2025 Winter pruning workshops: Apples and cold climate grapes

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

 Are you looking to have more in-person, hands-on experience learning how to prune either cold climate grapes or apples? This year, UMN Extension is offering a selection of winter pruning workshops, instructed by Madeline Wimmer, UMN Extension fruit production educator and UMN Extension local educators. 

Semi-dwarf, free-standing apple trees are commonly trained and pruned to maintain a pyramidal shape known as "central leader" training. This allows for good sunlight and airflow that encourage quality fruit production.

Apple pruning workshop registration links, dates, and times:

1. Grand Marais (Cook County); March 4th from 10am-12pm

2. Barnum (Carlton County); March 5th from 1-3pm

3. Hinckley (Pine County); March 6th from 1-3pm

4. Moorhead (Clay County); March 21st from 1-3pm 

Grape pruning workshop registration link, date, and time:

1. Rochester (Olmsted County); March 23rd from 1-3pm 

Cold climate grapevines can be trained in a number of ways, and require yearly pruning to maintain the training shape. This grapevine is trained in a High Cordon style, suitable for a commercial vineyard in Minnesota. 

Unable to participate in-person and still want to learn more? 

Join us for our two-part, free pruning webinar series on apple and cold climate grape pruning. 

1. Cold climate grape pruning; February 14th from 12-1pm

2. Pruning free-standing apple trees; February 28th from 12-1