Pruning Technique Essentials for Citrus Trees of Different Ages
Citrus, also called mandarin orange, is a fruit of the Rutaceae family and is very popular in China. Now that winter has arrived, citrus has entered its peak season, and growers are harvesting one after another. However, many people find that their own yields are very low. In fact, part of the reason is that pruning work has not been done properly. Citrus trees at different growth stages require different pruning methods. So let us introduce them to you below!
1. Pruning of young trees
During the young tree stage, citrus grows vigorously, so our pruning goal is mainly to stimulate new shoots, cultivate strong mother branches, and enlarge the canopy. At this stage, light pruning is the main approach. First, remove diseased, pest-infested and leggy branches from the tree, then reasonably thin out an appropriate number of dense branches to prevent excessive nutrient consumption, weakened tree vigor, and pest and disease problems. Then, in summer and autumn, do the pinching (topping) work: when the leggy summer and autumn shoots grow to 9 leaves, pinch them to promote branching. Finally, appropriately remove buds and thin flowers to set fruit reasonably.
2. Trees in the initial fruiting stage
The initial fruiting stage of citrus mainly runs from the year before the first fruit set to the full fruiting stage. At this time, the canopy is still growing continuously and the tree vigor is relatively strong. The tree is quite sensitive to branch pruning, so in order to shape the canopy as early as possible, pruning should still aim at developing the tree form. Focus on cultivating fruiting mother branches to ensure the flowering and fruiting rate the following year, then gradually increase the amount of pruning as the tree ages. Remove summer shoots promptly to promote fruit set, then cut back the extension branches and pinch appropriately. In winter, cut back the fruiting branches to promote the sprouting of spring shoots the following spring, and then reasonably compress and prune the fruiting branch groups.
3. Pruning of trees in full fruiting stage
In the full fruiting stage, the growth of the citrus tree has gradually balanced out. Basically, both the inside and outside of the tree can bear fruit, and the annual fruit load gradually increases. However, after about 5-6 years, the tree vigor gradually weakens, the sprouting of summer and autumn shoots is hindered, and spring shoots become dominant. The fruiting capacity of the fruiting branch groups also declines greatly. If pruning is not done well, alternate bearing (on-year and off-year) is very likely to occur. Therefore, during the full fruiting stage, renew the fruiting branch groups in time, cultivate new strong fruiting mother branches, adjust the ratio of flower and fruit branches, and extend the full fruiting period. Carry out measures such as bud removal, pinching, thinning and renewal pruning, continuously increase the amount of pruning as the citrus tree grows older, and do a good job of preventing alternate bearing.
4. Pruning of aging trees
Over time, citrus trees gradually age. Some trees do not age naturally but decline due to overly dense planting, damage from pests and diseases, and improper management. Such trees have poor sprouting ability and low yields. However, by only strengthening management, doing a good job of pest and disease control, and pruning for the purpose of renewal to promote the sprouting of latent buds, their vigor can be effectively restored. First, heavily prune and cut back the branches to promote the sprouting of new shoots, then remove excess shoots, pinch the leggy branches, and cultivate a new canopy. In this way, vigor can be restored and the fruit load increased.
It should be noted that for some aging trees that can no longer regain their vigor, they should be removed in time to avoid consuming too many nutrients. The shaping and pruning work of citrus is very important and has a great impact on the growth of citrus, so everyone must pay close attention to it and do a good job of pruning citrus trees at different growth stages. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for your reading and support.