How to prune a pomegranate tree for more fruit? Latest method shared
Pruning the tree body can improve tree vigor and increase fruit production. What exactly is this process, and how do you maintain tree vigor, regulate structure, and ensure ventilation and light penetration? In this way the overall growth vigor of the tree naturally improves, so it is beneficial for fruiting. So the following mainly introduces the specific pruning methods, pruning precautions, and how the pruning methods differ at each stage.
1. Pruning young trees
Generally no pruning is done in the first year of planting; you only need to prevent disease, and any diseased or pest-infested branches need to be cut off. In the second year the tree grows more branches, so shaping and pruning can be done. This is mainly to determine the tree shape; usually the shape is set in spring, or you can keep 3 main trunks, and from the side branches that grow after the main trunks you can continue to keep 5 side branches. Note that all branch tips below the main trunk should be removed.
2. Pruning preparatory trees
After two years of growth, the tree body will gradually grow to the mature stage, possibly the early stage before fruiting, so pruning work should be done well to promote the pomegranate tree to fruit as soon as possible. Begin cultivating fruiting branches and fruiting mother branches, ensuring the tree structure is good and suitable for fruiting. Generally you can keep only vigorous branches and not weak ones. Remove most of the spring shoots, and select vigorous ones from the summer shoots to keep. Some drooping branches and peripheral branches should all be removed, and the tips pinched to control plant growth and store tree nutrients.
3. Pruning fruiting trees
Trees that have fruited, or trees that have fruited for several years, have medium overall vigor and consume relatively more nutrients. So pruning is mainly about saving nutrients, concentrating nutrients, renewing branches, maintaining continued fruiting, and maintaining fruiting vigor. Generally it is done by pruning and replacing in turn, which may need to be done over a year. But basically dense branches and internally shaded branches should all be cut off to maintain photosynthesis. Maintain nutrient supply.
4. Pruning aging trees
Branches that have fruited for several years will age, and trees that have fruited for many years will also age. After aging, you should not just cut them down, but instead continually renew them to maintain the tree's fruiting years. This mainly means renewing branches or renewing the root system. For branch renewal, generally in spring, summer and autumn you should keep vigorous new shoots, gradually shorten the old branches to stimulate new branches, and then select vigorous branches from the new branches to keep. The root system can be shortened somewhat in spring to stimulate new roots, and the roots can be cut over several years to rejuvenate.
No matter which method is used, pruning pomegranates is all about maintaining the tree's vigor, producing more fruit, setting more fruit, and increasing the fruit-setting rate. But generally if the tree sets little fruit, there may also be other reasons; it is not necessarily pruning, and other aspects may also need adjustment.