\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The shape of the tree is controlled by selecting and maintaining three to five main scaffold limbs arising from the trunk. First, a tree needs pruning to help it survive after planting. Last Updated: November 24, 2020 We love to keep in touch with our customers and talk about what's happening each season at Stark Bro's. Blooms usually start appearing in April, so slightly before this is the best time to prune. Not all of us have acres of land to work with but that doesn’t mean you can't have a plentiful harvest right out of your backyard. To get a new fruit tree off to the right start, virtually nothing is as important as proper pruning. It's not ideal to leave a large wound on the tree during the off-season, but it's better than letting the infection overtake the tree. Prune as shown, balancing growth evenly between the scaffold limbs. Take all of the fruit off the tree during the harvest season. 1. Prune into strong, bearing trees following the chart below. If any small branches are growing out of place or looking dry, then clip them off as soon as you see them. Our commitment to your success runs even deeper than just providing you with healthy, thriving plants… we’re also committed to the rising movement in our country to get back to the garden. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It’s okay to prune these branches throughout the year, including during the winter. Try these easy, inexpensive tips for keeping weeds under control. Late-season pruning, like in the fall, is not a good idea because the wounds might not be fully healed before winter starts. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You may still be reaping the benefits of your summer harvest and have not yet thought about what to plant next. ), A Note from Stark Bro's on Coronavirus (COVID-19) ». References. With the right pruning practices, you’ll ensure that your tree stays healthy and keeps producing delicious citrus fruits. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. More people than ever are interested in growing their own food and the Victory Garden movement is here! More importantly, unpruned trees take longer to bear fruit! If you have to get your face close to the tree, goggles are a good idea too. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This creates a nasty wound on the tree. Look at this beautiful tree … It's best to start the shaping process as early as possible, particularly to balance the top portion with the root system. Wait until a tree is dormant before pulling out the sheers! Read about the Stark Bro's history that spans over 200 years ». A growing legacy since 1816. As the oldest continually operating nursery in the country, we've curated a time-tested collection of over 300 unique varieties of fruit trees, nut trees and berry plants. Common signs of disease include browning leaves, leaves falling off, dark blotches or lesions on the branch and leaves, and discoloration of the branch. After a single growing season, a pruned tree will be bigger than a matching unpruned tree. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You want to keep your tree from becoming too thick and crowded and to keep its height reasonable. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Prune-a-Satsuma-Tree-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Satsuma-Tree-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Prune-a-Satsuma-Tree-Step-1.jpg\/aid12295768-v4-728px-Prune-a-Satsuma-Tree-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"