Winter only pruning encourages trees to respond with excessive growth, while summer pruning and training maintains an accessible height, and better fruiting, with less disease, getting us out of that winter only pruning rut. We will cover which trees do best with summer pruning (or year-round pruning), types of pruning cuts, disease, equipment, and any questions attendees will have. This is a hands on class, and participants will have an opportunity to make some cuts with instructor supervision, in addition to getting tips on cleaning and sharpening the tools you bring. Bring your own pruning shears or loppers.

Instructor: John Valenzuela is a horticulturist, consultant, and permaculture educator with Cornucopia Food Forest Gardens. His special interests are rare and heirloom fruit trees, home gardens, plant propagation, food forests, agroforestry, ethnobotany, and native ecosystems. John serves on the boards of the California Rare Fruit Growers and the Felix Gillet Institute.