Learn about apple tree pruning at free Westmoreland Conservancy event in Murrysville

Westmoreland Conservancy staff are seeking volunteers to help prune apple trees at their Morosini Reserve in Murrysville on Saturday.

Conservancy President Shelly Tichy said the trees at the reserve, off Morosini Farm Court near Delmont, are left over from an old orchard on the property.

“Some of them are a little younger, but they’re all a crop of older trees, and for the most part, they’re not producing (apples) anymore,” she said. “By pruning them, we have an opportunity to revitalize them.”

Volunteers can meet up at the reserve at 9 a.m., bringing with them work gloves, pole saws, clippers and questions. Former master gardener and Morosini committee head Rob Malley will demonstrate the best way to prune apple trees in order to keep them healthy.

“Through the event, we can get our trees pruned and also teach people the proper way to do this, so they don’t destroy their own trees,” Tichy said. “Rob loves sharing his knowledge and showing people the best way to keep from stunting or damaging the trees.”

Turnout for the annual event, which has taken place over the past five years, has been good, Tichy said.

“Even last year when we had that little miniature blizzard, we still had a pretty good turnout,” she said.

Volunteers can register at WestmorelandConservancy.org/event-registration.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is ranked fourth nationally in terms of apple production. In 2021, the USDA estimates Pennsylvania orchards produced more than 550 million pounds of apples.