Saskatoons Stan - I had a bountiful crop of Saskatoons this year. My "patch" is at our driveway, on the south side of our property, along a ditch. There are a few trees to the East of them and then nothing else is growing. My problem is they are close to 20 feet tall. Being only 5' 3" and scared of heights, will I be able to cut them down, with out ruining the crop. When would be the best time to prune them and how much should I take off. I live in the valley south of Kinuso on Lesser Slave Lake. We are approximately 1/2 a mile from the Swan River. These Saskatoon trees are very thin in appearance, but they are plentiful with about 20 trees in each group. There is approximately 20 feet of "patch". I do catch some of your show, but not all of it, so I would appreciate an e-mail answer back. Your time and answer is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Patty Patty - You have a problem that most growers of berries would delight in. Saskatoons are of the rose family and therefore can be managed in much the same way. They are multi stemmed and thrive when periodically cut back to a manageable size. Now is the best time to prune or shape. Take at least half to two thirds off. New growth will be evident in the spring, giving you even more berries and a sturdier clutch of amalenchier. A cup of bone meal plus, to each clump followed by a light cultivation and two or three inches of natural local leaf drop put on as mulch around the base of the plants will help the ripening and over-wintering of the plants. Keep in touch.

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