Orange You Glad We Pruned? Tips for Trimming Your Citrus Trees

At Shara Community Gardens, our citrus trees—mandarin, lime, lemon, and orange—have recently undergone a significant transformation. After a fruitful season, you may have noticed that these trees have had a serious trim! Pruning is essential for maintaining the health and productivity of citrus trees and the Shara citrus trees were overdue for a haircut. If you’re thinking about trimming your citrus trees, here are a few tips to get you started.

Why Prune Citrus Trees?

Pruning your citrus trees is crucial for a few reasons. It helps to maintain the tree’s shape and size, making it easier to manage and harvest the fruit. Trimming your citrus also improves air circulation and sunlight penetration, which are vital for preventing diseases and promoting healthy growth.

When to Prune Citrus Trees

The best time to prune citrus trees is generally after they have finished fruiting. This typically occurs in late winter to early spring, just before new growth starts. Pruning during this period allows the tree to recover quickly and encourages a burst of new growth, which will hopefully lead to more flowers and fruit in the next season.

How to Prune Citrus Trees

Pruning citrus trees involves removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, thinning out crowded areas, and shaping the tree to maintain its structure. It’s important to use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts and avoid damaging the tree.

Tips for Trimming Citrus Trees

• Cut Back Crossover Branches: Remove branches that crossover or rub against each other. These can cause wounds on the tree, making it susceptible to disease and pests. Clear out these branches to allow for healthier growth.
• Direct Growth Outwards: Trim branches that are growing inwards towards the centre of the tree. This helps to open up the canopy, allowing more sunlight and air to penetrate, which is crucial for fruit development and overall tree health.
• Remove Weak Growth and Suckers: Identify and remove any weak, spindly branches as well as suckers. Suckers are those vigorous shoots that grow from the base of the tree or below the graft union. Both weak branches and suckers can divert energy away from stronger, more productive branches.

If you’re interested in learning more about citrus care or sharing your skills in our community garden, be sure to get in touch.

Happy pruning!