Pruning Workshop Offers Tips and Trees

Laura Stokes tries her hand at pruning.

The Baltimore Orchard Project pruning recently offered two takeaways: tips and trees.

The first major takeaway came from David Neustadt, president of BOP and leader of the workshop. “There’s always going to be a scenario, an exception to the rule,” he said.

David, who also happens to be Master Gardener for the city of Baltimore, was giving hands-on lessons to a group of an estimated 20 amateur tree growers eager for some tips for harvesting more fruit. The workshop on a windy March afternoon in BOP’s Druid Hill orchard was a collaboration between BOP and BMORE Beautiful.

David Neustadt gives advice at the workshop.

Armed with their pruners and loppers, the prospective pruners were following David’s deft cuts of dead or unnecessary branches of a model Moonglow Pear tree.

“I want my brown thumb to turn green,” said Bibi Medina, a newcomer to Maryland from California.

“When you prune a tree, think about how each branch will respond to the cut. You want each part of the tree to receive sunlight,” David advised. “Normally it’s best before it sets fruit.”

From pear to persimmon, from collar to canopy, David illustrated how to shape the tree exposing as much as possible to the sun.

Some of the urban orchardists had been the beneficiaries of city programs that handout free trees, but needed help in getting the trees to bear fruit. Laura Stokes from the Sedmont community has planted a mini-orchard in her backyard that boasts apple, pear, figs and pawpaws. “They are growing too much,” she said. She hopes with her improved pruning skills, she would get more fruit and less leaves.

Angela Plum leaves with a tree for her community garden at Cross Keys.

At the end of the hour and a half session, Stokes not only left with great tips for her unruly trees, but also took home a cherry tree to add to her orchard. Others gathered around for the tree give away from Baltimore Tree Trust.

Terri Vaughan got the well-pruned pear, looking fresh as a kid with a new haircut. She and her two friends from the Preston2K Community Block Association will be planting it as one of the first fruit trees in their community garden. Her takeaway from the workshop:  “I have a lot more to learn.”

Tori Derough and Terri Miller Vaughan were happy to win the pear tree.

Neustadt plans more workshops across the city. There is a digital handbook on the BOP website. Look for more tips here.