The co-founders of the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project put on a workshop Saturday south of Dolores to share tips on how to properly prune a fruit tree.
This is the best time of year to prune to reinvigorate dormant trees, said MORP co-founder Jude Schuenemeyer, but it’s important not to cut too much. He recommends pruning a bit and then stepping away.
“Everything with a tree, you’re looking 10 years out,” he said.
MORP co-founder Addie Schuenemeyer said that she and her husband visit orchards throughout Montezuma County to teach a dozen orchard owners and fruit tree enthusiasts how to properly prune and graft trees.
“It’s fun to go around the county,” Addie Schuenemeyer said.
She said Montezuma County is the home of hundreds of historic orchards. On Saturday, Jude Schuenemeyer showed the group how to prune apple and pear trees at the 250-tree Historic Webster Orchard, owned by Veronica Webster since 2002.
When the Schuenemeyers aren’t putting on workshops, they’re working on their peach orchard in McElmo Canyon, documenting historic research into Montezuma County orchards or helping to start community and school orchards throughout the Four Corners area.
MORP will host grafting workshops in Bayfield on March 9, Yellow Jacket on March 23 and Hesperus on April 6.
For more information, visit montezumaorchard.org.
sdolan@the-journal.com