Winter Fruit Tree Pruning

Winter is the key pruning time for deciduous fruit trees, but specifically for apples and pears.

This session starts with understanding the theory of correct cuts and orchard hygiene, tool care and selection, understanding the fundamentals of what to cut and why, including methods of tying down branches to maximise fruit production.

Kazel teaches the French Axis pruning method, which has been proven to give the best yields while also being the quickest and easiest method to learn and practice. 

Topics covered include: Why prune at all?, why prune in winter?,
biennial bearing, botany of a tree, apical dominance, fruitful vs. unfruitful wood, renewal pruning, sunlight penetration, pros and cons of common pruning shapes, espalier and tree training, proper cuts, plant wound management, disease management, hygiene and disposal of prunings.

This session, like all our Gardening Essentials sessions, is available on line. You’ll be emailed links to a handout and to the theory and skills videos ( two hours of clear, practical tutoring). Then on Saturday 1 August, you can join the two hour Zoom interactive meeting to discuss the videos, get your questions answered, and confirm that your pruning technique is correct.  We still have room if you would like to attend on-line.  

We also offer this session in person in Tauranga, however our face to face session is now full.

Cost: All our sessions are currently being offered at a 30% discount, $59.95 per session. If you sign up for the entire course, you’ll get the 30% discount and also receive two sessions free.

Winter Fruit Tree Pruning is just one of the 17 workshops we are offering in 2020 and 2021.  Here is the rest of the calendar:

2020
15 Aug            Fruit Tree Grafting
29 Aug            Understanding Soils 2
12 Sep             Propagation of Spring Seeds
17 Oct             Understanding Soils 3
07 Nov            Propagation of Summer Softwoods
21 Nov            Weed Management
05 Dec            Understanding Soils 4
2021
13 Feb            Pests
27 Feb            Companion Planting: plants for bird and insect retention
13 Mar           Summer Fruit Tree Pruning
27 Mar           Propagation of Autumn Semi-Hardwoods
10 Apr            Diseases
08 May           Crop Management