Q. Please give some tips
on pruning my three-year-old sweet lime tree: when to prune, how tall to keep
its growth on my limited backyard space, fertilizing, and does the tree have to
be pruned annually?
on pruning my three-year-old sweet lime tree: when to prune, how tall to keep
its growth on my limited backyard space, fertilizing, and does the tree have to
be pruned annually?
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| Readers young lime tree |
A. Read most information
on pruning of citrus and it will tell you to prune citrus very little. Citrus
of any type have few issues that need correction by pruning. They do not need
to be pruned to improve fruit production like other fruit trees.
on pruning of citrus and it will tell you to prune citrus very little. Citrus
of any type have few issues that need correction by pruning. They do not need
to be pruned to improve fruit production like other fruit trees.
Reasons for pruning citrus
The primary reasons for pruning citrus are to reduce its
size, remove problems like crossing and broken branches, and some thinning to
reduce excessive growth.
size, remove problems like crossing and broken branches, and some thinning to
reduce excessive growth.
They do need to be pruned if you want to keep them
smaller. They can be pruned to backspace to about 60% of their mature size. But
it should be done every year.
smaller. They can be pruned to backspace to about 60% of their mature size. But
it should be done every year.
Prune just after harvesting the fruit so that it doesn’t
interfere with next year’s flowering and fruit production. This is also the best
time to apply fertilizer. Light pruning with a hand shears and applications of
fertilizer can be done anytime of the year.
interfere with next year’s flowering and fruit production. This is also the best
time to apply fertilizer. Light pruning with a hand shears and applications of
fertilizer can be done anytime of the year.
First, control its height
Identify backspace stems
backspace contributing to an undesirable height. These will be vertical or nearly
vertical. Follow the stems along their entire length and remove them, entirely,
at the point where they become vertical. This may be somewhere deep inside the
canopy. It doesn’t matter if that’s the case. Remove them with a clean, close
cut.
The tree wants to become tall. You want the tree to stay
smaller. This is where you are at odds with tree. You must control the tree, it
should not control what you want.
smaller. This is where you are at odds with tree. You must control the tree, it
should not control what you want.
Get rid of vertical growth
The best production of fruit comes from stems that are
NOT vertical. Consistent fruit production comes from stems that are near
horizontal or no more than 45° above horizontal.
NOT vertical. Consistent fruit production comes from stems that are near
horizontal or no more than 45° above horizontal.
Reduce its width if needed
If the width of the tree is a problem, reduce the length
of horizontal or near horizontal stems. To do this, follow the length of the
offending stem toward the inside of the tree. Remove the portion of this stem
that is offensive at a juncture with another stem. DO NOT LEAVE STUBS.
of horizontal or near horizontal stems. To do this, follow the length of the
offending stem toward the inside of the tree. Remove the portion of this stem
that is offensive at a juncture with another stem. DO NOT LEAVE STUBS.
Remove crossing or broken limbs
Adding fertilizer to plants, particularly those high in
nitrogen (the first number on the bag), should be done every year to maintain a
high level of fruit production. But the amount applied should be adjusted
according to the needs of the plant. If the tree is growing excessively, reduce
the amount of fertilizer applied but don’t eliminate it.
nitrogen (the first number on the bag), should be done every year to maintain a
high level of fruit production. But the amount applied should be adjusted
according to the needs of the plant. If the tree is growing excessively, reduce
the amount of fertilizer applied but don’t eliminate it.