appropriately when heading out: pruning takes a lot of time, so you are naturally going to spend a lot of time outside, which means that you need to think twice about what you are going to wear.
Take Breaks to Avoid Strain Injuries
Another important thing to keep in mind is to take short breaks every once in a while. Pruning trees often involves doing a lot of repetitive tasks one after the other, which can lead to strain injuries quite easily. Taking breaks ensures that your body won’t be exerted beyond what it can bear during a single session.
Keep Away from Power Lines
Working near power lines is extremely dangerous (and possibly fatal). Make sure to keep away from such locations to avoid harming yourself. In case you need to prune trees near power lines, you should employ a specialized pruning or tree cutting service to do it for you.