Winter Fruit Tree Pruning

DuPage County
hands pruning a small branch on a bare fruit tree in winter
Event Date(s)
Event Time
-
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Location
DuPage County Extension Office
Event Fee
$10.00
County
DuPage
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Hands-on classroom session this winter

Join our Northern Illinois Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop with Alexis R. Barnes, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator, to learn how — and when — to properly prune apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees for healthier growth, stronger structure, and bigger harvests. This hands-on fruit tree pruning class covers winter pruning techniques, common pruning and training mistakes, proper tool selection, spray schedules, and essential care tips specific to Northern Illinois’ climate and growing conditions.
 
Perfect for backyard growers, homesteaders, beginning orchardists, commercial growers, and homeowners with overgrown or neglected fruit trees, this workshop will teach you how to shape strong trees, improve airflow and sunlight penetration, develop comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans, and increase fruit production season after season.

In this workshop, you will learn how to:

  • Time your pruning correctly for healthy growth and better-quality fruit
  • Use effective tree training strategies to support strong branches and heavy fruit loads
  • Inspect fruit trees for branch structure, sunlight shading, and long-term pruning needs
  • Implement disease management and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including spray schedules to stay ahead of spring pests

Why you should attend:

Proper pruning makes a significant difference in the health, longevity, and productivity of fruit trees, especially young, neglected, or overgrown trees. Pruning and IPM are often overlooked by both backyard gardeners and beginning orchardists. This hands-on workshop will help you troubleshoot common growing problems and give you the skills and confidence to properly manage fruit trees for optimal fruiting and strong branching in Northern Illinois.
 
When: Wednesday, February 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM 

Where: The DuPage County Extension Office, 1100 E. Warrenville Road, Naperville, IL 60563

Cost: $10
 
Other sessions: The same class also is offered in Kane County on Jan. 21.

Registration is required, and space may be limited. If you register and are unable to attend, please contact us and let us know ahead of time. 
 
Questions: Contact Extension Educator Alexis R. Barnes at arbarnes@illinois.edu or 630-584-6166

Get the most out of this class: 

  • Bring photos of your fruit trees without any leaves, so you can learn what to prune off of your tree.
  • This is a classroom-style session with a PowerPoint and hands-on components, be prepared to take notes!
  • If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Extension Educator Alexis R. Barnes at arbarnes@illinois.edu or 630-584-6166. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
     
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact
Alexis Barnes
Keywords
Tree Fruits
Integrated Pest Management
Horticulture
Local Foods and Small Farms
Program Areas
Local Foods & Small Farms

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