How to prune a lemon tree

How to prune a lemon tree

1. 01

   When to prune

   One source gives February for the main prune of a citrus plant. Thin out overcrowded branches and remove wayward shoots that spoil the shape.

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   Over summer cut strongly growing new shoots back to within the crown and remove shoots growing from the trunk below it. Take off as little as you need, because lemons flower on the tips of new sideshoots and heavy pruning leaves little fruit.

   It adds a second round over summer, when strongly growing new shoots are cut back to within the crown to encourage branching.

2. 02

   Remove suckers and water sprouts

   Shoots growing from the main stem below the crown should come off. On a young tree, suckers at the base are likely rootstock growth and will not bear the fruit you want.

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   Water sprouts, the vigorous upright shoots, bear fruit slowly and crowd the productive branches, so removing them is desirable.

3. 03

   Keep it light

   Citrus plants are compact and slow growing, so pruning is generally minimal. Lemons flower on the tips of new sideshoots, so heavy cutting gives a very bushy plant with little fruit.

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   One source says to remove the minimal amount of canopy needed to reach your goal.

4. 04

   Leggy or unproductive branches

   Sparse or leggy stems can be cut back by up to two-thirds, and shortening the tallest shoot encourages a bushier plant. Hard pruning an unproductive branch is only for healthy plants that are growing well, and no more than one branch per year.

5. 05

   Cutting tips

   Wear thick gloves, because many lemon trees have sharp thorns. Make cuts flush with the trunk or branch, since a leftover stub can rot.

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