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Intro to Fruit Tree Pruning

Event Date(s)
Location
Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport IL
Event Fee
$5.00
County
Stephenson

Each winter, backyard and commercial fruit tree growers face the inevitable task of pruning their fruit trees.

“This pruning period of mid-December to March 1st is crucial for the tree to produce great fruit next summer,” states Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator for Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. “It’s also a task that growers can be hesitant to do as they may fear they are making the wrong cut or possibly damaging the tree.”

Pruning fruit trees requires knowing the type of tree you have while factoring in the right shape you need. Central leader style is the most common shape on apple and pear trees, while open-center or vase shapes do well on peach and cherry trees. “Sometimes the reason your tree is not producing fruit is it’s in the improper shape or needs to be pruned more” McCarty continues.

To help residents this winter, University of Illinois Extension will be offering it’s popular “Intro to Fruit Tree Pruning” class on Tuesday, February 8 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport, IL. This class will be in-person.

Participants will learn the basics of pruning, which tools to use, and strategies to consider for their trees. “The class is designed for those trees that have just been planted in 2021, never been pruned, or have not been pruned for a couple of years” McCarty states “We also try to incorporate participants photos of their trees in the presentation. So, they can visualize what cuts they need to make”.

 

All current COVID-19 guidelines recommended by IDPH and the CDC will be followed and the event is subject to change in order to follow the most up to date guidance.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Extension Office, early requests are strongly encouraged to allow enough time for meeting your needs.