How to Prune a Jujube Tree? The Latest Pruning Techniques and Methods Tutorial

Winter pruning of jujube trees is an important technical measure in jujube tree management. It is generally carried out after leaf fall and before bud break, but to prevent the cut from drying out, pruning should be done somewhat later, generally from early March to early April before the jujube trees bud. When pruning, different measures should be adopted according to the growth characteristics of jujube trees at different ages and the level of management.

Pruning of Neglected Trees

1. Pruning principles: Long-neglected jujube trees mostly have no proper shape, with unclear main and secondary branches, a tangle of small branches, old branches, and dead tips, many flowers but few fruits, and low yield. Therefore, when pruning, one must grasp the principle of both taking into account the current yield and gradually renovating.

2. Pruning methods: First thin out excessively dense branches, removing the severely aged, weakened, and hopelessly overcrowded skeleton branches. Then treat the retained skeleton branches according to their condition. Thin out or cut back those that are too dense, drooping, or dried up. Cutting back should not be too severe, so as not to affect the yield too much. After treating the skeleton branches, retain as many small inner branches as possible, as this ensures fruiting capacity. Among the existing water sprouts on the tree, select those with vigorous growth and good direction to train, so as to replace the aged skeleton branches and expand the canopy. Excess water sprouts should also be appropriately removed, and the rest should be appropriately shortened or tipped according to the available space, and trained into fruiting branch systems.

Trunk Determination and Training of Young Trees

1. Trunk determination: After jujube trees are planted, because growth is relatively slow and in the early stage they do not reach the required thickness or grow vigorously enough, they need not be cut; retain more branches to make them thicken and gain height as quickly as possible. When the tree height reaches 1.5-2 m and the trunk diameter reaches 2-3 cm, cut off the top at an appropriate height, which is trunk determination. Generally, in pure jujube orchards the trunk is determined at 1-1.2 m, in intercropping orchards at 1.2-1.4 m, and in high-density orchards trunk determination may be omitted. The 15-25 cm below the cut is the shaping zone; within the shaping zone remove 4-5 secondary branches from the base to prompt the main buds on the trunk to sprout new jujube heads, so as to train main branches.

2. Training: In the second year after trunk determination, select and retain one upright, thick, vigorous branch as the central leader, and retain 3-4 branches with good direction and suitable angle below as the first tier of main branches, removing all the others. After these branches grow strong, in the third to fourth years use the same branch-forcing method as for trunk determination to equip the main branches with secondary branches and a second tier of main branches.

Pruning of Fruiting Jujube Trees

The fruiting renewal stage is mainly about delaying tree senescence and delaying fruiting, so cutting back is mostly used: some drooping skeleton branches are cut back, and other weakened branches are cut back accordingly. Generally, cut back to jujube spur-like buds with strong vitality. After cutting back skeleton branches, new jujube heads are prompted to grow, which can gradually be trained into extended main branches and secondary branches, filling the inner canopy and supplementing space. If renewal branches appear on skeleton branches, one can cut back directly to the renewal branch.

1. Jujube trees in the initial fruiting stage: Pruning of jujube trees in the initial fruiting stage is mainly to reduce nutrient consumption and increase yield, so excessively dense vegetative branches other than the central leader, main and secondary branches, and large fruiting branches should be thinned out; those with space are retained, and the terminal bud is cut off.

2. Jujube trees in the full fruiting stage: Pruning of jujube trees in the full fruiting stage is mainly to maintain good ventilation and light conditions in the canopy, keep the density of branches and leaves appropriate, let fruiting branches bear fruit in large quantities, and carry out planned rejuvenation and renewal of fruiting branch systems, so that fruiting branches maintain a longer fruiting life. First, remove large water sprouts, whorled, crossing, twinned, and overlapping branches. Second, thin and cut back fine, weak branches and excessively dense branches. Third, tip and appropriately cut back large skeleton branches. Fourth, train vigorous fruiting branch systems and fruiting mother branches.

Renewal Pruning of Old Trees

Renewal pruning of old trees is a pruning measure for trees senescent to varying degrees; corresponding renewal pruning measures are adopted according to the number of effective jujube spurs. When renewing old trees, attention must be paid to the relationship between main and subordinate branches, and it should be done in sequence. Cuts must be well coated with grafting wax to prevent the wounds from cracking and rotting from accumulated rainwater. Skeleton branch renewal must be completed in one go and must not be carried out in batches in rotation. Most importantly, renewal pruning should be carried out on the basis of strengthened underground fertilizer and water management.

1. Light renewal: When there are 1000-1500 effective jujube spurs, the method of light cutting back may be adopted, cutting off 1/3 of the total length of each skeleton branch, which can strengthen tree vigor and continue fruiting.

2. Medium renewal: When there are 500-1000 effective jujube spurs, the method of moderate cutting back may be adopted, sawing off 1/2 of the total length at points on each skeleton branch chosen for strong vitality, outward extension, spur-like buds, and latent buds, so as to prompt new branch growth; at the same time strengthen tree management, rest the tree for 1-2 years (without girdling), and tree vigor can be restored for normal fruiting.

3. Heavy renewal: Generally, when there are 300-500 effective jujube spurs, the method of heavy renewal must be adopted, likewise choosing vigorous spurs and latent buds, sawing off 2/3 of each skeleton branch to prompt new branch growth and re-form the canopy; then strengthen management above and below ground, and after resting the tree for 2 years (without girdling) normal fruiting can be restored.