When to Prune a Jujube Tree? A Detailed Guide to Pruning Times and Methods

The jujube tree is a relatively small tree-type fruit tree. In cultivation, to balance the relationship between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, the tree body often needs pruning, but pruning also has other benefits. Pruning generally has its own times and periods and cannot be done at will; there are certain methods, mainly methods that are better for the tree body. Now let's take a look at the methods for reasonable pruning.

1. Pruning of young trees

In the first year, the young tree is planted out, and although it is just a small sapling, it still has pruning requirements. Generally, after planting, the trunk should first be headed to establish the main stem, usually heading at 70 cm above the ground. Side branches within the headed portion should be removed, while branches on the upper part should be retained, roughly 4 to 5 branches. The top is cut off at the heading point to stimulate new branches to serve as main branches; in addition, side branches can also be cut back short, so that the plant grows more vigorously. Afterward, shaping should be carried out; generally main branches are cut back short leaving 50 cm, secondary branches should be pinched, excess branches removed, branches left in an alternating arrangement, increasing level by level.

2. Pruning before flowering

Is the flower quantity high and the fruit set high, but with a lot of fruit drop? Therefore, reasonable pruning should be done before flowering to improve the tree's nutrition and preserve flowers and fruit. In May, remove excess leaf buds and newly emerged shoots. Pruning is mainly done before flower buds appear. Vigorously growing jujube heads need to be removed, mainly retaining skeletal branches and bearing branches; some auxiliary nurturing branches can be removed to improve ventilation and light penetration, promote nutrient accumulation, and avoid flower and fruit drop.

3. Pruning during the fruiting period

For trees that are bearing fruit, generally having grown for several years, the canopy is relatively full and there are many branches, but old branches can be cut back short to stimulate new branches, and strong new shoots should also be selected and retained. Replacing old branches in this way can ensure the fruiting quantity. If the canopy is too large and dense without ventilation, some weak branches, drooping branches, crossing branches, and internal interlaced branches should be removed. Ensure a good tree shape and reduce nutrient consumption. Extension branches should be pinched to retain nutrition for fruiting. Some peripheral extending branches should be removed as they disrupt the tree shape. Bearing branch groups should be renewed year by year.

4. Pruning after fruit harvest

After the fruit is picked, the tree body has already consumed most of its nutrients for fruiting, so nutrients need to be accumulated to ensure tree vigor. Generally, some dead branches, or old branches that do not bear fruit, and poorly growing branches should be cut off; drooping main branches should be tightened, and drooping outer branches can be cut back short. At this time, if new shoots still emerge, they must be thinned out promptly, but after supplementary fertilization, strong ones can be selected and retained.

Jujube tree pruning is mainly carried out along with the growth period. Heading and shaping the young tree is the main pruning task; pruning during the flowering and fruiting period is mainly to preserve flowers and fruit and increase the fruit-setting rate. Cleaning up branches after fruit harvest is mainly to maintain tree vigor.