Each year (this is our 27th year), The Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program offers FREE education based on the owner Greg’s 50+ years of growing fruit trees in the desert…Yes, Greg planted his first fruit trees in Phoenix in 1975! Here are this year’s weekly offerings starting Sept 1, 2026. Oh, and if you are interested, we have a nice selection of climate and season appropriate trees for the low desert.
Class 1 - "What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Fruit Tree"
Did you know that you can go into every big box store and most nurseries and they will sell you a fruit tree that will never make fruit? That made me mad so I started teaching people about how to avoid these pitfalls. The selection of fruit trees that you can grow in the desert is vast but not all fruit trees are alike! Discovering which ones work in the desert and how to pick a perfect fruit tree for your yard can be challenging. Join us as we help you navigate the key information you need to make the best decision for you and your space.
Class 2 - "Three Ways to Kill Your Fruit Trees"
There are three things that most people do to kill their trees. We will share what they are and then teach you how to avoid them - setting you up for ultimate fruit tree success! We will dive in and get a better understanding about how to make healthy soil for your tree to grow into. Plus, you will learn Farmer Greg’s 6/6 rule (A must for all fruit trees), and the best shape and size to dig your planting hole. Let us teach you how to avoid common mistakes.
Class 3 - "Planting, Watering, and Fertilizing Your Fruit Trees"
The long term health of fruit trees in our extreme desert climate depends on three aspects of loving and caring for your fruit tree: planting, watering, and applying fertilizers at the right times. Plants need to eat and drink daily just like we do, so fertilizing them once a year just isn’t enough. In this webinar we will dig into getting your fruit trees planted for success, discover Greg’s 50 year old watering methodology, observe Janis’s soil types and watering solutions, and learn how to properly fertilize (both foliar and granular) your trees for ultimate success.
Class 4 - "What Supplies do I Need For My Trees?"
We strive to be very clear in our classes that you will spend as much on your planting supplies and supplements as you do on the tree and have very specific guidelines for fruit tree success in extreme climates. In this class we cover all the supplies you need to ensure your fruit tree investment pays off, and help you figure out how much you need and when for the quantities of trees in your space. This includes planting mixes, supplements, fertilizers, foliar feeds, watering devices, chlorine filters and so much more.
Live Q&A - "Fruit Tree Q&A with Farmer Greg"
We know that despite everything we share in our classes, sometimes you still might have questions. We are opening October's Tree Chat to just being available to answer questions. Join Greg and possibly some other Tree Crew members for this class where YOU can present the questions (plus send pictures to fruittree@urbanfarm.org) and get answers to those you may not have thought to ask.