How to Prune Citrus Trees in Summer? Latest Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Citrus is a relatively common fruit, and because market demand is fairly large, its planting area in our country is also quite large. When growing citrus trees, we must do a good job with management. Among these tasks, summer pruning is especially important, as doing it well can improve the air permeability of citrus trees and promote flowering and fruiting. So how should summer pruning be done? Below, the editor brings you the techniques for summer pruning of citrus trees. Let's take a look!
1. Summer pruning of young trees
Some early summer shoots that sprout early emerge in summer, which is during the period of physiological fruit drop. At this time, in order to protect the fruit, we must not only do a good job with water and fertilizer management, but also pay attention to removing the early summer shoots in time. When the early summer shoots grow to about 5 cm, they should all be wiped off, about once every 5 days, until the end of May. If the tree bears few fruits, then at the end of May, when the summer shoots have sprouted to about 3 cm, thin the buds according to the principle of removing one out of every three. Then, when they grow to about 30 cm, do a good job of topping and pinching. For trees bearing many fruits, in July-August, let out shoots once, and 2-3 weeks before letting out autumn shoots, carry out a heading-back pruning to promote shoots.
2. Summer pruning of trees in full production
⟦NL>Summer pruning of trees in full production is mainly to promote the sprouting and growth of autumn shoots, enhance the growth capacity of branches, and promote the recovery of tree vigor. If the citrus tree has strong growth, then pruning should continue until July. In time, thin out the overly long, overly dense, flower-dropping and fruit-dropping, crossing and overlapping, and pest- and disease-affected branches in the middle and lower parts of the citrus tree. Then carry out heading-back pruning on the weak and useless branches whose tips have become tumor-like parts. Carry out thinning pruning on the middle and upper branches on the outside of the canopy, keeping the branch stubs at about 10 cm, and keeping the diameter of the pruning cut at 1 cm.
3. Summer pruning of trees in an off year
From May to July, wipe off summer shoots about once every 5 days. This avoids excessive and overly vigorous summer shoot growth competing for the nutrients needed for fruit set and lowering the fruit-setting rate. Then in mid-July, carry out the work of letting out autumn shoots. In May-June, we should carry out girdling once at a position about 6 cm on the main branches of the plant, cutting through the epidermal layer of the branches, but be careful not to damage the xylem, which can reduce physiological fruit drop. Then in mid-to-late July, promptly thin out the branches inside the canopy, and carry out heading-back pruning on weak branches and old branches. After the autumn shoots mature, appropriately twist the shoots.
4. Summer pruning of freeze-damaged trees
After a citrus tree suffers freeze damage, adverse phenomena such as withered leaves and dried branches will appear. Not only should spring pruning be done in time, but appropriate pruning should also be done in summer. If the freeze damage is not serious, then the summer shoots should be wiped off from May to July, and then appropriate fertilization and hormone spraying should be carried out. Appropriately carry out heading-back pruning on weak branches within the tree, with the purpose of cultivating fruiting branches. If the freeze damage is serious, then when the spring shoots grow to about 12 cm, select 5 strong shoots in different locations as reserve branches for cultivation. When each shoot grows to about 28 cm, carry out topping and heading-back pruning to promote recovery of tree vigor.
The above is a brief introduction to the techniques for summer pruning of citrus trees. The summer pruning work of citrus trees is very important, as it directly affects the yield and quality of citrus, so everyone must pay close attention to it. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for your reading and support.