Citizen Pruner Training #2: Ornamental Tree Pruning

Monday, April 17, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Trees are a vital part of our health and happiness - they sequester carbon, clean our air, cool us in hot summers, and make the oxygen we breathe. There's even research that shows that being in the presence of trees speeds healing and recovery from illness.

In order for tress to fulfill their role, it's important we learn how to work with them to ensure long term health. Using the correct techniques will ensure that your tree will be a strong part of your landscape for years to come. Join City Forester, Jeanne Grace, who will teach you how to identify branches that need to be pruned and how to prune them away safely - both for you and the tree!

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Each spring, CCE-Tompkins offers a multi-part training series for individuals who want to learn best practices for selecting, planting, caring for, and pruning ornamental trees and shrubs. The classes are part of a 4 part online series - take one or all. There will be a separate registration link for each class.

This class series fulfills the training required to become a Citizen Pruner Volunteer for the City. Citizen Pruners are stewards of the city's trees. Throughout the warm months, interested folks gather with experienced foresters at weekly volunteer sessions to prune city trees.

Classes are offered 4 Monday evenings in April – April 10, 17 and 24, 7-8:30 pm, there is also an in-person hands on workshop on May 1st from 5:30-7:00 pm

Register is required for each of the following workshops:

"Tree Planting and Care" Monday, April 10th, 7-8:30 pm.

"Small and Large Tree Pruning" Monday, April 17, 7-8:30 pm.

"Pruning Shrubs" Monday, April 24th, 7-8:30 pm.

"Hands-on outdoor workshop" Monday May 1st, 5:30-7:00 pm

These classes are usually part of our Citizen Pruner Volunteer Training and free to anyone who wants to become a Citizen Pruner - a group of dedicated volunteers who meet once each week to prune street trees within the City of Ithaca. For all other students, classes are offered at a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.

Our goal is to help our areas gardeners have access to this knowledge, free from financial barriers. We have several scholarship spots in each class.