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Growing Fruit

Large Fruit Tree Care

Saturday, February 4 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103 United States Directions
(206) 633-0451
Single Session
Saturday, February 4
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location
Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103 United States Directions
(206) 633-0451
Audience
Adults

Description

Winter is the perfect time for fruit tree maintenance! In this class, we’ll discuss strategies that are most applicable to fruit trees that may need larger pruning cuts, requiring a saw. Pruning while the tree is dormant in winter is the best time to make significant changes to the shape of the tree, whether it is large or small. These tips and techniques will help you keep your fruit trees healthy and happy throughout the year.

You will learn about:

  • Pros and cons of pruning in winter compared to other seasons
  • Pruning techniques for large fruit trees (such as using a saw and a ladder or pole pruner) compared to small ones
  • Common fruit tree pest issues in the PNW
  • No-chemical strategies for maintaining healthy fruit trees

This in-person workshop will include a conversational lecture, hands-on practice in the garden, and time for questions and answers with the instructor. It is appropriate for both beginning and intermediate gardeners. A detailed outline with recommended resources will also be provided.

The class is limited to 15 participants and we will be following current public health guidelines. The session will take place both indoors and outdoors- please be prepared for outdoor activities and dress for the weather.

*If you have espaliers, dwarf varieties, or young fruit trees that only need light maintenance pruning (lopper or hand pruner), please consider the Small Fruit Tree Care class in April. If you have a mix, we recommend both classes!

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About the Instructor

Barb Burrill
Barb Burrill is a fruit tree care consultant, educator, and pruner. For many years, she worked at City Fruit where she managed volunteer events, taught fruit tree care workshops, and performed organic fruit tree care services, including pruning, grafting, and organic pest control. Barb has also taught fruit tree care classes for Tilth Alliance, Plant Amnesty, Seattle Parks and Recreation, many Seattle garden centers, and Danny Woo International Garden.

Additional Information

Tilth Alliance strives to provide educational experiences that honor our values of accessibility and equity. Currently, we offer:

  • A sliding scale pricing structure to make our classes accessible for everyone, regardless of financial means. Please select the ticket type that works for you.
  • In solidarity with food justice and food sovereignty for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), we reserve spaces in each class for BIPOC community members free of charge. If you identify as BIPOC, and would benefit from a free option, please select BIPOC Solidarity ticket.

We offer a mix of online, in-person and hybrid online/in-person classes. During our in-person sessions, we follow current COVID-19 safety protocols. Please review our COVID-19 policies before registering.

Please reach out to Marni Sorin if you have any questions. Please read our Photo and Cancellation Policy.