Pruning Fruit Trees (on-farm workshop)

Description

This intensive half-day workshop covers the basic principles of pruning deciduous fruit trees, and how to establish a tree in the highly productive ‘vase’ shape that is suited to most backyards.

Many backyard fruit trees are not pruned to their full potential: fruit grows so high in the tree that you can’t reach it, branches break, or the tree doesn’t have any fruit! Correct pruning can help remedy all these problems, plus keep your tree healthy and fruitful.

Because the workshop starts with the theory of pruning and the basic principles of how trees grow, you’ll learn to predict how your fruit trees will respond to your pruning cuts.

You’ll learn why some pruning is done in winter and some in summer, then you’ll have a chance to practice pruning on real trees in the orchard.

Whether you have mature fruit trees in your garden or you haven’t even planted them yet, you’ll learn how to set up and maintain your fruit trees so they’ll be productive for life.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prune your deciduous fruit trees and keep them productive and healthy for life.

“I think pruning is really difficult! Been to several workshops over the years and I vacillate between leaving the tree to do its own thing and cutting off everything that is not absolutely where I think (!) I want it! Your workshop was excellent because (1) you were encouraging (2) you kept referring back to the basic principles – which makes us THINK, and observe before we prune! ”
– Clare Claydon

Who is this workshop for?

• People already growing or wanting to grow, their own fruit at home, including cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, and pears
• People who are renting houses with fruit trees in the backyard
• People who look after fruit trees in the community
• People who already grow, or are thinking of growing, fruit commercially

What does the workshop cover?

• The basics of pruning theory
• Fruit tree anatomy
• Knowing the right time to prune for different types of tree
• 10 key pruning principles
• The Grow Great Fruit foolproof 7-step pruning method
• Predicting how trees will respond to different types of cuts
• How to make a good pruning cut
• Tree training systems e.g. vase, espalier, central leader
• Pruning techniques for different types of fruit trees, e.g., apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, and pears
• How to prune young trees to establish the right shape
• Maintaining and rejuvenating old trees
• How good pruning helps a tree to stay healthy
• What not to do when pruning
• What pruning equipment you need

What’s provided?

• A supervised practical pruning session in our orchard
• Comprehensive notes will be emailed to participants after the workshop
• Hugh will sharpen your secateurs before the practical part of the session if required
• Morning tea

What you need to bring:

• Pen and paper to take notes (workshop notes will be emailed to you after the workshop)
• Your secateurs if you want to do the practical part of the workshop (please make sure they are clean and sharp)
• Appropriate warm and outdoor clothing (the practical part of the workshop is in the orchard, you’ll need a coat and hat, and covered shoes)

What people have said about this workshop:

“I think pruning is really difficult! Been to several workshops over the years and I vacillate between leaving the tree to do its own thing and cutting off everything that is not absolutely where I think (!) I want it! Your workshop was excellent because (1) you were encouraging (2) you kept referring back to the basic principles – which makes us THINK, and observe before we prune! ”
– Clare Claydon

Workshop presenters:

This workshop is taught by Katie who has many years of experience pruning thousands of cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, apple, and pear trees. This workshop will focus on training trees to the ‘vase’ shape because it’s the simplest and most effective fruit tree shape for most backyards.

SPECIAL NOTES:

1. Grow Great Fruit members receive a 50% discount on all on-farm workshops. The discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
2. If you’re coming to both workshops on August 27 please bring something to share for lunch. We’ll provide soup and bread.
3. Please do a COVID test before coming to the workshop, and if you have a positive result or are feeling unwell, stay home (refunds will be available for non-attendance due to illness).
4. A reminder email will be sent out in the week before the workshop, which will also give location details.