Learn how to propagate apple and pear fruit trees by budding, in a one-day practical workshop. These skills are useful to anyone who wishes to propagate fruit and ornamental trees in their garden or allotment.
Learn the technical theory behind budding to propagate onto a variety of rootstock to produce upright, cordon, espalier and step-over trees.
The workshop includes hands-on sessions to gain practical skills in bud-grafting.
Participants will be able to take home their own grafted tree. The course will also cover the maintenance and sharpening of grafting knives. We will be using very sharp knives which should be handled with great care. A first aider will be available to administer plasters should the need arise. Bring your own secateurs and pruning knives if you have them.
Meet Sarah:
I began studying horticulture in 2005 when I started working with disabled people helping them to overcome ongoing mental ill-health by accessing gardening. We maintained gardens for local sheltered housing estates and for the local hospice and additionally taking on and running a large allotment site. From there, I went on to run gardening projects for Age UK Merton and for EcoLocal, an environmental charity in south London, becoming one of their sessional tutors, delivering practical courses on food production, fruit growing and pruning, fruit grafting, and organic gardening. In 2014 I began studying for the RHS Level 3 Horticulture Theory examinations, then completing my RHS Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture, by enrolling at Merrist Wood College for the practical examinations. Later I began working for disability charity Share Community as their Senior Tutor, delivering horticultural training to disabled adults, teaching City and Guilds Practical Horticulture Courses to Level 2. In 2019 I decided to further my horticultural studies by undertaking the RHS Master of Horticulture degree course and I am now in my final year. I presently work as a sessional tutor for Sutton Parks Department, teaching gardening fundamentals to volunteers, and for Sutton College, delivering courses on food growing and wildlife gardening. In my leisure time I look after my own garden and allotment and enjoy cooking, sewing and yoga.
Price: £75