This week, we kicked off one of the core subjects in the AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture—AHCPGD309 Perform specialist amenity pruning. This unit introduces us to the skills needed to plan and carry out a range of pruning activities, from selecting the most appropriate pruning techniques for different plants to choosing the right tools for each job.
Pre-class talk Vineyard before pruning
As someone with many roses at home, I was particularly excited about this topic. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong season to do anything more than a gentle maintenance deadheading on my own roses—but I’m already looking forward to the Rose Society’s winter pruning masterclass, delivered in partnership with Ironwood in July.
Walter Dollman Pruning in action
We were also extremely fortunate this week to take part in a hands-on practical session with the National Wine Centre of Australia and the Amateur Winemakers and Brewers Club of Adelaide (AWBC). The National Wine Centre maintains a unique onsite vineyard showcasing seven iconic Australian grape varieties—Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Riesling—all nestled in Adelaide’s beautiful parklands beside the Botanic Gardens. It was a stunning location for our practical work.
AWBC winemaker Walter Dollman guided us through a masterclass on summer vine pruning, which differs significantly from the major winter prune vines typically receive. The opportunity to learn directly from an expert, while contributing to the care of such a prominent vineyard, was a highlight of the subject so far.
After getting a taste of the vineyard experience (quite literally, one day!), I can’t wait to return to the Wine Centre after harvest to sample the fruits of our labour.
