How to prune a pomegranate tree? Pruning methods differ at each growth stage

Pruning is essential for any fruit tree during its growth period, and the pomegranate tree is no exception. Pomegranate pruning is mainly divided into two stages, summer and winter. The purpose of summer pruning is mainly bud removal, branch thinning and branch bending, while winter pruning mainly thins out water sprouts, vigorous branches, aged drooping branches and twin branches, so how do you prune a pomegranate tree? The pruning methods differ at each growth stage!

1. Pruning of young trees

During the winter pruning in the 1st year, from the new branches that sprout within 30cm below the cut, select and keep 3 branches evenly distributed in orientation as main branches to be trained, cut them back leaving 60cm, and thin out the remaining branches.

During the winter pruning in the 2nd year, select and keep 1 lateral branch on each main branch. Keep the branches of the 3 main branches on the same side as much as possible, and simply cut back the extension branch of each main branch leaving 60cm.

During the winter pruning in the 3rd year, select and keep the 2nd lateral branch on each main branch on the opposite side of the 1st lateral branch. Leave the extension branches unpruned or lightly cut. Each year, pay attention to bending the main and lateral branches according to the requirements of the tree shape. Generally, shaping can be completed in 3 to 4 years.

2. Pruning of trees in full fruit period

Pomegranate trees in the full fruit period should maintain a canopy that is sparse at the top and dense at the bottom, sparse outside and dense inside, with large branches sparse and small branches dense. Promptly thin out excess water sprouts, diseased and pest-infested branches, thin and weak branches, etc. Pay attention to adjusting the balance between tree growth and fruiting. For vigorous trees, thin out some vigorously growing branches in winter and keep as many short fruiting mother branches as possible, and bend branches during the growing season. For weak trees, pay attention to retracting and rejuvenating weakened scaffold branches and branch groups, retract drooping branch groups upward, and pay attention to the renewal of branch groups and fruiting in rotation.

3. Pruning of aged trees

1. Retract aged main and lateral branches

For main and lateral branches at the front that are drooping and weakened, retract them to an upward-growing branch so that they recover their growth vigor. For main and lateral branches at the rear that are bare, retract them to a branching point at the rear, or use vigorous sprouts or water sprouts that emerge at the rear the following year, combined with branch bending during the growing season, to gradually train new main and lateral branches.

2. One-time renewal and reconstruction

In winter, saw off the aged plant at ground level. During the winter pruning in the 2nd year, select and keep 1 to 3 sprouts as new trunks, and then train them anew.

4. Four-season pruning of pomegranate

1. Spring pruning

In spring, when flower buds have just formed, pruning is suitable, generally in mid-April. First, adjust the ratio of fruiting branches to vegetative branches through pruning, cut off small and thin branches, and reduce nutrient consumption. Next is bud and flower thinning. Pinch off bell-shaped flower buds by hand and keep tube-shaped flowers and gourd-shaped flowers. Gourd-shaped ones are normal flowers. Because flowers grow quickly during the flowering period, it takes two or three rounds of flower picking. At the same time, spring pruning should also pay attention to pruning diseased and pest-infested branches.

2. Summer pruning

Summer pruning is generally carried out from June to July. Fruit thinning is needed to ensure fruit quality and yield. For branches with multiple fruits, pinch off small fruits, weak fruits and diseased fruits, and keep the large fruits. Pomegranate fruiting generally occurs in three waves. It is recommended to keep more first-wave fruits, and the rest can all be removed. For branches that are too densely grown, cut off water sprouts and non-fruiting branches to ensure air and light penetration.

3. Autumn pruning

Autumn is the season when the fruit ripens. Cut off newly sprouted branches, water sprouts and diseased branches to reduce nutrient consumption, increase ventilation and light penetration, promote fruit enlargement and help ripening. After harvesting the fruit, cut off the small shoots growing from the roots to promote flower bud differentiation and ensure next year's fruit yield.

4. Winter pruning

Winter pruning should be carried out after leaf fall and before bud break. Cut off dead branches and tangled branches to ensure a certain amount of space between main and lateral branches. For small branches, keep those that are robust and have many plump flower buds, and cut off the small and thin ones with weak growth.

The above is Tuliu.com's introduction to the pruning methods for pomegranate trees at different growth stages and in different seasons. Pomegranate trees must be pruned every year; otherwise, water sprouts, diseased branches and the like will affect the tree's fruit yield and fruit quality. Reasonable pruning can ensure the fruit-setting rate and promote fruit enlargement.