Fruit Pickers

About Fruit Pickers

Fruit pickers are ingenious tools designed to make harvesting fruit, nuts and vegetables effortless, whether you're gathering produce from high branches or collecting fallen fruit from the ground. These practical devices eliminate the need for precarious ladders or painful bending, making harvest time safer and more efficient for gardeners, smallholders and orchard owners alike. Available in both tree-picking and ground-collecting designs, fruit pickers enable you to work from a comfortable standing position whilst protecting your produce from bruising and damage.

At TooledUp.com, we stock quality fruit harvesting tools from leading brands including GARDENA and Wolf Garten. Our range encompasses adjustable fruit picker heads that gently grasp apples, pears and similar tree fruit, specialised berry pickers designed for delicate soft fruits, and ground-level collectors that efficiently gather windfall produce without requiring you to stoop. Most models feature a modular design that attaches to interchangeable handle systems, allowing you to customise the reach and functionality to suit your specific harvesting requirements.

Whether you're managing a productive orchard, maintaining a domestic fruit garden, or looking after community growing spaces, the right fruit picker can transform a back-breaking task into a pleasant and productive activity. These tools are particularly valuable for elderly gardeners or those with mobility issues, extending independence and enabling continued enjoyment of fruit growing well into later years.

Jargon Buster

• Multi-Change System: A modular tool design (such as Wolf Garten's Multi-Change range) where different working heads can be attached to various length handles, allowing one handle to serve multiple functions and reducing storage requirements.
• COMBISYSTEM: GARDENA's proprietary interchangeable tool system that allows different tool heads to connect to compatible handles, providing flexibility and value across your garden tool collection.
• Picker Head: The working end of a fruit picker tool that attaches to an extension pole, featuring either a cage-and-comb design for tree picking or a rolling cage mechanism for ground collection.
• Fruit Harvester: Another term for fruit picker, emphasising the tool's role in efficient crop collection during harvest season.
• Ground Collector: A specialised fruit picker designed for gathering windfall fruit from lawn or orchard floors, typically featuring flexible wires or tines that allow fruit to enter but prevent it from falling back out.
• Berry Picker: A smaller, more delicate fruit picking tool specifically designed for soft fruits like blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, featuring closely-spaced tines that comb fruit from stems without crushing.

Who Uses Fruit Pickers?

• Hobby Gardeners: Domestic fruit growers maintaining apple, pear, plum and cherry trees in residential gardens
• Allotment Holders: Community gardeners managing productive fruit trees and bushes on rented plots
• Small-Scale Fruit Growers: Smallholders and lifestyle farmers maintaining modest orchards or soft fruit beds
• Groundskeepers: Professional gardeners responsible for maintaining fruit trees in parks, estates and public gardens
• Market Gardeners: Commercial growers producing fruit for local markets and farm shops
• Elderly Gardeners: Mature fruit growers seeking to reduce physical strain whilst maintaining independence
• Landscapers: Professional garden maintenance contractors providing seasonal harvest services to clients
• Community Garden Volunteers: Groups managing shared growing spaces and community orchards
• Care Home Gardeners: Horticultural therapy practitioners facilitating accessible growing activities

How to Choose the Right Fruit Pickers

Type of Harvesting: Determine whether you primarily need to pick fruit from trees or collect windfall from the ground. Tree pickers feature cage-and-comb designs with trigger mechanisms, whilst ground collectors use rolling wire cages. If you have both requirements, consider a multi-change system that accommodates both head types.

Handle Compatibility: Check whether you're investing in a complete tool or just a picker head. GARDENA COMBISYSTEM and Wolf Garten Multi-Change heads require compatible handles purchased separately, though this modular approach offers excellent value if you're building a comprehensive garden tool collection. Consider the maximum reach you'll need for your tallest trees.

Fruit Size and Type: Different picker designs suit different produce. Standard fruit pickers work well for apples, pears and similar firm fruits approximately 50-100mm in diameter. Berry pickers feature finer tines for delicate soft fruits. Ensure the cage or collector spacing matches your primary crop to prevent fruit falling through or becoming stuck.

Build Quality and Durability: Look for robust construction with weather-resistant materials, particularly galvanised or plastic-coated wires that won't rust. Quality brands like GARDENA and Wolf Garten offer reliable long-term performance, which is essential as fruit pickers endure considerable force during operation and exposure to outdoor conditions.

User Comfort: Consider the weight of the assembled tool, particularly if you'll be working overhead for extended periods. Ergonomic handle grips reduce hand fatigue, whilst well-balanced designs minimise shoulder strain. Adjustable length handles allow multiple users of different heights to work comfortably.

Collection Capacity: Ground collectors and tree picker bags vary in capacity. Larger collection areas mean fewer trips to empty your harvest, but also increase weight when full. Balance efficiency against comfortable handling, particularly if you have strength or mobility limitations.

Popular Accessories

• Extension Handles: Compatible poles in various lengths (typically 1.5m to 4m) for GARDENA COMBISYSTEM or Wolf Garten Multi-Change heads
• Telescopic Handles: Adjustable-length poles that extend your reach whilst maintaining compact storage
• Fruit Baskets and Trugs: Traditional harvesting containers for transferring collected produce
• Garden Kneelers and Seats: Supportive equipment for when ground-level sorting or inspection is necessary
• Pruning Tools: Secateurs and loppers for maintaining fruit trees between harvests
• Storage Hooks and Racks: Wall-mounted organisation systems for keeping picker heads and handles tidy in sheds or garages
• Orchard Ladders: Specialist tripod ladders for accessing fruit that's truly beyond pole-picker reach
• Garden Gloves: Protective handwear for comfortable extended harvesting sessions

Safety Information

Working at Height: Whilst fruit pickers eliminate much ladder work, always assess overhead risks before operating. Be aware of power lines, branches that might break, and wasp or bee nests in fruit trees. Maintain stable footing on level ground and avoid overreaching, which can cause loss of balance.

Tool Handling: Extended fruit pickers can be unwieldy, particularly when loaded with fruit. Use controlled movements and be aware of people, pets and obstacles around you when manoeuvring poles. Store tools with heads pointing downward to prevent accidents.

Repetitive Strain: Prolonged overhead work can strain shoulders, neck and arms. Take regular breaks, alternate arms where possible, and stop if you experience discomfort. Fruit pickers should reduce physical strain, not create it.

Ground Hazards: When using ground collectors, watch for hidden obstacles like stones, branches or uneven surfaces that might cause trips. Wasps are often attracted to fallen fruit, so exercise caution in areas with heavy windfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same handle for different fruit picker heads?
Yes, if you choose a modular system like Wolf Garten Multi-Change or GARDENA COMBISYSTEM. These systems allow different picker heads (tree picker, ground collector, berry picker) to attach to the same compatible handles, offering excellent versatility and value. Just ensure you're purchasing heads and handles from the same system, as different manufacturers' products aren't interchangeable.

What's the maximum height I can reach with a fruit picker?
This depends on your chosen handle length plus your own height and arm reach. Most extension handles range from 1.5m to 4m. A 3-metre handle used by someone 1.7m tall with average arm reach can typically access fruit at approximately 5.5-6 metres height. For very tall trees, you may still need an orchard ladder or professional tree surgeon assistance.

Will a fruit picker damage my produce?
Quality fruit pickers are specifically designed to harvest produce gently when used correctly. The cage-and-comb design cradles fruit as it's released from the branch, whilst the collection bag prevents it from falling. Some bruising may occur with particularly delicate varieties, but damage is considerably less than fruit falling to the ground or being roughly handled during ladder picking.

Are fruit pickers suitable for all apple and pear varieties?
Most standard fruit pickers accommodate apples and pears ranging from approximately 50mm to 100mm diameter. Very small varieties like crab apples might fall through the picker's wires, whilst exceptionally large specimens may struggle to fit through the cage opening. Check the picker head dimensions against your typical fruit size. For unusual varieties, contact our team for specific advice.

How do I maintain my fruit picker for long-term use?
After each harvest season, remove any stuck fruit or debris from the picker head and rinse with clean water. Dry thoroughly before storage to prevent rust on metal components. Check connection points between heads and handles for wear, and tighten any loose fixings. Store in a dry shed or garage, ideally hanging on wall hooks to maintain the shape of wire components and prevent damage.