IN THE ORCHARD
In recent years it has been
proved that pruning citrus can
On those branches not
be beneficial for fruit
required as part of the
production when it is done in
foundation, cut each one
such a way as to let more
back to four buds. Shorten
pruned shoots after harvesting light penetrate the canopy of
the tree. The conventional
the fruit in the late summer.
wisdom is to always prune
This will encourage the new
after fruiting, but there have
season's growth. It is also
been experiments in comhelpful to remove any
mercial orchard conditions
branches that are not
which prove that lemon trees
producing plums.
pruned in summer showed an
K Lemon trees
increase in yield. Carry out
many smaller branch
prunings, rather than
removing just a few larger
branches. Aim to have four to
six well-positioned, scaffold
branches by the first year of
bearing. Scaffold branches are
branches that grow laterally
from a tree trunk and that
provide the framework of the
mature tree. In subsequent
years, remove 'extra' scaffold
branches and thorny water
shoots, as well as any suckers.
K Aftercare
From page 40
After pruning, paint the large