contracting
Hedging
Precision Hedging for Healthier, More Productive Orchards
Hedging is one of the most important parts of orchard management — controlling tree growth, improving sunlight penetration, and setting orchards up for healthier, more productive harvests. For Gallard Group, it’s more than a service. Hedging is where our contracting story began.
In the early 2000s, John Gallard grew frustrated by the lack of reliable, high-performing hedging services in the Riverland. Determined to find a better way, he sourced one of the first five-blade, self-propelled Afron hedgers into Australia. It was a game-changer — not only transforming his own orchards, but sparking demand from other growers across the region. From that moment, Gallard Contracting was born, expanding from hedging into mulching, shredding, and full orchard redevelopment.
Two decades later, we continue to lead the industry with one of the largest Afron hedging fleets in Australia — delivering speed, consistency, and results that growers trust.
The Benefits of Hedging:
Improved Fruit Quality – More sunlight equals better fruit colour, size, and sugar levels.
Efficient Harvesting – Consistent, accessible rows make harvest smoother and faster.
Controlled Growth – Keeps canopies manageable for long-term orchard health.
Disease Reduction – Encourages airflow and reduces disease pressure.
Cost Savings – Mechanical pruning reduces labour costs significantly.
our trusted mechanical pruner for over 20+ years
Book Hedging Services or Own an Afron
Whether you’re looking to book Gallard Group for hedging services or explore adding an Afron machine to your own fleet, we’ll guide you every step of the way. Every Afron purchase comes with on-site operator training, after-sales support, and decades of hands-on experience to keep you running at your best.