Although it is possible to carry out topping pinching by hand or with shears, trimming is an easily mechanized operation. There are several types of trimmers that can be mounted on tractors.
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Rotary trimmers with cutters: these are trimmers with a low rotation speed (400 rpm). They do not allow very rapid trimming, but there is less risk of vegetation being projected.
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Rotary trimmers with blades: these machines have a high rotation speed, of up to 3,200 rpm, this allows the trimmer to move more quickly, at about 8-10km/h. On the other hand, significant quantities of vegetation may be projected.
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Trimmers with helical blades
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Trimmers with cutter bars
The number of rows trimmed per trip down the rows depends on the type of trimming machine. It is possible to do one row at a time, or several. This depends on the winegrower's choices. However, when several rows are trimmed in one pass, this reduces the number of successive passes on the same inter-row and thus reduces soil compaction. The time saved is also significant.
Trimming by hand, using shears, is also an option that makes it possible to avoid one or several tractor passages in the vineyard but it is a much more time-consuming and physical practice. The result can be different, and less uniform than with a machine.