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Simple steps to promote new growth & more delicious fruits
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Pruning is an important part of keeping your citrus trees productive and healthy. Whether you’re growing a lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit tree, trimming it each spring helps it resist diseases and grow higher-quality fruit. Simply cut off dead and diseased wood and thin out overcrowded branches. Keep reading to learn when to prune citrus trees, how to prune new and established trees, and how to follow pruning best practices!
Pruning Citrus Trees
Prune citrus trees in the spring after the last chance of frost passes. Use sterile shears or loppers to cut dead, diseased, and damaged wood back to the healthy part of the branch. Then, trim off branches that cross each other just above the branch collar (the raised ring next to the trunk or a main branch).
Steps
Section 2 of 3:
Pruning Citrus Trees
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Cut off any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Look at your citrus tree for any branches that are colorless, brittle, broken, rotting, or have spots of fungus. If the entire branch is damaged, use a pair of clean pruning shears or loppers to cut it off at a slight angle just above the branch’s collar, or the ring of raised wood next to the trunk. [5] X Research source
- If the entire branch isn’t dead or damaged, cut it back to the healthy part of the wood.
- If you’re not sure whether a branch is healthy, scrape off a bit of the bark and look for green tissue inside.
- Dying and damaged branches are potential breeding grounds for additional pests and diseases.
- Note : Do not snip off branches directly against the trunk. This removes the branch’s collar, which can reduce the tree’s ability to protect itself. [6] X Research source
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Cut back crisscrossing branches to thin out the dense canopy. Take a look inside your citrus tree’s canopy for any branches that are lying on top of one another or rubbing against each other. Select which branch to remove and simply cut it off close to the main branch or the tree’s trunk. [7] X Research source
- Landscaping specialist Gus Briones says to prune carefully so you don’t trim the citrus tree’s hardwood, which is thicker and darker than the tree’s other branches. Stick to trimming lighter-colored wood to reduce the risk of introducing any diseases to the open wounds.
- Check how overcrowded your tree is by looking at its shadow around midday. If you don’t see lots of dappled light on the ground, it can use some pruning.
- This process is called thinning out. It improves airflow and lets in more light to help your tree resist disease and grow better fruits.
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Remove suckers growing at the base of the tree. Citrus trees often form stalks of new growth, called suckers, below the tree’s graft line; this is the spot of scarred tissue near the base of the trunk. Suckers don’t grow fruit and can take nutrients away from your tree, so snip them off at the trunk or as close to the ground as possible. [8] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
- The graft line is where the citrus tree was grafted onto the roots of a hardier tree. [9] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
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Trim back water shoots to help encourage more growth. Water shoots are strong, fast-growing stems that shoot upwards from the trunk and major branches. If left alone, water shoots can suck up vital energy and nutrients from your tree. [10] X Research source So, snip them off with your pruners. [11] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
- Like suckers, water shoots don’t produce fruit. In general, the best produce comes from horizontal branches.
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Remove any low-lying or “skirting” branches. When branches touch the soil or ground, they can rot or become a superhighway for pests. They also prevent air from moving around the trunk, which can cause disease. Trim back any low branches to the trunk until there’s at least 3 feet (0.91 m) between the lowest branches and the ground. [12] X Research source
- Trim low canopy branches at any point. Just make sure that you keep your cuts clean without rough ends.
- Trim the branches high enough off the ground so the leaves don’t get wet from water splashes from rain or water sprinklers. [13] X Research source
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Cut back long, gangly branches among the tree’s canopy. Take a step back and focus on the overall shape of your tree. Look for branches that are poking out from the canopy in an unsightly way or make your tree look uneven. Then, use your pruners to trim back the unruly branches to give your tree a compact, uniform shape. [14] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
- For instance, remove branches that block your walking path around the tree or that bend over in a U-shape.
- Gardeners also call long, gangly branches “leggy.” If your tree has “legs,” then it needs a trimming.
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Remove any swollen stems. If you live in Australia, your citrus tree may be susceptible to citrus gall wasps. These wasps lay eggs deep inside the new stems of citrus trees. As the larvae grow, a “gall” forms and causes the stem to balloon outwards. Simply use your shears to snip these branches off of your trees. [15] X Research source
- Gather and burn the branch clippings or place them in a sealed plastic bag. This kills the wasps inside the galls and prevents the infestation from spreading.
- If you see a number of tiny holes on a gall, the wasps have already come out of the stem. You can still snip off these spots, or leave them alone.
- In most locations, it’s recommended that you remove the galls before August.
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Trim any tall, leggy branches on newly planted citrus trees. Topping or heading newly planted citrus trees can encourage more branching growth and lead to greater fruit production. If your tree has any tall branches, simply cut off around ¼ of their length. [16] X Research source
- Note : Wait to top young citrus trees until they’re 20 to 23 inches (50-60 cm) tall to prevent any potential damage.
- Topping citrus trees also helps shape them and can prevent you from having to do more extensive pruning as they grow.
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Prune old, overgrown trees down to the main branches to revive them. If your citrus tree is unproductive or large and unruly, an extreme “skeleton” pruning can whip it back into shape. Start by removing dead and damaged wood, branches that cross over each other, and all the foliage. Then, prune off all of the tree’s branches and stems that are less than 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter. [17] X Research source
- Skeleton pruning only leaves behind your tree’s main “scaffold” branches. This encourages it to grow new and healthy fruit-bearing branches.
- Note : Do not trim off more than ⅓ of the tree’s height, as this can endanger it. If your tree is very overgrown, it may take several years of pruning to get it the height you want. [18] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
- It often takes 2 to 3 years for heavily pruned trees to regrow and produce fruit again. So, be patient with your tree.
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QuestionSpraying soap on black soot on citrus leaves does not work well. Is there a second way to get rid of it?Community AnswerThe black soot is a byproduct of sap-sucking insects. Spray neem or a similar oil for the insects, and the new growth should be unaffected.
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Tips
- To avoid pruning branches that are growing in the wrong direction, attach small weights to the ends of the branch. This helps encourage them to grow in a different direction. [24] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Trim slowly and carefully to avoid cutting your fingers or hands.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning
- ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2006/DEC-2006-hedging-topping-skirting.pdf
- ↑ https://harris.agrilife.org/files/2011/05/Citrus-Pruning.pdf
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C0
- ↑ https://txmg.org/jcmg/2019/07/19/pruning-of-hardwood-fruit-trees-roses-and-citrus/
- ↑ https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/training-and-pruning-fruit-trees-7-003/
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C1
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/citrus/grow-your-own
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/fruit-trees/grafting-ornamental
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/water-sprouts-or-suckers-trees/
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/citrus/grow-your-own
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C1
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C1
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/citrus
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biosecurity/citrus-gall-wasp-control
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C1
- ↑ https://harris.agrilife.org/files/2011/05/Citrus-Pruning.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/home-gardening-pruning-to-renovate-old-fruit-trees
- ↑ https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-sanitize-my-pruners-prevent-spread-disease
- ↑ https://www.portland.gov/trees/tree-care-and-resources/how-prune-properly
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fruits-lawn-garden/citrus-tree-care-for-the-home-gardener/
- ↑ https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/fstreetrim.pdf
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/citrus-pruning?page=0%2C3
- ↑ https://www.organicgardener.com.au/articles/making-citrus-cut
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