According to master forester and fellow Northsider Mark Vander Meer, tree pruning is simple and obvious. He began this spring's workshop on March 27 by encouraging participants to "Remove it if it annoys you", and that's about as complicated as it gets. Take a look at your tree, and think about where branches are liable to grow into your walking space, or make harvesting or pruning more difficult in the future, and remove them!

Pruning is like a good hair cut, or thinning out your carrots - it is essential for looking good, and for producing well. Participants thoroughly enjoyed learning from Mark, and spent the afternoon practicing on MUD's four fruit trees. Our apple and pear trees are lookin' good and feelin' good, and everyone went home with a sense of confidence and purpose!