Hi,
Last year I planted a lemon seed and have watched it grow. Until now ive just been pleased to see it growing as id seen so many articles that said it wouldn't!!
I do know that it needs pruning but have never prunned anything before and the thought of it scares me!
Can anyone tell me when you should prune and what to do?
My tree is 22 inches (56cm) high.
Thanks
Danni
Hello Danni, here is my outline on pruning to form a shapely lemon bush. For finer detail I would advise further reading specifically for citrus.
Let it get to at least around 100cm in height and then prune it back to approx 60cm from the soil surface and immediately above a leaf. It will then produce laterals which should be reduced to 3. When these grow sufficiently prune each back to 25-30cm. Laterals will in turn grow from these and they need to be prune back by a around a third of their length where doing so you can see that it will form a balanced bush shape. All subsequent growths are tip pruned annually.
Let it get to at least around 100cm in height and then prune it back to approx 60cm from the soil surface and immediately above a leaf. It will then produce laterals which should be reduced to 3. When these grow sufficiently prune each back to 25-30cm. Laterals will in turn grow from these and they need to be prune back by a around a third of their length where doing so you can see that it will form a balanced bush shape. All subsequent growths are tip pruned annually.
Citrus trees do not need pruning.
"With few exceptions, citrus trees will develop and maintain their natural shape with little or no training or pruning." - from University of Florida Horticultural web site. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS118
Do a little research and you will see that most do not recommend pruning of citrus under normal circumstances.
If you would like to do it for aesthetic reasons, by all means prune away.
"With few exceptions, citrus trees will develop and maintain their natural shape with little or no training or pruning." - from University of Florida Horticultural web site. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS118
Do a little research and you will see that most do not recommend pruning of citrus under normal circumstances.
If you would like to do it for aesthetic reasons, by all means prune away.
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