How to Prune a Pomelo Tree? Detailed Guide to Pruning Methods and Techniques
Pomelo trees are widely distributed mainly in the southern regions of China, usually growing in hilly areas. Because the fruit of the pomelo tree is high in nutritional value and tastes good, it is also loved by many people. When growing pomelo trees, we need to do a good job of pruning. Reasonable pruning is very beneficial to the yield and fruit quality of pomelo trees. So how should pomelo trees be pruned? Below, the editor brings you the pruning methods for pomelo trees. Let's take a look together!
1. Pruning During the Young Tree Stage
After the pomelo sapling is planted, we should cut and truncate it to set the trunk at a position about 35 cm above its graft union. After the pomelo tree sprouts, select and keep about three new shoots that grow vigorously, are evenly distributed, and are spaced apart from each other as the main branches, and remove the excess. When the tips of the main branches grow to about 40 cm, do the pinching and topping work. Then select and keep about 3 vigorous branches on the main branches as secondary main branches. Among them, a certain spacing should be kept between the main branches and the secondary main branches to ensure that the lateral branches can receive sufficient light. Then some branches and buds that cross, overlap, or disrupt the tree shape should also be removed in time.
2. Pruning During the Fruiting Stage
When a pomelo tree is fruiting, generally the inner canopy branches have relatively strong fruiting ability. Therefore, for trees that have just begun to bear fruit, the pruning intensity should be light, and heavy pruning should not be used. Usually, it is enough to cut off only some branches that are not suitable for growing too long and branches with pests and diseases, while keeping more inner canopy branches, and the fruiting mother branches must not be pruned. For adult trees, because the crown has basically taken shape, the main pruning targets are the lateral branches on the scaffold branches and other twigs. This kind of pruning is mainly to ensure that the growth and fruiting of the pomelo tree can proceed in a balanced way. For strong trees, appropriate heavy pruning should be carried out, short pruning should be reduced, and some branches that grow too long and too dense should be thinned out, while some drooping branches should be kept to increase the number of flowers and fruits of the fruit tree. Then, for trees with weaker growth, the pruning principle should be to remove the weak and keep the strong, and more leaf and fruit branches should be retained.
3. Pruning During the Aging Stage
When a pomelo tree begins to enter the aging stage, it should be carried out before and after the growth of spring shoots and in May-June. For pruning old trees, pruning to expose the framework should be the main approach. When renewing branches, keep an appropriate amount of main branches and secondary main branches. All lateral branches within 4 years of age on the crown should be cut off, and no leaves should be retained on the crown, so as to ensure the growth of strong shoots. Then, after sprouting and renewal, do a good job of bud removal and shoot control. After about two years, a new crown can be formed and bear fruit again. Finally, for some declining branches that still have fruiting ability, appropriate rotational renewal can be carried out, and all renewal should be completed within three years.
The above is a brief introduction to the pruning methods for pomelo trees. When pruning pomelo trees, we must pay attention to reasonably adjusting the pruning methods according to the growth stage of the pomelo tree, ensuring normal growth of the pomelo tree and improving air and light penetration, so as to ensure the yield and quality of the pomelo tree. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!