Pruning Apple Trees Class

Skilled pruning increases the quality of your harvest and provides for better access to air, wind and sun for your apple trees.

Now is the time to learn what you need to know: the tools needed for pruning, the principles guiding best practices in pruning, best timing for pruning and spring thinning, and year by year pruning techniques from the very young seedling or the overgrown aged tree that needs your help.

Learn the art and science of apple tree pruning from experienced grower, Jim Birkholz of Pleasant Valley Orchard. The class will provide an overview of fruit tree growing habits and the reasons why we prune, along with an introduction to pruning techniques and principles, followed by an actual demonstration of pruning on the WEI Amador Hill Orchard.

All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.

 

Instructor Bio: Jim Birkholz, together with his wife Judy Erickson, own and operate Pleasant Valley Orchard near Shafer in southeast Chisago County. The family-owned farm consists of 15 acres of apples with the first plantings being made in 1991. They also grow strawberries, pumpkins and squash. Jim has been a member of statewide grower boards over the years in order to support and learn from successful local fruit and vegetable growers and to support higher education and businesses crucial to specialty crop agriculture. Earlier in his career Jim worked in soil and water conservation and remains involved in the field serving as chairman of the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District. 

WEI has an annual scholarship fund to support cost-accessible programming. Please see scholarship application instructions in the class registration form.

Class takes place at WEI's Amador Hill Farm and Orchard in North Branch. See class registration form for details: https://w-e-i.org/event/pruning-apple-trees