A lemon tree occasionally needs pruning to form a beautiful crown and produce abundant fruit. Here are the essential pruning techniques.
When Should You Prune a Lemon Tree?
The best time for major crown corrections is early spring, around February. Minor corrections can be done throughout the year.
How to Properly Prune a Lemon Tree?
The pruning method depends on the tree’s age and your goals:
- Training Prune: Shape young trees by removing weak branches and trimming the central leader.
- Maintenance Prune: Remove dense, crossing, or dead branches.
- Rejuvenation Prune: For older, sparse trees, cut branches back to 10–15 cm to encourage new growth.
Training Prune for Lemon Trees
Young lemon trees need regular care to develop a balanced crown:
- Cut the strongest central leader back by about one-third and secure it to an upright stake.
- Remove competing branches at their base.
- Select 3–4 main lateral branches spaced around the central leader and shorten these by one-third.
Maintenance Prune for Lemon Trees
For older trees, remove poorly positioned, crossing, or rubbing branches. Branches that have already borne fruit should be cut back by half to promote the growth of new fruiting wood.
Rejuvenation Pruning: Revitalizing Older Lemon Trees
An old, sparsely growing lemon tree can be rejuvenated with a radical pruning in February. Cut all major branches back to 10–15 cm stubs. Ensure that all cuts are clean to prevent infections.
Identifying and Removing Suckers
Suckers from the rootstock (often Bitter Orange) should be removed promptly to prevent them from outgrowing the grafted variety. Young suckers can be torn off; older ones should be cut carefully with a sharp knife.
Care Tips
- Always cut just above a bud.
- Choose a bright, warm location for your tree, protected from direct sunlight.
- After pruning, ensure regular watering and fertilization to promote healthy growth.