The lemon tree or Citrus Limonum, is a fruit tree from the citrus family, very popular around the world, especially in the Mediterranean region. It can grow up to 4 meters tall, usually has thorns, and a very open and branched crown. It is an evergreen tree and stays green all year round. Its flowers, known as orange blossoms (like those of the orange tree), are pinkish white and have a large number of stamens. Depending on the variety, they can grow either individually or in clusters. Both the productivity and health of the lemon tree greatly depend on proper pruning. Below we outline the most important points to consider when pruning a lemon tree.
PRUNING SEASON
- Lemon tree pruning should be done before fruiting, between January and February, or after harvesting the fruits, that is, between June and July.
- When the lemon tree is young, it can be pruned at any time of the year, but it’s not advisable to prune a lemon tree under 3 years old.
- Be very careful not to prune during frost season.
PRUNING FREQUENCY
One pruning per year should be carried out.
TOOLS NEEDED FOR LEMON TREE PRUNING
- Use sharp and clean pruning tools to avoid damaging the tree. Pruning shears, hand saws, and long-handled pruners are useful.
- Thicker branches cannot be cut with pruning shears; they must be sawn with a hand saw or small battery-powered chainsaws like the Altuna AB200. This type of chainsaw, being small and very lightweight, can be attached to a pole (long aluminum bar), allowing you to cut the highest branches (high pruning) directly from the ground, without the need for a ladder.
- In this link you can download a complete catalog of Altuna pruning tools.
STEPS TO PRUNE A LEMON TREE
These are the steps to follow to properly prune a lemon tree:
- Remove and prune the branches that are not useful, such as dead, diseased, or damaged branches, and those that go nowhere.
- Prune all lower branches, maintaining the lemon tree’s symmetry. Keeping a balanced tree is essential. You should also control any suckers growing around the trunk that absorb the sap the tree needs to fruit and grow healthily. Also remove crossed branches or those growing inward to improve air circulation and light penetration.
- Branch selection: choose the strongest branches, as they will bear the fruit. Once these main branches are selected, the goal is to keep the trunk and selected branches in perfect condition. To do this, prune any branches or shoots growing from them. Make sure not to damage or remove the main structural branches of the tree.
- Pinching: trim the tips of branches coming from the three main ones. Cut back the weaker parts and leave the stronger ones. Each cut should be approximately 20 cm long.
From this link you can view the complete catalog of BATTERY-POWERED PRUNING TOOLS BY ALTUNA and MANUAL PRUNING TOOLS BY ALTUNA. In this catalog you will find all types of one-hand, two-hand, and electric pruning shears with their technical specifications, maximum branch thickness capacity, etc. You will also find information about pruning saws and pruning poles.
VIDEO: HOW TO PRUNE A LEMON TREE
In this video we show a pruning demonstration of a lemon tree using the electric shear Altuna AB37.
OTHER TIPS
Other tips to keep in mind when pruning your lemon tree:
- Do not prune lemon trees under 3 years old.
- Never prune during frost season.
- The pruning of a mature lemon tree will be minimal, as long as the tree is in good condition. Only if the lemon tree is weak or diseased will it require more aggressive pruning.
- Prune the first flowers and fruits the tree produces to ensure future harvests are more abundant and of better quality.
- Avoid excessive branching in the crown, as too many branches can block sunlight, which is essential for the tree’s proper growth.
- Prune branch by branch, be patient, and if in doubt, ask a professional or visit a garden center for advice.
Remember to adapt pruning to the specific needs of your lemon tree and local growing conditions. Also note that heavy pruning can affect fruit production in the short term, but will promote healthier, more sustainable growth in the long term. From this link you can view the complete catalog of BATTERY-POWERED PRUNING TOOLS BY ALTUNA and MANUAL PRUNING TOOLS BY ALTUNA. In this catalog you will find all types of one-hand, two-hand, and electric pruning shears with their technical specifications, maximum branch thickness capacity, etc. You will also find information about pruning saws and pruning poles.
