Harvesting the Urban Orchard DIVRS Harvesting the Urban Orchard | Page 26

HARVESTING THE URBAN ORCHARD
Training Essentials for Tree Maintenance
Audits and maintenance on registered trees requires some knowledge.
The following lists include both foundational and more specialised skills
(to be acquired in further training) that volunteers will need.
Basic Knowledge
v v understanding of planting techniques, such as
w w mulching
Pests and Diseases
v v understanding of types of pest and disease
v v ability to identify whether these are present
v v understanding of the pest or disease life-cycle (when a pest is active,
or whether a flying pest or larvae is the problem)
v v ability to identify the severity of the problem and what action, if any,
should be taken
v v understanding of strategies for prevention
Tools
w w watering
w w feeding
v v understanding of the range of tools needed
w w drainage
v v ability to select the right tools for the job
v v ability to identify fruiting wood v v understanding of the correct use of tools
v v understanding of seasonal growing, flowering and fruiting cycles v v understanding of tool care – especially cleaning and sharpening
v v understanding of environmental conditions favourable to specific
plant species – such as sun, shade, wet or dry, warmth or chill v v understanding of OHS basics – especially safe use of ladders and tools
v v ability to assess whether a tree is likely to bear well in the current
season
v v ability to identify and solve horticultural problems, such as
overcrowded growth or nutritional and water deficiency
Specialised Knowledge
Pruning
v v ability to identify which wood to remove and understanding of how to
remove it
v v understanding of techniques for
v v understanding of how and whether or not work under certain
weather conditions
Note that trainees will benefit from helpful diagrams and access to
reference material.
Some tree owners might be very happy to host pruning workshops
through which volunteers can access training. In return, the tree owner
receives free pruning of their trees. If you have community gardens on a
register, then they can be a very good resource for this kind of activity.
Public housing can be a great area to capture. Such blocks often have
large communal garden areas. Some may have fruit trees already
established or may benefit from planting and maintenance.
w w pruning newly planted trees and established trees
w w pruning particular fruit varieties
w w maintenance pruning
w w espaliering (training a tree or shrub to grow flat against a wall)
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It is important to recognise that not all volunteers want to do
pruning and maintenance nor have the availability to learn.
Some volunteers may only feel comfortable harvesting fruit
and others are very keen to prune and carry out maintenance.
Encouraging and developing the skills of both groups helps
spread the workload around and develops a strong team.
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DIVRS