Tree & Small Fruit Pruning Workshop

COOPERSTOWN — Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties (CCESO) will host a Tree & Small Fruit Pruning workshop on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Middlefield Orchard, 2274 NY-166, Cooperstown, NY.

Pruning done well is critical for healthy and successful orchard trees and fruiting bushes. Learn about the ins and outs of proper pruning by joining Laura McDermott, Team Leader and Small Fruit/Vegetable Specialist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Team. This program is open to gardeners and farmers alike and will cover techniques for effective pruning, information on climate-appropriate variety selection, and pointers on disease and pest management. Laura brings years of experience leading small fruit outreach efforts, serving as a liaison with grower organizations, and regularly participating in applied research and demonstration activities.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration will be accepted until the workshop is fully enrolled or until March 7th. The cost to attend is $10 per person. In addition to registering online via the link below, the program registration fee, in the form of cash or checks made payable to “CCE Schoharie-Otsego” must be received by either CCESO office to secure a spot by March 7th. Payment can be mailed or dropped off at 173 South Grand St, Suite 1, Cobleskill, NY 12043, or 123 Lake St, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

If the class is fully enrolled, spots not secured with payment by March 7th may be offered to people on the waitlist, and walk-in registration may be accepted as space permits. Register online at https://cceschoharie-otsego.org/events/2024/03/09/tree-small-fruit-pruning-workshop or by calling 518-234-4303 x119 or 607-547-2536 x226.

The workshop will be held in the orchard and participants should dress for forecasted conditions and wear suitable footwear. Participants are welcome to bring personal pruning tools.

In the event of adverse conditions, an online presentation will be offered at no charge. Registered participants will be contacted about weather-related updates, which will also be posted on cceschoharie-otsego.org and facebook.com/CCESchoharieOtsego.