UCCE Master Gardeners of SLO County Present a Free "Advice to Grow By" Workshop on Saturday, January 18th.

Fruit Trees: Pruning, Maintenance and Care

REGISTER NOW or call 805-781-5939 for more information.

UC Master Gardener Norman Smith demonstrates winter fruit tree pruning in the Garden of the Seven Sisters. Photo credit: Jacqueline Shubitowski

Whether you want to learn how to prune your fruit trees or select new ones for your garden, come join us at the next “Advice to Grow By” lecture presented by University of California San Luis Obispo County Master Gardeners Jutta Thoerner and Rob Keim.

This free lecture, sponsored by the SLO County Master Gardener Program, is scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon in the UCCE Auditorium, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo.

After the lecture, attendees will walk across the parking lot to the Garden of the Seven Sisters to view hands-on pruning demonstrations guided by Master Gardener Orchard Committee members. While in the garden, you can see more than 20 varieties of fruit trees which have been recently pruned.

Workshop presenters will teach you not only how to do winter pruning, but also how to appropriately choose fruit trees for your microclimate and grow healthy, bountiful trees. “With several microclimates present on the Central Coast, choosing the right tree to plant in the right spot can be challenging,” said Thoerner. During the presentation, she will review the steps to make the selection process easier. Keim will discuss pruning techniques and how to use and care for your pruning tools. He will explain why winter and summer pruning are necessary and the differences between them.

Additional topics include summer pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, chill hours, along with pest and disease management.

Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. Call 805-781-5939.

>> Previous workshop handouts