How to prune a mango tree? The latest pruning techniques and methods tutorial

Mango is a typical tropical fruit and a fruit that many people like very much, mainly distributed in the tropical provinces of southern China. During mango cultivation, orchard management must be done well, especially pruning; proper pruning can improve the air circulation of mango trees and increase the flowering and fruiting rate of mangoes. So how should mangoes be pruned during cultivation? Below, the editor brings you the pruning techniques for mango trees, let's take a look!

1. Young tree pruning

The pruning direction for young mango trees is mainly trunk training and shaping. When training the trunk, the height should be controlled according to the planting variety, tree shape and size, and soil conditions, generally kept at about 45-55 cm. Then, during the extension period or maturity period of new shoots, select about 4 new shoots growing in different directions, evenly distributed and with strong growth as the main branches. When the main branches grow to about 45 cm, they should be cut back promptly to promote further branching of the main branches, and select 3-4 robust small branches as secondary main branches. When the secondary main branches grow to about 55 cm, cut them back promptly to promote the growth of side branches.

2. Pruning of trees in initial fruiting stage

Pruning of trees in the initial fruiting stage should focus on promoting flower and fruit quantity and expanding the crown. On the premise of ensuring the crown bears as much fruit as possible, the tree should also maintain good growth vigor, so as to gradually increase yield. At this stage, overly long, overly dense, improperly positioned, crossing and overlapping branches should be cut off, and then excessive vigorous branches should have their tips pinched and be cut back to prevent damage to the original tree shape. After harvesting, the fruit stalk should be cut off promptly, and then the fruiting branches in the middle and lower parts of the crown should be properly cut back and retracted. For some excessively vigorous trees with low fruiting rates, the vigorous branches should be cut back, and then each pruned branch should not retain more than 3 new shoots, with excess ones removed promptly.

3. Harvest pruning

After harvesting, pruning work should also be done promptly. The main targets are weak-growing branches such as overly dense branches, pest- and disease-damaged branches, and old dead branches. Light pruning should be done every year, then heavy retraction pruning in the third year, usually cutting off the main branches of the crown and retaining growth branches within two years, because such branches generally have a high fruiting rate. After a new round of fruiting mother branches grows, the branches on each branch should not exceed 3, and excess branches should be removed. Cut off crossing branches growing inside the canopy and wipe out unnecessary sprouting buds.

4. Pruning during the growing season

During the growing season, attention should be paid to ensuring sufficient nutrients to promote the growth of flowers and fruits, preventing excessive shoots from robbing flowers and fruits of nutrients, improving the air circulation of the fruit tree, and ensuring comprehensive and uniform pesticide spraying. After flowering, excess new shoots should be cut off, and then branches such as inner canopy branches and pest- and disease-damaged branches should be thinned out to prevent excessive nutrient consumption. Keep sun-facing branches to enhance the photosynthetic capacity of mangoes, and then cut off drooping branches and branches unable to absorb light. Then remove leaves that would cause fruit injury and affect the fruit branches' light absorption, preventing effects on fruit expansion.

After pruning, the cut branches should be taken away from the orchard to prevent pathogen invasion, and attention should be paid to completing pruning in one go to ensure sufficiently smooth cuts. After pruning, spray pesticide for disinfection to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. Pay attention to the intensity of pruning to prevent excessive cutting back from affecting the heading of mango trees the following year. If pruning is too heavy, it will cause the tree body to age prematurely, resulting in phenomena such as flowering without fruiting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!