Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop in DuPage County, 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 homeowners, backyard growers, homesteaders, beginning orchardists, and commercial growers 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 4th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Where: The DuPage County Extension Office, 1100 E Warrenville Rd, Naperville, IL 60563
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. Full refunds will be issued if the event is canceled. Please note that we are unable to provide refunds for attendee cancellations.
Please also note:
- Bring photos of your fruit trees without any leaves so you can learn what to prune off of your tree
- This is a classroom style session with a PowerPoint and hands-on components, be prepared to take notes!
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).