February 20th from 10:00 am to noon, the City of Grinnell in conjunction with the Iowa Department of natural resources will host a class for residents wishing to learn the basics on proper pruning practices of young trees. This class will cover how to promote proper early growth habits thru pruning and establish form and structure in the early years of tree growth.

The two hour course will be held at the Ahrens Family Center, 1436 Penrose Street in Grinnell. The class will consist of one hour of classroom instruction and one hour of outdoor hands on tree pruning. Participants should dress for the weather as they will be able to perform pruning cuts on trees, from ground level, with the assistance from the class instructors.

Persons wishing to bring their own hand pruners or hand pruning saws are encouraged to do so. Pruners and saws will be available for use by participants who are not able to bring their own. This course will cover early growth pruning practices of small diameter limbs, the use of chainsaws will not be demonstrated in this course.

Course instructors will be Mark Vitosh, District Forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Recourses and David Popp with the City of Grinnell Public Service Department. Refreshments will be provided and drawing for door prizes will follow the course.