Free training helps gardeners make the cut

16 July 2012

The maintenance and training of fruit trees will be the focus of a free home gardening workshop at Hollard Gardens, Kaponga, on Sunday (22 July).

Led by Hollards gardener Marilyn Phillips and Tupare Garden Manager Mitch Graham, the workshop will cover the advantages of different pruning and training methods for fruit trees and shrubs. Topics will include:

• Pruning tools.
• Times to prune, effective pruning methods and other maintenance.
• Pruning methods for different plants including espaliered apple, pear, persimmon, plum, various currants, berries and others.

There will be an opportunity for hands-on experience, and the workshop leaders are also happy to address particpants’ specific questions or queries relating to their own fruit trees.

The workshop will run from 2pm at 4pm at Bernie’s Home Garden, signposted from the Gatehouse.

Named after the legendary plantsman who founded Hollard Gardens in the 1920s, Bernie’s Home Garden is a demonstration area where a number of different food growing principles and ideas are put into practice. It is the venue for regular workshops, designed for both the novice and the experienced gardener.

Sunday’s workshop is part of a year-round programme of free events at Hollard Gardens, Pukeiti and Tupare, the three heritage gardens owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region.

For more information, see www.hollardgardens.info, www.pukeiti.org.nz and www.tupare.info. Social media users can also follow the Regional Gardens on Facebook (TaranakiRegionalGardens) and Twitter (@TaranakiRG).

ENDS

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