a bitter, windy day for the great GTUF Pruning Workshop. Michael Winkel
of Celtic Tree Service walked us through the basics. Clear out dead,
diseased,
and damaged branches first. Then look at the structure
and try to plan for five years ahead: work on training branches for future fruit as well as keeping the existing ones healthy and clear of crossed branches that can block light and rub against others causing damage. The position of pruning cuts
can help to reduce sucker growth and redirect the tree's energies into the remaining branch.
One thing to look for is inward-growing branches
unless you are working on an old or badly damaged tree with little viable growth on it; in which case you might be able to coax another couple of years' production even from a backwards branch which will not easily bear the weight of fruit.
The dark heart of this cut
might indicate rot, but it might simply be a pigment that naturally repels insects and disease (like the dark wood of the black walnut which is toxic).
Suckers should be trimmed back, though they'll return.
Time to go hands-on. We had a lot of trees to choose from in an old 100+ orchard.
Practice, practice, practice
Some of us really got into our trees.
After a couple of hours we retreated into the very beautiful greenhouse for coffee and a bit of warmth.
Someone had a new tool sharpener and we got a demonstration on how to use it on a secateur blade.
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