Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Virtual Workshop - Northern Illinois
Join our Northern Illinois Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop with Alexis R. Barnes, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator to learn how — and when — to properly prune apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees for healthier growth, stronger structure, and bigger harvests. This hands-on fruit tree pruning class covers winter pruning techniques, common pruning and training mistakes, proper tool selection, spray schedules, and essential care tips specific to Northern Illinois’ climate and growing conditions.
Perfect for backyard growers, homesteaders, beginning orchardists, commercial growers, and homeowners with overgrown or neglected fruit trees, this workshop will teach you how to shape strong trees, improve airflow and sunlight penetration, develop comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans, and increase fruit production season after season.
In this workshop, you will learn how to:
- Time your pruning correctly for healthy growth and better-quality fruit
- Use effective tree training strategies to support strong branches and heavy fruit loads
- Inspect fruit trees for branch structure, sunlight shading, and long-term pruning needs
- Implement disease management and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including spray schedules to stay ahead of spring pests
Why you should attend:
Proper pruning makes a big difference in the health, longevity, and productivity of fruit trees, especially young, neglected, or overgrown trees. Pruning and IPM are often overlooked by both backyard gardeners and beginning orchardists. This hands-on workshop will help you troubleshoot common growing problems and give you the skills and confidence to properly manage fruit trees for optimal fruiting and strong branching in Northern Illinois.
When: Wednesday, February 11th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Where: Virtual Via Zoom
Cost: $10
Registration required and space may be limited. If you register and are unable to attend, please contact us and let us know ahead of time. There are no refunds for cancellations of this program, thank you for understanding.
Please also note:
- Feel free to email photos to Alexis R. Barnes at arbarnes@illinois.edu for a chance to have your tree photos presented on a slide during the presentation to be shown what to prune or train
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Extension Educator Alexis R. Barnes arbarnes@illinois.edu or 630-584-6166. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
TO REGISTER: Log in as a guest by completing the form below, or log in with your Extension account (if you have one).