How to prune a pomelo tree? A detailed guide to the latest pruning methods
Pomelo trees are widely distributed mainly in the southern regions of our country, usually growing in hilly areas. Because the fruit of the pomelo tree is highly nutritious and tastes good, it is also loved by many people. When planting pomelo trees, we need to do a good job of pruning. Reasonable pruning is very beneficial to both the yield of the pomelo tree and the quality of the fruit. So how should a pomelo tree be pruned? Below, the editor brings you the pruning methods for pomelo trees. Let's take a look together!
1. Pruning during the young tree stage
After the pomelo sapling is planted, we should cut it back to set the trunk at a position about 35 cm above its graft union. After the pomelo tree sprouts, select and keep about three new shoots that are robust, evenly distributed, and spaced apart from one another as the main branches, and remove the excess. When the tips of the main branches have grown to about 40 cm, do the pinching and topping work. Then on the main branches, select and keep about 3 robust branches as secondary main branches. There should be a certain spacing between the main branches and the secondary main branches to ensure that the lateral branches can receive sufficient light. Then some buds and shoots that cross, overlap, or disrupt the tree shape should also be removed in time.
⟦NL>2. Pruning during the fruiting stage
When the pomelo tree is fruiting, generally the inner canopy branches have a relatively strong fruiting ability. So for newly fruiting trees, the pruning intensity should be light, and heavy pruning should not be used. Usually, it is enough to cut off some branches that are not suitable for growing too long as well as diseased and pest-infested branches. Keep more inner canopy branches, and do not prune the fruiting mother branches. For mature trees, because the canopy has basically taken shape, the main pruning targets are the lateral branches on the scaffold branches and other shoots. This kind of pruning is mainly to ensure that the growth and fruiting of the pomelo tree can proceed in a balanced way. For strong trees, appropriate heavy pruning should be used, with less short cutting, thinning out some branches that grow too long and too dense, and keeping some drooping branches to increase the number of flowers and fruits on the tree. Then for trees with weaker growth, the pruning principle should be to remove the weak and keep the strong, keeping more leaf and fruit branches.
3. Pruning during the aging period
When the pomelo tree begins to enter the aging period, it should be done before and after the spring shoot growth and in May-June. For pruning old trees, the main approach should be skeleton pruning. When renewing the branches, keep an appropriate number of main branches and secondary main branches. All lateral branches on the canopy that are within 4 years of age should be cut off completely, and no leaves should be kept on the canopy, so as to ensure the growth of strong shoots. Then after sprouting and renewal, do a good job of bud removal and shoot control. After about two years, a new canopy can be formed and bear fruit again. Finally, for some declining branches that still have fruiting ability, appropriate rotational renewal can be carried out, and all renewal should be completed within three years.
The above is a brief introduction to the pruning methods for pomelo trees. When pruning pomelo trees, we must be sure to reasonably adjust the pruning methods according to the growth stage of the pomelo tree, ensure normal growth of the pomelo tree, and improve air and light penetration, so as to ensure the yield and quality of the pomelo tree. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!