Lee Rumble, UT Extension agent in agriculture and natural resources, will present pruning techniques at 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at The Center.
Rumble will discuss the negative effects and consequences of improper pruning practices, such as topping, tipping, excessive limbing up and lion’s tailing, and provide alternative and suitable pruning techniques that should be implemented.
He will describe alternative small-growing trees that may be more suitable for smaller lot sizes and/or those trees that will require less management over the long run. Property owners who select the right tree for the right place can help reduce long-term maintenance costs as well as stress on trees.
Rumble is a Tennessee native with over two decades in the arboricultural industry. He received his International Society of Arboriculture arborist certification in May 2010 and would follow up this milestone with an A.S. in horticulture, a B.S. in plant and soil science, and an M.S. in botany. He conducted his master’s research in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Following graduation, Rumble knew he would call East Tennessee his forever home.
In January 2020, he joined the Knox County Extension Office as an Extension agent in agriculture and natural resources. Rumble’s close working relationship with the public prior to his schooling, along with his desire to be both a lifelong learner and educator is precisely what led him to UT Extension.
Rumble works closely with commercial landscapers, nursery producers, fellow arborists and Knox County residents to promote the proper management and care of plant material in both urban and rural landscapes.