05-19-2007, 02:01 PM
John,
Probably sooner rather than later. Most citrus bloom in spring from new growth. If you cut them back now you will remove any fruit on the parts you remove, but the plant will put more energy into the fruits that are left, so they will probably be larger. It may also reduce the number that the tree drops off if the crop is too large. However, it could shock it into dropping some fruit?
Pruning now will give the trees the most time to recover before bloom time next year. This should also mean you will have more flowers and less vegetative growth next spring.
The usual advice here in Louisiana is citrus need little or no pruning, but neglect is different.
Watch out for very vigorous new growth, especially near where you remove branches. I try to keep my trees compact and minimize pruning, so I pinch out the tip of very vigorous growth after it has 6 or so leaves to slow it down, make it branch, and redirect some energy into less-vigorous branches. I pinch about 1/16-1/8 inch above a leaf that is on the side of the branch where I want the branch to grow, because the top new bud usually makes the strongest new branch.
Especially near where you remove a branch, do not let 2 or more branches start out right next to each other with a very narrow angle between them. This makes a weak crotch that is much more likely to break with a lot of fruit or in a storm. Leave the new growth that is headed most in the direction you want.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Probably sooner rather than later. Most citrus bloom in spring from new growth. If you cut them back now you will remove any fruit on the parts you remove, but the plant will put more energy into the fruits that are left, so they will probably be larger. It may also reduce the number that the tree drops off if the crop is too large. However, it could shock it into dropping some fruit?
Pruning now will give the trees the most time to recover before bloom time next year. This should also mean you will have more flowers and less vegetative growth next spring.
The usual advice here in Louisiana is citrus need little or no pruning, but neglect is different.
Watch out for very vigorous new growth, especially near where you remove branches. I try to keep my trees compact and minimize pruning, so I pinch out the tip of very vigorous growth after it has 6 or so leaves to slow it down, make it branch, and redirect some energy into less-vigorous branches. I pinch about 1/16-1/8 inch above a leaf that is on the side of the branch where I want the branch to grow, because the top new bud usually makes the strongest new branch.
Especially near where you remove a branch, do not let 2 or more branches start out right next to each other with a very narrow angle between them. This makes a weak crotch that is much more likely to break with a lot of fruit or in a storm. Leave the new growth that is headed most in the direction you want.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
Finally in HPP