Citrus Pruning: 1. Pruning Principles

Audio-visual learning media is used by growers, farm and packhouse managers, learning providers, extension personnel, and anyone else that needs an effective way of developing and reinforcing skills and knowledge on particular aspects of citrus production. Audio-visual media is developed for particular aspects of the citrus value chain.
The Citrus Pruning audio-visual material covers aspects of pruning as an essential production practice on citrus farms. Around South Africa, citrus pruning strategies vary greatly. No matter the pruning strategy, the same factors, expected outcomes and limitations are in play across the board.

[@googoolfool]

One of the best and most informative videos about citrus.

[@anr1682]

Excellent and detailed video. 😊 Thank you.

[@johnyuboco8346]

Hi. I'm from the Philippines and farm Calamondin. This infomation is much appreciated.

[@mohamoudalibullale3837]

This is really wonderful and very useful

[@aderitonhari4982]

Very usefull, Keep up

[@charismabambina5747]

I grow citrus and i love it

[@nancymadrid934]

Thanks for the informative video, I look forward to seeing more of them. I purchased a home with 2 very old lemon trees that produce hundreds of huge juicy lemons. The trees appeared to have not been pruned in decade(s), yet still produced well. The branches covered the ground so densely you couldn't see the ground, and I immediately had to prune a lot at once because there were issues with many snakes on the property. I spread out the other pruning over the next few years because it seemed I was cutting away the entire tree. Last year right before what would've been a great harvest, a sudden deep freeze came that ruined most of the harvest, and caused both trees to loose all the leaves. I read to prune and feed minimally for the next year, and the leaves partially returned. l only had 6 lemons this year, and although they're still slightly green, I picked them because we are facing 3 more days of deep freeze with warmth into the 30's during the day. I covered the smaller one the best I could, and the taller one I wrapped the trunk and major branches. I want to save these trees, and if I can, I also want to move them. I'd appreciate any suggestions you can offer. Thank you. Happy New Year.

[@citrusacademy8852]

Dear Nancy, thanks for your message. Please let us know where you live so that we can be best able to assist.

[@anveshanfarms5618]

very useful. very well explained.

[@saadnarejo922]

Excellent work

[@rajahua6268]

Wish there is more on how and what to prune shown in the video.

[@phalalitvchannel]

It could apply for lime in Vietnam. That's great!

[@warriorworld1502]

superb info

[@arbd24edu]

Hi. I am from Bangladesh. I am going to start cultivating lemons

[@richgarden]

How's it going?

[@280zGaitan]

Your Feedback is appreciated. My orange tree gave fruit but this year they did not ripe. The fruit is still on the tree plenty of them. Also this year the fruit was smaller in size. I am located in southern California (San Fernando valley) . I does require pruning. The tree was already here when I bought the house. Tree is tall and goes higher than the house by about 3 feet. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Hi, and thanks for your question. Yes, it sounds as though your tree needs rather radical pruning. Please watch the Pruning Principles and Pruning Practices videos, and apply those principles. Do not prune too much in one year, you may do permanent damage to the tree, but rather look to bring down the height over three to four years. On the other hand, the other cause of declining production can very well be tree age. Also make sure that the tree gets enough water, and that it is fertilized after it bears fruit.

[@farman892]

Do you people recommend, taking a stick from parent stock through airlayering and then graft it with a new good variety. It takes a lot of time from a seed to pencil size stick...

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Hi, Farman, thanks for your question. The best practices for propagating citrus trees through budding is demonstrated in our Citrus Propagation Practices video. If you want to use other methods to grow rootstock plants than from seed, it is up to you, but it will not be done in commercial tree production.

[@lornasalem4729]

What do you do if your citrus has brach with torns

[@citrusacademy8852]

Dear Lorna, thanks for your enquiry. Certain citrus types, most notably lemons, are thorny, and this can be a real pain (literally!) when pruning. The best advice is to wear thick, long PVC gloves to protect your hands and forearms, and to use loppers or a long pruning saw rather than pruning shears if you need to cut branches inside the tree canopy. It also helps to keep up with your annual winter and summer pruning, so that the inside of the canopy does not become dense and overgrown. I hope this helps, please feel free to get in touch if there is anything else that we can assist you with.

[@Blinking-girl]

Can it be possible to train plant shoots by trellis method in citrus particularly aside lime in high temperature area.

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Trellising in citrus has been experimented with, but it has not been successful in the South African production context. We have milder temperatures, however, and it may make sense to try it out in hotter areas!

[@Blinking-girl]

@@CitrusAcademy1 thanks

[@harmanbrar4619]

Please give the name of would sealant, in India we use Bordeaux paint

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Sorry, Harman, we are not familiar with individual products and do not promote brands. You will have to look for the best products in your area.

[@frankmitchell4786]

Well Neem oil work

[@sdafnwkfjnawefierjm]

Can you tell me why it does not have a citrus flower and fruit every year

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Some citrus types and cultivars are alternate bearing, meaning that if they are left to their own devices, they will bear only every second year. In commercial production, cultural practices, such as pruning and fertilisation, are used to get trees to bear fruit every year.

[@benny9041]

I cut off all leaves on my kumquat and topped it off 2 ft high. Will it survive?

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Hi, Benjamin. It sounds rather radical, but it should grow shoots again as long as the remaining woody stem still had some buds. It will take a long time to develop a trunk again, though, except if you graft a new bud onto the stump. Please have a look at the Citrus Propagation Practices video.

[@benny9041]

@@CitrusAcademy1 it did grow back! Thanks!

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

Would you say that finger limes require different pruning techniques?

[@CitrusAcademy1]

We are not familiar with finger limes in South Africa, but the principles of pruning - light interception, removing deadwood, simplifying plumbing - should be applicable to all types of citrus. It would be best, however, to contact a local expert for advice.

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

@@CitrusAcademy1 Thank you for replying 😊 I have four finger lime cultivars, bought in August. Pruned them for the first time today after letting them grow from the skinny little twigs that they were. I have to say, your video definitely helped me make some tough cuts. Water shoots tend to look nice and healthy to newbies like me, but I've removed most of them. I noticed today that finger limes tend to grow three to four shoots from the same point on a branch. They're not quite like the kaffir limes and calamansis that we're used to growing here in Southeast Asia. Their growth is more... Wild and unpredictable.

[@NeverFall93]

Hello from Romania. My name is Dragos, I'm a student and I have a lemontree which I'm growing indoor under some metal halide bulbs. I want to do some cuttings but I'm not so sure where because it has a weird shape ( and by that I mean it has numerous crotches and branches starting from near the soil ). Can I send you some pictures and get an advice?

[@citrusacademy8852]

Hello Dragos. Thank you for your interest. Our Propagation video might help you. You will find it here, on our channel. Alternatively, you are welcome to email photographs to our General manager, and she will assist where she can. [e-mail]. Regards, Citrus Academy.

[@luiscabral7102]

can I graft a young avocado bud on an old trunk

[@citrusacademy8852]

Dear Luis, thank you for your enquiry. We focus on citrus production, and I am not sure what can or cannot be done with avos. I suggest you contact the technical manager of the SA Avo Grower Association, Elsje Joubert at 079 517 2005 or [e-mail].

[@luiscabral7102]

Thank you

[@scottholmes8374]

No you can not avocado is a stone fruit citrus are a pip fruit different family of fruit

[@JesusisLord78]

Nice don't you guys give short courses for citrus growing please

[@CitrusAcademy1]

Please visit the Citrus Academy website for more information on our short/e-learning courses. citrusacademy.org.za/register-for-a-course/

[@shayoung7686]

If the tree infect with citrus greening, whole tree should bu removed

[@CitrusAcademy1]

This is true if a tree is infected with Asian Greening, aka Huanglongbing. However, African Greening disease spreads slower through the tree and removing the infected limb can save the rest of the tree.

[@anjumaziz8562]

why is foreman is Always whittle and worker black. pl sahre.

[@abdeelhadikarkouch8664]

The big probleme that you have is pruning.. I'm professional at pruning

[@valeriesanchez3074]

Prunes are sooooooo nasty 😭🥵😱