How to prune a pomegranate tree? Key points of the latest technical method tutorial explained

Fruit trees differ in their pruning at different growth stages, and the pomegranate can be divided into summer pruning and winter pruning. Summer pruning is mainly bud rubbing and branch bending, while winter pruning is mainly thinning. Now let's take a look at the key points of pomegranate pruning techniques with the editor.

1. Pruning of young trees

After planting, head the tree back at 70 cm. During the first winter pruning, from the new shoots that sprout within 30 cm below the cut, select and keep 3 branches with evenly distributed orientations as main branches to be trained, cut them back leaving 60 cm, and thin out the remaining branches. During growth, bend the 3 main branches down, and the bending angle should be determined according to the requirements of the tree shape. During the second winter pruning, each main branch can have 1 lateral branch selected and kept, the 3 main branches should keep branches on the same side as much as possible, and the extension shoot of each main branch should be cut back leaving 60 cm. During the third winter pruning, each main branch selects and keeps a second lateral branch on the opposite side of the first lateral branch, and the extension shoot is left unpruned or lightly headed. Generally, shaping can be completed in 3-4 years.

2. Pruning of trees in full fruit period

Pomegranate trees in the full fruit period should maintain a canopy that is “sparse on top and dense below, sparse outside and dense inside, sparse large branches and dense small branches”, so excess vigorous branches, water sprouts, inward-growing branches, crossing branches, overlapping branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, and thin weak branches should be thinned out in time. At the same time, attention should be paid to the balance between tree growth and fruiting. In winter, late trees should have part of the vigorous branches thinned out, and as many short fruiting mother branches as possible should be retained. During the growing season, branches should be bent down. Weak trees should be renewed by retraction to restore vigor, drooping branch groups should be retracted and lifted upward, and attention should be paid to the renewal of branch groups and fruiting in turn.

3. Pruning of senescent branches

Senescent branches are mainly treated by retraction for rejuvenation and renewal. For main and lateral branches that are drooping and weakened at the front, retract to an upward-growing branch so that their growth vigor is restored. For main and lateral branches that are bare at the rear, retract to a branched part at the rear, or after leaf fall in the following year, use vigorous sprouting branches or water sprouts at the rear, combined with branch bending during the growing season, to gradually cultivate main and lateral branches. In winter, senescent plants should be sawed off at ground level. During the second winter pruning, select and keep 1-3 sprouts from the root sprouts as new trunks and train them again. This is renewal.

The above is an introduction to the key points of pomegranate tree pruning techniques. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.