This is a pruning basics class. We will go over basic timing, safety, health and aesthetics. This is aimed at caretaking small trees and shrubs in peoples yards. This will be verbal and visual instruction only, we will not be pruning. Learn about how much, when, and what you can cut off your trees to optimize their health and beauty ethically.

We encourage folks to bring their notebook, questions, and pictures of any trees/shrubs they have specific questions about.

About the instructors, Marlee Blue & Susan Gregory:

• Marlee has 2 years of experience as a gardener at Portland Japanese Garden. They are a Master Gardener and are currently pruning and landscaping with Grounded Plant Care, a gardening business they started in 2023 with the aim of ethical and environmental pruning.
• Susan is a landscape designer with many years of experience both designing and implementing small and large landscape projects. She holds a degree in landscape design from Edmonds Community College and completed a permaculture course with Toby Hemenway. She ran a successful design/build company for 12 years.

Our sliding scale for classes helps to reduce barriers for participation while retaining sufficient income for Seattle REconomy, which owns and operates the NE Seattle and Shoreline tool libraries. Please choose the level that best fits your family’s income.