Vine trimmer

Trimming takes place after the lifting operations. The height and width of trimming define the size of the vegetation on the row and make it easier for the machinery to pass over. But trimming also has other functions:
- to remove the youngest leaves, which are the most susceptible to fungal diseases,
- to keep the shoots upright,
- to improve the fruit set rate when trimming is carried out at the height of flowering.

Late trimming that is too severe can have harmful effects, as it reduces the leaf area available for berry nutrition.
Trimmers, also known as pruners, are essential for vineyard management.

Components of the vine trimming machine

The mast

Mat of a Collard vine trimmer
Mast of a Collard trimming machine

This provides the link between the machine and the tractor.
  • The simplest masts are single-beam masts installed at the front or between the wheels.
  • The most sophisticated are installed at the front of the tractor, fitted with a parallelogram. The tool can then be moved in front of the tractor, limiting the space required for road travel.



 

Cutting systems

Several systems are available: reciprocating or rotary. The rotary system with knives is the most widely used.

Rotary systems

  • Single blade
This is the most common type of equipment. Manufacturers offer knives of varying sizes and shapes. The blades are driven either mechanically (a succession of cardan shafts and angular gearboxes) or hydraulically. The hydraulic version is preferable, as it can be mounted in different ways (between the wheels, at the front). Blade rotation speed is variable (2,000 rpm for blades with a diameter of 400 to 450 mm).
  • Counter-knives
This system is no longer developed by the various manufacturers. It consists of fixed counter-knives (which hold the shoots in place during cutting) and fairly short knives (~300 mm) with a slow rotation speed (~300 rpm).

Alternative systems

  • Single cutting bars
This consists of a fixed part fitted with metal fingers and a bar with a moving section. The latter moves back and forth. The cutting height varies between 150 and 180 cm. The width is generally around 100 cm.
  • With double cutting bars
In this configuration, the fixed section is replaced by a second bar with a moving section. They move in opposite directions.

Trimmer settings and use

A wide range of settings are available, depending on the configuration of the machine.

Height


The height of the trimming machine must be adjusted to obtain a sufficient height of foliage (between 0.6 and 0.8 times the inter-row spacing).

As a general rule, the trimming height should not be too low (risk of damage to the knives by the trellising), nor too high (more than 50 cm above the trellising head wire) in order to correctly maintain the branches of certain grape varieties with a drooping growth habit.
Provitis vine trimmer
Vine trimmer - Provitis

Vertical element spacing

Rarely changed, this setting determines the thickness of the foliage.

Row alignment

Tilt

All these adjustments are assisted by hydraulic cylinders.

Use

Numerous configurations are possible, in full-row or ½ row, single-row or double-row versions.
Front-mounted or in-between-wheels versions are preferable, as they can be used for combined work.

Examples of different trimmers.
Collard Double Row Trimmer
Double row trimmer
Pellenc half-row trimmer
Half-row trimmer
Safety and prevention advice
The use of mobile machinery is one of the main causes of accidents on farms. Machine compliance is a crucial factor.

The owner of a new machine has 1 year from the date of delivery to notify the seller of any lack of conformity (Article L4311-5 CdT). During this period, the seller is obliged to rectify the non-conformity at its own expense or to take back the machine.

To help you check the conformity of your trimming and pruning machine, you can download its conformity sheet from the Ministry of Agriculture website.

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