Neglecting to prune your fruit trees won’t stop production of fruit. However, I recommend you prune annually to improve the quality of fruit and to establish a strong framework of branches to support heavy fruit loads.
Pruning fruit trees can result in larger fruit that is easier to harvest. The tree will be much tidier and takes up less space in the garden.
I’ve put together a few guides about pruning your fruit trees:
- When to Prune Fruit Trees
- Guide to Pruning Fruit Trees
- Fruit Tree Espaliers
- How to Keep Large Fruit Rees Small
But, if all of this seems a bit confusing or too difficult, you can arrange for me to come and conduct your own private pruning masterclass.
There’s a common joke in our industry:
“You can have five people standing around a fruit tree and eight different opinions on how to prune them!“
Nothing beats having someone stand in front of a tree and explain fruiting buds, tree shapes and the role of apical meristems to gain confidence in the art of fruit tree pruning. Rather than the “what” or the “how”, we focus on the “why” when supporting people to prune fruit trees.
Fruit tree pruning lessons in your own garden.
Please note: I no longer offer fruit tree pruning services. I only fruit tree pruning masterclasses to support you to do it yourself.
Rather than pruning fruit trees for you, I focus on supporting you to have the confidence to prune your trees yourself. I offer a two-hour fruit tree pruning masterclass in your own garden. By the end of the session you’ll have a much greater understanding of:
- Tree physiology and “why” a tree grows the way it does
- Types of cuts you make in pruning and their consequences for the tree
- Different shapes you can train the tree into
- Timing of pruning and consequences
- Tools used for pruning and their maintenance and care
- How to prune different types of fruit trees to maximise fruit production
- How to set up and maintain espaliers
My fruit tree pruning masterclasses focus heavily on understanding the science behind pruning. This enables you to better understand the consequences of your actions. It will give you the confidence to manage your fruit trees yourself.
Fruit tree pruning masterclasses are available in gardens right across the state of Victoria
- All tools and equipment are provided
- A handy set of notes (with images) are provided to each participant.
The cost is $400 (inc GST) for the two hour session (weekdays only).
How much does it cost?
As of June 2023, I switched to focusing on writing. In order to do this, I am strictly limiting my time spent on other services offered by Leaf, Root & Fruit. This includes Consults, Permaculture Design and Landscaping. Like most small businesses, rapidly rising costs, are having a huge impact on the financial viability of my work, especially any work involving travel. I have recently switched my consultation work to a new fee structure which better reflects the impacts of the travel involved.
All consultations and fruit tree pruning masterclasses are now subject to a base fee of $400, which allows for me to spend up to two hours on site with you.
My travel fee is added to this cost and varies depending on the location. Some examples of my current travel fees are as estimated as follows:
- Kyneton: $0
- Sunbury: $200
- Bendigo: $285
- Ballarat: $410
- Geelong: $585
- Essendon: $350
- Camberwell: $460
- Croydon: $532
- Mornington: $620
Depending upon rising costs and other factors, exact travel fees may vary. Where I can schedule two consultations that are nearby to each other and on the same day, then the travel costs can be shared between these consultations and therefore heavily reduced.
All fees include GST.
You are welcome to invite other friends and family to participate and share the costs (up to a maximum class size of 4 people).
Please note this pricing is for domestic classes only.
Why not come along to one of my upcoming workshops on fruit tree pruning? Every year I hold one in February and another in June. See my upcoming events for more details.
Organisations such as councils should refer to our Workshops Page for alternative options and pricing for larger groups.
Contact me to book a Fruit Tree Pruning Masterclass in your own garden
Simply fill out the contact form below and I will be in touch with some potential dates to run a masterclass in your very own garden. Please allow up to three business days for a response.
Want a cheaper alternative to my Fruit Tree Pruning Masterclass?
I normally host two workshops each year at my Demonstration Orchard in Kyneton:
- A fruit tree pruning masterclass focussing on Summer pruning held each February (when I believe we should be conducting much of our pruning activities)
- Plant Physiology: Pruning and Plant Manipulation workshop held each June as part of the Science of Edible Gardening Workshop Series
See my events page for more details or sign up to my newsletter to be kept informed of upcoming classes.
