When Should Jujube Trees Be Pruned? A Detailed Guide to 8 Pruning Techniques

The jujube tree (Ziziphus jujuba) is a small tree that grows in temperate regions. Proper pruning of jujube trees can develop a tree shape suitable for their growth, development and high yield, achieve high yields, and extend the fruiting years. So when are jujube trees generally pruned? And what are the jujube tree pruning techniques?

1. When are jujube trees generally pruned?

Jujube tree pruning is generally divided into two types: winter pruning and summer pruning.

1. Winter pruning time for jujube trees

Winter pruning is carried out during the dormant period from after the jujube tree sheds its leaves to before it buds. In northern regions, winter pruning is best done in spring from March to April until before budding, so as to avoid water loss at the cut and its effect on budding; pruning too late will weaken the jujube tree's growth. In the southern regions of our country, winter pruning can be carried out at any time during the entire dormant period.

2. Summer pruning time for jujube trees

Summer pruning is generally carried out when the new jujube shoots that sprouted in spring each year reach their growth peak and then enter slow growth. The purpose is to control the growth of jujube shoots, cultivate sturdy branches, and effectively control vegetative growth to promote flowering and fruit setting. In northern regions it is generally carried out from late May to early June; too early and the jujube shoots are still small, too late and it fails to play its due role in regulating the contradiction between growth and fruiting.

2. Jujube tree pruning techniques

The main pruning methods for jujube trees include: thinning branches, heading back, renewal pruning, pinching, leaving unpruned, notch budding, branch bending, and bud removal, among several others.

1. Thinning method

Method: Thinning, also called thinning pruning or thinning out, means cutting away from the base overly dense jujube shoots, diseased and pest-infested branches, weak inner-canopy twigs, useless water sprouts, drooping branches, crossing branches and other such branches (see figure below).

Effect: It lets the jujube tree ventilate and receive light, grow normally, and allows the branches to be evenly distributed with balanced tree vigor, concentrating the tree's nutrients.

2. Heading-back method

Method: Cutting off part of a primary or secondary branch of a jujube shoot. During pruning, heading back measures of different degrees should be adopted according to tree vigor, space and different purposes (see figure below).

Effect: It can stimulate the sprouting of new jujube shoots, rejuvenate the remaining secondary branches and jujube spurs, and reduce the dieback and death of rear secondary branches and avoid the occurrence of bare, leafless sections.

3. Renewal pruning method

Method: Renewal pruning, also called renewal cutting or cutback, means cutting back perennial extension branches and fruiting branches. It is mostly used when skeletal branches or branch groups have become bent and drooping after many years of fruiting or have weakened in growth vigor; an upper branch and upper bud are selected for the renewal cut.

Effect: It strengthens the tree's growth vigor.

4. Leaving-unpruned method

Method: The current-year jujube shoots kept for use as side branches or side-branch extension branches are not pruned, see figure below.

Effect: It allows the terminal main bud of the jujube shoot to continue extending and growing, thereby expanding the crown and increasing the number of jujube spurs.

5. Notch budding method (notching)

Method: Make a cut 1 cm above the main bud, cutting deep into the xylem, see figure below.

Effect: It prompts the main bud to sprout.

6. Branch bending method

Method: During the growing season, use wire, rope or wooden sticks to open up the branch angle, bending usable inner-canopy branches and water sprouts toward parts of the crown that lack branches, see figure below.

Effect: It relaxes tree vigor, improves the tree's light conditions, and enhances the ability of secondary branches to bear fruit the following year.

7. Pinching method

Method: During the growing season, when a jujube shoot has grown to a certain length, remove part of the tender tip at the top of the new jujube shoot.

Effect: Pinching can effectively control the elongation growth of jujube shoots, cause the remaining secondary branches to extend and grow, increase the number of nodes on secondary branches, and raise the number of fruit set on new jujube shoots.

8. Bud removal method

Method: When the jujube tree's tender buds have grown to 5-10 cm, promptly remove from the base the useless buds and tender shoots sprouting from various parts.

Effect: The purpose is to reduce nutrient consumption, direct nutrients to branches of useful value, and promote healthy growth and fruiting of the tree.

Conclusion: Early pruning of jujube trees directly affects the later fruit-setting rate, so attention should be paid to pruning jujube trees reasonably and methodically during the growth stage. Do not prune blindly; various pruning methods should be adopted for branches in a timely manner according to actual conditions.