Moving Grapefuit Tree to New Location Means Cutting it Back

Thinning cut removes branch at a crotch or where two branches come together.

Q. I have two, 3 year old grapefruit trees that I want to
move to new area of yard.  How far back
should I prune them before the move?

A. The purpose in pruning them would be to reduce the top
because you need to destroy part of its established root system to move them.
So by cutting the top back, you compensate somewhat for the partial loss of the
root system. If you were moving them without destroying much of the roots, you
would not need to prune them back.

            However,
if you are digging them from the ground and you notice that you have to cut
through quite a bit of roots, and larger roots at that, then I would take about
one third out of the canopy. I would probably remove some limbs totally that
might be a bit too close together.

            The type
of cut you make will be important. There are two types: one where you remove a
branch at the juncture of two branches leaving only one of the two remaining
(thinning cut).



Heading cut is made anywhere along a branch just above a bud. Heading cuts are not made where two branches come together.

            The
second type is where a cut is made somewhere along the branch, NOT at a
juncture (heading cut). It is best if you use THINNING CUTS (remove an entire branch
or limb) if possible. These are cuts made at the juncture of two branches, leaving
only one behind.

            This type
of cut results in a general thinning of the branches (fewer branches in the
area). The heading cut does not result in fewer branches, just shorter
branches.