with Gordon Mackay
Pruning at this time of year allows us to include the stone fruits (cherry, plum, peach, nectarine and apricot) in our pruning schedule, and of course apple and pears can still be approached at this time of year too. Traditionally, it’s the time of year for growth control but with the opportunity to use dwarf rootstocks, this doesn’t have to be the only reason to summer prune.
The aim of this workshop is for students to gain the confidence and knowledge to tackle pruning thier own trees at home. Their will be an opportunity to ask questions and we will have some time outdoors to work to help demonstrate the pruning techniques on some of the trees at the Horticulture Centre. This will all be helpful towards the ultimate goal of pruning/training fruit trees; increased fruit production and healthier trees.
HCP Members $40/Non-Members $50
Register ONLINE or call 250 479 6162
Instructor Bio: Gordon Mackay
Gordon was fortunate enough to have a (very basic) pair of Felco secateurs thrust into his hands as a teenager while apprenticing for his father, maintaining and installing gardens in The City of Glasgow. This led to more learning as he attended the same College as his father and was the first 2nd generation student at the renowned Threave School of Gardening in southwest Scotland. It was on this two year full-time program that he was truly bitten by the horticultural bug; in particular plant identification (awarded top plant I.D. student over the duration of the two years), arboriculture and plant production/plant propagation. This inspiration led to further training as he ventured further south to attend the 3 year Diploma program at Pershore College of Horticulture in England with a middle year in industry. Gordon was fortunate enough to work his middle year at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, one of Europe’s largest and most reputable wholesale producers of quality hardy nursery stock, with production aimed at both the retail and landscape sectors.
Along with teaching at the HCP and Pacific Horticulture College, Gordon runs his own arboriculture business. His obsession with plants is almost matched by his love for all things honey bee related and has been fortunate enough to have been working with the bees for over 20 years.
