Fruit Pickers

About Fruit Pickers

Fruit pickers are specialised harvesting tools designed to make gathering produce from trees and the ground safer, easier and more efficient. These ingenious devices eliminate the need for precarious ladder work and painful bending, allowing gardeners, smallholders and orchard owners to collect apples, pears, plums, berries and other crops from a comfortable standing position. Available in several distinct designs, fruit pickers protect delicate produce from bruising whilst significantly reducing physical strain during harvest season.

The range available from Tooled-Up.com includes tree-mounted fruit picker heads featuring cage-and-comb mechanisms that gently release fruit from branches into protective collection bags, ground-level collectors with rolling wire cages perfect for gathering windfall produce, and specialised berry pickers with fine tines designed for delicate soft fruits. Leading manufacturers GARDENA and Wolf Garten dominate the market with their modular systems—COMBISYSTEM and Multi-Change respectively—which allow different picker heads to attach to compatible extension handles, providing excellent versatility and value for money.

Whether you're managing a productive home orchard, maintaining fruit trees on an allotment, or caring for community growing spaces, the right fruit picker transforms harvest time from a back-breaking chore into an enjoyable and productive activity. These tools prove particularly valuable for elderly gardeners or those with mobility limitations, extending independence and enabling continued participation in fruit growing for many years.

Jargon Buster

• COMBISYSTEM: GARDENA's proprietary interchangeable tool system allowing different heads to connect to compatible handles, creating a versatile collection of garden tools with minimal storage requirements.
• Multi-Change System: Wolf Garten's modular design where various working heads attach to different length handles, enabling one handle to serve multiple gardening functions throughout the season.
• Picker Head: The working end of a fruit picker that attaches to an extension pole, featuring either a cage-and-comb design for tree harvesting or a rolling mechanism for ground collection.
• Ground Collector: A specialised fruit picker designed for gathering windfall produce from lawn or orchard floors, typically featuring flexible wires or tines that allow fruit to roll in but prevent it from escaping.
• Berry Picker: A smaller, more delicate harvesting tool specifically designed for soft fruits such as blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, featuring closely-spaced tines that comb fruit from stems without crushing.
• Articulating Joint: A pivoting connection point on tree-mounted fruit pickers that allows the picker head to be angled for comfortable harvesting at various heights and positions.

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

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 face both requirements regularly, consider investing in a modular system from GARDENA or Wolf Garten that accommodates multiple head types with interchangeable handles.

System Compatibility: Check whether you're purchasing 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 when building a comprehensive garden tool collection. Handles typically range from 1.5 metres to 4 metres, so consider the maximum reach needed for your tallest trees.

Fruit Size and Variety: Different picker designs suit different produce types. 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 like raspberries and blackberries. Ensure the cage spacing matches your primary crop to prevent fruit falling through or becoming wedged.

Build Quality: Look for robust construction with weather-resistant materials, particularly galvanised or plastic-coated wires that won't rust after exposure to outdoor conditions. The brands stocked at Tooled-Up—GARDENA and Wolf Garten—offer reliable long-term performance, which proves essential as fruit pickers endure considerable force during operation and year-round storage.

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

Collection Capacity: Ground collectors and tree picker bags vary in capacity from compact designs to larger collection areas. Greater capacity means fewer trips to empty your harvest, but also increases weight when full—an important consideration 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 in sheds and garages
• Fruit Baskets and Trugs: Traditional harvesting containers for transferring collected produce to storage areas
• Garden Kneelers and Seats: Supportive equipment for when ground-level sorting or inspection becomes necessary
• Pruning Tools: Secateurs, loppers and pruning saws 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 with adjustable legs for accessing fruit 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, unstable branches that might break, and wasp or bee nests concealed in fruit trees. Maintain stable footing on level ground and avoid overreaching, which can cause loss of balance—particularly when handling extended poles with fruit-laden collection bags.

Tool Handling: Extended fruit pickers can be unwieldy, particularly when loaded with produce. Use controlled movements and remain aware of people, pets and obstacles around you when manoeuvring poles. Store tools with heads pointing downward to prevent accidents, and ensure secure connections between heads and handles before each use.

Repetitive Strain: Prolonged overhead work can strain shoulders, neck and arms. Take regular breaks, alternate arms where possible, and stop immediately if you experience discomfort. Fruit pickers should reduce physical strain, not create it—if you find harvesting painful, reassess your technique or handle length.

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

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 manufacturer's system, as different brands' 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 1.5 metres to 4 metres. A 3-metre handle used by someone 1.7 metres tall with average arm reach can typically access fruit at approximately 5.5-6 metres height. For very tall trees, you may still require 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 releases from the branch, whilst the collection bag prevents it from falling. Some minor 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 before purchasing.

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 to collection bags.