Seasons of Aesthetic Pruning with Michael Alliger

Lecture & Demonstration

Description
Pruning is an ongoing process that changes with the seasons. In this class, we’ll look at how timing, plant growth, and garden goals all shape good pruning decisions over the course of the year.

We’ll cover the basics of aesthetic pruning, including the difference between old wood and new wood, flowering versus vegetative growth, and how seasonal timing affects both plant health and appearance. The class will also introduce approaches to reduction and reconstruction, with an emphasis on thoughtful follow-up and gradual improvement over time.

Using both lecture and in-garden demonstration, we’ll consider pruning strategies for deciduous trees, broadleaf evergreens, flowering trees, and conifers under 15 feet, following the general guidelines of the Aesthetic Pruning Association. This class is designed to give participants practical tools and confidence to make informed pruning choices in their own landscapes.

Details
Sunday 5/31, 10-1pm
$50

Instructor Bio: Michael Alliger completed a six-year apprenticeship with master pruner Dennis Makishima at Merritt College before forming his own freelance Fine Pruning business in the 1980s. Michael has taught aesthetic pruning at Merritt College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Master Gardeners of Marin County, and the International Maple Society. He is a recurring presenter at the National Japanese Garden Association. Among his local clients, Michael has been implementing the pruning design of Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in Freestone since 1993.