Crackpots Rural
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Crackpots Rural Supplies is the one stop shop for crop protection, bird netting, orchard structures, shadecloth, tree guards and more.
If your apple and pear trees have finally dropped all of their leaves, this is the perfect time to get in and prune them 🍏✂️
Pruning bare branches is often much easier because you can clearly see which branches need removing and which ones will be your key fruit‑bearing branches for the upcoming season 🌱
Here is a rewatch of how to prune a tree to create a strong vase shape that allows plenty of air and light into the canopy. This helps the fruit grow well. The video was filmed before the tree dropped its leaves, but all of the same principles still apply 🌞
If you missed the video last time, Farmer Jim walks you through a simple, practical way to prune an apple tree. The same approach works beautifully for pears and quinces. He shows how to choose a main branch, identify and trim lateral branches and use the ripping technique to tidy and shape the tree. These steps help set your trees up for a stronger crop next season 🍐
PS: If you are wondering what secateurs Jim uses, Felco is your friend. They are available in store and online at Crackpots 🔧
https://www.crackpots.com.au/Pruning-Tools/pl.php?filters=Department%3ARural%7C
07/07/2026
If you already have trees in the ground or a collection of mature fruit trees, you can still build an enclosure around them to protect your harvest from the birds 🐦
A good starting point is to draw up a simple plan of the trees you already have. Building a rectangular shape is usually the easiest option, so look for the best places to position your external poles and create either a square or a rectangle.
🌱 When you are working out the size, remember to leave about a metre between the trees and the netting. This space makes it easier to prune, mow and pick, and it also reduces the risk of branches growing through the netting during spring
It is also worth thinking about whether you want to add any new rows of trees or leave space for a vegetable patch.
Once you have your plan, you can send it through to us. A photo of a hand-drawn sketch is perfectly fine because we will understand it. From there, we can work out how many extra support poles you will need and where they should go. Depending on the width of the structure you are planning, you may not need a centre row of poles.
John and his team built their EZBuild around existing mature fruit trees, and the only part that needed extra planning was stretching the netting. A few brooms and a team of friends and family made that job easy too 💪
Winter is a great time to think about what comes next in your productive garden ❄️🌳
01/07/2026
Here is a handy checklist to help you plan the layout of your productive garden. Thinking through these points early will save you time later and help you get the most out of your space.
▷ Where are you going to locate it?
▷ Is there access to water?
▷ If you need to pump water, is there easy access to power?
▷ How many trees are you planning to plant? A simple rule of thumb is that each mature tree is about 3m in diameter.
▷ What about the space between the rows? Think about whether you plan to use any machinery in the orchard.
▷ What about access, and where the gate should go? For some people, a second gate makes good sense.
▷ Are you planning to have birds in the orchard? If you are, adding vermi mesh or corrugated iron around the perimeter is highly recommended.
Have fun planning, and remember we are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
📞 9337 2211
📧 [email protected]
🌐 crackpots.com.au
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Address
1/59 Forsyth Street O'Connor
O'Connor, WA
6163
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8am - 4pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 4pm |
| Friday | 8am - 4pm |
