PEKIN, Ill. - A Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop hosted by University of Illinois Extension continues to produce results months after participants left Christ Orchard in Elmwood. Twenty-one people attended the February 2026 program to learn how proper pruning can improve tree health, structure, and fruit production. Participants practiced pruning techniques under the guidance of orchard owner Kurt Christ.
The workshop's impact reached beyond home orchards. After attending the program, workshop participant Dr. Jon Fisher of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria applied the techniques he learned while caring for fruit trees in the college's food forest and orchard. Fruit harvested from the UICOMP site also supports community efforts, including donations to Sophia's Kitchen.
The UICOMP orchard became a learning site again in June when 17 Master Gardener trainees visited as part of the fruit tree education session. Trainees observed pruning concepts in practice and discussed methods that support healthy, productive fruit trees. The site is expected to provide future opportunities for education and volunteer engagement.
A follow-up survey showed participants are continuing to use and share what they learned. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported pruning fruit trees after the workshop, accounting for at least 50 trees. Participants reported helping manage orchards, sharing pruning information with others, and demonstrating pruning techniques. One participant applied workshop knowledge while helping manage a friend's orchard and working at a fruit farm. Another used the information to answer customer questions about fruit tree selection, pruning, and care while working at a local nursery.
One participant reflected that, “Knowing when a tree can benefit from pruning is as important as knowing how to make the cut.”
Master Gardener Deanna Kennedy shared, “The information from the pruning session helped me learn how to manage fruit trees for production. I highly recommend it.”
What began as a single afternoon workshop has grown into ongoing learning and stewardship. Participants are improving fruit tree care in home orchards, supporting community food production, and sharing research-based information with others throughout their communities.
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Dr. Jon Fisher of University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria attended a Fruit Tree Pruning workshop hosted by Illinois Extension at Christ Orchard. He then applied his new skills to the food forest and orchard at College of Medicine and also shared it with the Master Gardener trainees at their summer education course.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.