Fruit Tree Pruning Clinic March 15th

By Eric Barrett

Lane’s Fruit Farm has been growing and pruning trees for years.  Ted Lane continues that tradition through grooming his own orchard, making cider and selling apples at the family’s farm market.

Ted’s orchard will be the site for the OSU Extension Fruit Tree Pruning Clinic. Backyard gardeners and other orchard owners will have the opportunity to learn one-on-one about the pruning process and why it is important.  The day’s events will cover apples, peaches, brambles and blueberries.

This is the optimal time of year for the pruning of most fruit trees because of the warm up we will experience from now through spring.

Pruning is essential to allow air and sunlight to enter the tree.  Being good at pruning and utilizing pruning to get your trees to the correct shape can be the difference between a 2-inch apple and a 3+ inch apple.

Each person attending will receive a pair of hand pruners to use at their own farm or garden.  Participants will also have a chance to purchase copies of many OSU Extension Bulletins on growing and using fruit at home.  These publications have all of the practical information to help you be successful with your home fruit tree planting and deal with harvesting and preserving the fruit once a person has raised a good crop.

Pruning peach, apple and plum trees will be the topics covered at this Fruit Tree Pruning Clinic to be held on Saturday, March 15^th, from 1-4 PM at Lane’s Farm Market & Orchard, four miles west of Marietta on SR 676.

Eric Barrett, Mark Landefeld and Ted Lane will demonstrate the pruning process

If you would like more information on the clinic, please contact the Washington County OSU Extension Office at 376-7431. Registration is required and there is a charge of $10. Every participant will receive a set of pruners.  Registration form can be printed off our website at http://washington.osu.edu .