Q&A for How to Prune Pomegranate Trees

With a multi-trunk system, you usually cut the top off of a plant early, so you get a lot of little side shoots. Single trunk is when you let the branches grow more naturally, and it's usually meant for taller trees.

If you're talking about a fruiting tree, suckers have no roots, and even if you get one to root, probably won't produce fruit. The only way I know is to graft onto the main trunk of a mature fruit tree, but for that you really need to talk to a nursery person, since most trees are hybridized and are grafted onto a trunk of a different variety to get the new hybrid fruit tree. That becomes the mother stock, so to speak, and nurseries use them over and over for the purpose of starting new trees of similar varieties.

Yes, you really should prune a mature pomegranate tree at least twice a year to keep it healthy and help it thrive. In the wintertime, use pruning shears or a fine-toothed saw to cut off dead, diseased, or crisscrossing branches. You could also prune the small shoots at the end of the branches, which will give you bigger, tastier pomegranates. In the summer, prune away suckers and water sprouts from the base of the tree with a pair of pruning shears.

Trimming and pruning your pomegranate tree can help promote new, healthy growth. For a newly planted tree, cut the young shoots down to about 24 inches (61 cm), which will help them produce new buds and create a bushier plant. During a tree's second and third years, cut the branches back by about a third to encourage new growth and remove any suckers or water sprouts that pop up. Once a tree is fully mature, prune it in the winter time to remove dead branches, and cut away suckers and water sprouts whenever you find them.

Pomegranate trees can actually live over 200 years if they're in the right conditions. However, they may stop producing fruit after the first 15-20 years. To give your tree the best chance for a long and happy life, prune them every winter to cut off dead or diseased branches. You may also want to remove crisscrossing branches as well to help promote a bushy, healthy tree. Whenever you see suckers or water sprouts, clip them away with pruning shears so they don't draw water and nutrients away from the tree.