March 31 Pruning Workshop in Secrest Arboretum: Give New Life to Big Old Shrubs

"We'll focus on dormant pruning of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, primarily, but we'll include some smaller-size trees as well," said Ken Cochran, the arboretum's program coordinator and one of the workshop's instructors.

"No climbing!" he added.

Dormant pruning is a way to rejuvenate big, older shrubs and keep them from getting overgrown, Cochran said. You'll get expert instruction and hands-on practice. Techniques such as heading-back and thinning-out will be covered.

Registration costs $50 and is limited to 12. Call 330-464-2148 to sign up.

Secrest Arboretum is part of Ohio State's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 1680 Madison Ave., in Wooster.

Meet at the arboretum's Seaman Orientation Plaza on Williams Road, 1.7 miles from the main OARDC entrance.

Bring your own hand pruners, plus loppers and a small hand saw if you have them, and dress for the weather.

A second pruning workshop - this one focused on deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees, too, but this time while the plants are active - is set for Wednesday, June 16.

Cochran suggests signing up for both.

"In some cases, you'll see the results of the March pruning (in June), and you'll learn the next step with plants that were dormant-pruned," he said. "We'll also be doing pruning as it should be done at that time of year."

Call 330-464-2148 or visit http://www.secrest.osu.edu for more information.

OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.