When to prune lemon and orange trees
Orange and lemon trees are among the most commonly consumed citrus fruits in the world, so it’s not uncommon to have them in your home garden. One of the most outstanding care is pruning because its main purpose is to improve production conditions. Although it can be said that this is a relatively straightforward task, it is worth studying in detail several aspects related to it. There are many people who don’t know When should lemon and orange trees be pruned?
For this reason, we will devote this article to when to prune lemon and orange trees and what to pay attention to.
Pruning lemon and orange trees
Due to the characteristics of these species, pruning orange and lemon trees meets the basic goals of production problems. They have the property that they produce the greatest amount of fruit at the ends of the crown, leaving the center full of leaves. Trimming helps counteract this behavior by promoting airflow and balanced power output. Again, this is an action to avoid wasting energy and risking various types of diseases.
For trimming to produce a good program, application time is critical. For this situation early spring is best. The reason is that the tree is still in a state of vegetative dormancy, which prevents sap loss.
Of course, it should be taken into account that there is no risk of delayed frosts, because the pruned tree, if it has novel wounds, may die in frost.
Tools needed
The main tools are two-handed pruners, saws and, in exceptional cases, chainsaws. Each of these tools will be used depending on the thickness of the branch. For personal safety, Trimming with gloves and safety glasses is recommended. Also wear appropriate clothing.
Two basic things to keep in mind are: the age of the tree and the type of pruning that should be used. Generally speaking, trimming has three different purposes: shaping, producing or renovating. Once you’ve determined that pruning needs to begin, it’s time to assess the condition of the tree before reaching for the tools. This task is very straightforward because at the recommended pruning date the tree is leafless, so the branches are clearly perceptible. When you go for pruning, you need to clearly determine what type corresponds to the characteristics of the tree.
When should lemon and orange trees be pruned?
Formative pruning
Pruning helps orange and lemon trees develop spirited and productive structures and is done from the beginning of their growth. The idea is for each part of the tree to achieve its goals within the plant.therefore, pruning efforts will be directed towards:
- Remove any shoots that may appear around the roots.
- Cut off the suckers that form between the trunk and the main branches that do not have a positive effect on the plant.
- Build 3 or 4 of the strongest branches that will form the structure of the tree, branches that will bear fruit from them.
- Cut off secondary branches sticking out from the main branch to aid them start the flowering process.
Production trimming
Although it is widely known, it is also used for tree care, as part of it is intended to remove damaged areas of structures. Therefore, production cleaning tasks include:
- Remove any branches that are in destitute condition: brittle, brittle, parched. Also included are those that grow in the wrong direction, either pointing towards the center of the crown or running into another branch.
- Cut out the center of the canopy by cutting off a few branches and tearing off the inner ones.
- Remove any branches that are already in destitute condition and so they sprouted.
renovation pruning
When your orange and lemon trees seem to have run out of fruit, you still have the option of re-pruning them.
Their goal is to rejuvenate the tree’s branching structure to motivate it to remain productive. The idea is to prune the branches gradually (every 2 or 3 years) so that novel ones grow. It is essential not to delete them all at once. If you want to aid your orange and lemon trees recover faster after pruning, be sure to pay them at the right time.
Aspects to consider
In most climates where orange trees can be grown, there are usually a few days a year when pruning can be done without damaging the tree. These specific moments depend mainly on the temperature of the place and are related to the activity of the trees.
If there is one thing you should consider when planning to prune your orange tree, it is whether frost will occur after the operation. The orange tree, like other citrus and cold-sensitive trees, suffers tissue damage when temperatures drop too low, especially after recent pruning. because frosty air enters the glass more easily.
Therefore, whenever there is a risk of low temperatures (close to 0°C), pruning should be postponed until the threat has passed. In this case, it is better to prune delayed than too early, and the fruit tree will pay the price later.
Generally, when a tree is lively, the leaves and branches fill with sap, which is responsible for transporting nutrients to various parts of the plant. If essential pruning is done when there is a lot of sap moving…
- Orange trees lose a lot of resources because the trimmed leaves and branches are full of sap and nutrients.
- You can try to compensate for the pruning by growing lush shoots that need to be pruned again as they are usually not well placed and therefore will not bear fruit.
Due to the above, you should always try to time your pruning to coincide with periods when the tree is inactive or very scant, i.e. is in a state of vegetative rest. Here’s one exception worth noting.
In most climates, orange trees typically have two plant growth points. One in winter, due to low temperatures and lack of lightweight, and the other in the middle of summer, just right due to the heat and lack of water.
Usually, A good time to prune an orange tree is early springbefore the tree is fully awake, provided there is no risk of frost. This date is captivating because it does not bear fruit or bloom, but allows the orange tree to be pruned for the rest of the season.
Another time to consider pruning is in summer, when plants stop growing. The tree will bear tiny fruit during this time, so it is better to cut only those branches that do not produce (suckers) or elderly branches, respecting those who bear fruit and thus protecting the harvest.
You need to be careful what you prune in the summer, as exposing the bark to the sun can cause it to become damaged, resulting in it cracking and separating from the bark, causing the branches to parched out.
I hope this information helps you learn more about how to prune your lemon and orange trees.