How & When to prune my orange tree ?

by Mili

Dear Mili,

thank you for asking. orange (citrus) trees are easy to maintain, in fact some people said that there is no reason pruning them what so ever.

those trees are strong and will keep producing fruits at all conditions. well that's true but you can get better results even with just some basics pruning routine and ill explain how.

with your permission lets start with why to prune orange tree, before ill dive in to the when and how.

there are 3 reasons why you should prune your orange trees. please note that I've all ready wrote under each section "when to prune". after all we want to get efficiency


Reasons for pruning :

1) Trimming - which means prune and remove green leaves and and stems that do not fit in the form of the tree. lets say you want to reduce the capacity of you Clementine canopy. that's trimming. keep in mind that if you have plans to Trim, it will be Wiser to Waite after blooming ends other wise you you'll miss the benefit of fruits. When? during the whole year.

2) Dilution - which means prune and remove branches from the inner part of the tree or what i call "opening a window". you'll use that kind of pruning once a year at late fall as part of routine preparations for winter. the main purpose for Dilution pruning would be to allow fresh air stream flow with inside the tree main stems and trunk. it will increase sunlight penetration. both, air circulation and little sunlight are all ways good and healthy for citrus trees. (all though citrus trunk don't like the sun so much so dilution pruning must be planed a head). When? late fall.
*** in order to explain how ill need a picture of your orange tree.
that kind of pruning is kind of a Bonus so don't feel you'll damage your orange tree if you won't do Dilution pruning every year.

3)Routine pruning, means prune all those shoots that coming out specially those who grow on the main trunk. twigs (dried dead small branches) when? during the whole year!

4)Skirt pruning - quite simple, all ways try to avoid from the leaves touching the ground. use your hand pruners to keep the leaves at least 10inches away from the ground. When? all year round.

BTW: those basics can serve you for all citrus tree.

enjoy your little orchard (-: !

hope i was helpful. all ways here to help!

Eyal.