6 Best Corona Pruning Saws For Fruit Tree Rootstock Old Farmers Swear By

When you’re down on your knees, wrestling with a tangled mass of rootstock suckers, the last thing you need is a saw that binds, dulls, or just plain quits. The difference between a clean, quick cut and a ragged, frustrating mess often comes down to the tool in your hand. This is why you’ll find so many seasoned growers with a well-worn, red-handled Corona saw tucked in their back pocket or hanging in the tool shed.

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Why Old-Timers Trust Corona Saws for Rootstock

There’s a reason Corona has earned its place in barns and workshops for generations. It’s not about brand loyalty; it’s about predictable performance. When you’re pruning rootstock, you’re often cutting at awkward angles, close to the ground, and dealing with wood that’s surprisingly tough. Corona saws are built for this abuse.

The secret is in the steel and the teeth. Most of their blades feature impulse-hardened, triple-ground teeth. This isn’t just marketing talk. It means the teeth stay sharp significantly longer than on a cheap hardware store saw, even when they inevitably hit a bit of soil. A sharp saw makes a clean cut, which is crucial for the health of the tree, minimizing disease entry points and promoting quick healing.

Furthermore, the designs are practical. They don’t add unnecessary bells and whistles. The handles are comfortable enough for long sessions, the locking mechanisms are secure, and the blades are rigid enough to prevent buckling under pressure. It’s this blend of durability and no-nonsense function that makes them a reliable partner for the demanding work of managing an orchard, one root at a time.

Corona RS 7265D: The Go-To 10-Inch Folding Saw

If you can only have one pruning saw, this is probably it. The RS 7265D is the quintessential folding saw that balances power, portability, and comfort. Its 10-inch blade is long enough to tackle substantial roots or branches up to 5-6 inches in diameter without feeling unwieldy. It’s the perfect size for most jobs around the homestead.

The folding design is a massive practical advantage. It protects the razor-sharp teeth when you toss it in a bucket or carry it in your pocket, which also protects you from accidental cuts. The locking mechanism is solid, so you never have to worry about it closing on your hand during a powerful pull-stroke. This is the saw you grab for general orchard maintenance, from clearing out last year’s water sprouts to severing a competing root from a newly planted tree.

Think of this as your daily driver. It’s versatile enough for 90% of the pruning tasks you’ll face. Whether you’re thinning out a thicket of suckers at the base of an apple tree or cutting back an overgrown forsythia, the RS 7265D provides the reach and cutting efficiency you need without being overkill.

Corona RS 7245: Compact Power for Tight Spaces

Sometimes, a 10-inch blade is simply too much. When you’re working with densely planted trees or trying to selectively remove a single root in a crowded system, the smaller Corona RS 7245 is your best friend. Its 7-inch blade offers superior maneuverability, letting you make precise cuts where a longer saw would bind or damage adjacent growth.

This saw excels in delicate situations. Imagine trying to remove a girdling root that’s wrapped tightly around the main trunk flare. A long saw would be clumsy, but the 7245 lets you get right in there, making a surgical cut without nicking the trunk. It’s also fantastic for working on younger trees or inside dense shrubs where every inch of clearance matters.

The trade-off, of course, is cutting capacity. You won’t be felling small trees with this. But for its intended purpose—precision work in confined areas—it’s unbeatable. It’s a great second saw to have in your kit for those specific, tricky jobs that demand finesse over brute force.

Corona RS 7120: Curved Blade for Faster Cutting

The straight blade of a folding saw is a great all-rounder, but for pure cutting speed, nothing beats a curved blade. The Corona RS 7120 RazorTOOTH saw is designed for aggressive, efficient cutting. The curve helps keep the teeth engaged throughout the entire pull-stroke, meaning more wood is removed with less effort.

This is the saw you want when you have a lot of material to get through. If you’re clearing a whole row of rootstock suckers or pruning a dozen trees in an afternoon, the efficiency of the curved blade adds up, saving your arm and your time. Because it’s a fixed-blade design, it feels incredibly sturdy and transfers all your power directly to the cut.

The downside is portability. You can’t fold it up and stick it in your pocket. It lives in a scabbard on your belt or in your tool bucket. But for dedicated pruning sessions where speed is the priority, the raw cutting performance of the RS 7120 makes it an essential tool for serious orchard work.

Corona TP 4214: Reach High with This Pole Saw

While rootstock work happens at ground level, managing the tree is a top-to-bottom job. The Corona TP 4214 pole saw lets you handle high branches without the instability of a ladder. Attaching a reliable Corona saw head to a telescoping pole is a game-changer for safety and efficiency.

This tool is indispensable for shaping young trees and removing damaged or crossing branches from mature ones. A clean cut 12 feet up is just as important as a clean cut at the root flare. Using a pole saw allows you to stand firmly on the ground, assess the branch from a distance, and make a precise cut. It’s far safer than balancing on a ladder with a handsaw.

While not a rootstock tool itself, it’s a core part of the same ecosystem of tree care. Proper pruning up top encourages a healthy, balanced tree, which in turn supports a vigorous root system. Investing in a good pole saw is investing in the long-term structure and health of your entire orchard.

Corona AC 8300: The Specialist for Root Pruning

Here is the saw built specifically for the dirtiest job. The Corona AC 8300 Root & All-Purpose Saw is designed to do what would destroy a standard pruning blade: cut through roots in the soil. Its teeth are engineered to withstand the abrasion from dirt, sand, and small rocks that are unavoidable when doing serious root work.

You pull this saw out for transplanting, trenching near trees, or removing a stubborn, buried stump. If you’ve ever tried to use a regular pruning saw for this, you know it becomes dull in minutes. The AC 8300, with its unique tooth geometry and durable construction, just keeps cutting. The tapered nose is also perfect for plunging into the soil to start a cut.

This is a specialist tool, not an everyday pruner. The blade is thicker and the cut isn’t as surgically clean as a RazorTOOTH saw, but that’s not its purpose. Its purpose is to survive the brutal environment below the soil line. For anyone serious about moving or removing established plants, this saw is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Corona RS 16150: D-Handle for Heavy-Duty Jobs

When you need maximum leverage, the pistol grip on a standard folding saw has its limits. The Corona RS 16150, a 15-inch bow saw-style pruner with a D-handle, is built for pure power. This design allows you to use two hands, engaging your core and shoulders to drive the blade through thick, woody material.

This is your problem-solver for the biggest jobs. Think of severing a taproot the size of your forearm or cutting through a 10-inch diameter branch that’s too awkward for a chainsaw. The D-handle provides superior control and allows you to apply significant, steady pressure without fatigue. It transforms a difficult cut into a manageable task.

The 15-inch blade provides a long, efficient cutting stroke, clearing sawdust quickly and reducing the chance of binding. It’s not a saw for delicate trimming, but for heavy-duty demolition and large-scale pruning, it’s the right tool. It bridges the gap between a handsaw and a power saw, offering control and raw strength in one package.

Choosing Your Corona Saw: Blade Type and Handle

Picking the right saw isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the best one for your most common tasks. Don’t get paralyzed by the options; instead, think about the work you do most often. Your choice will likely come down to a few key tradeoffs.

Start by considering where and what you’ll be cutting. This will guide your decision on blade and handle type.

• For Portability and General Use: A folding saw (like the RS 7265D or RS 7245) is the clear winner. It’s safe to carry and versatile enough for most jobs.
• For Speed and Repetitive Cutting: A fixed, curved blade (like the RS 7120) will save you time and energy during long pruning sessions.
• For Power on Thick Roots/Branches: A D-handle saw (like the RS 16150) lets you use two hands for maximum leverage on the toughest cuts.
• For Cutting in Soil: You absolutely need a dedicated root saw (like the AC 8300) to avoid destroying your other blades.

Ultimately, most hobby farmers will benefit from having at least two saws: a go-to folding saw for everyday tasks and a specialist saw for their most common "problem" job, whether that’s high branches, tight spaces, or digging in the dirt. Match the tool to the task, and you’ll get better results with less frustration.

A good saw won’t make the work disappear, but it will make it more satisfying and effective. By choosing the right Corona for the job, you’re not just buying a piece of steel; you’re investing in the health of your trees and making your own time in the orchard more productive. A clean cut is a gift to your future self and to the future of your fruit trees.