Pruning tips for best results

EIT Pruning Workshop: Tutor Andrew Baker demonstrates how to prune a young apple tree. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Pruning fruit trees is the topic of a five-day workshop which started yesterday at Eastern Institute of Technology’s rural studies unit.

Organised by EIT, the workshops are part of the Adult and Community Education programme which is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.

The aim of the programme is to give people another opportunity in education, grow foundation skills and get into pathways for other learning opportunities.

EIT fruit production teacher Andrew Baker said the course was to help people learn the basics of pruning such as “shape and structuring”.

“If you don’t prune trees they get overgrown and there’s a lot of shading going on.

“What happens is the overgrown portions block out the sunlight which makes the tree more prone to pests and diseases, and affects its overall health.”

Mr Baker said a well-pruned fruit tree would not only ensure a better “fruit balance” but also give better access to bees and subsequently produce more flowers.

Seventeen students were selected for the workshop.

Participating students would each be given an opportunity to identify and prune a couple of varieties of fruits such as apples, grapes and kiwifruit.

The last couple of days of the workshop would involve the tutor Mr Baker visiting each of their individual properties and giving further lessons on pruning.

If you want to be part of a similar course in the future visit:

https://tinyurl.com/4schhymd