Did I overprune? Can I fix it?
Hi! I have four fruit trees and I felt my grapefruit tree was getting too overgrown, and needed some pruning. I mostly just wanted to get rid of the lower canopy which was touching the ground, and the upper as it was getting too tall. I realized it was close to summer (Sacramento, where it gets to be 90-110 tops), so I left most of the upper canopy to try to protect it from the sun.
However, I’m worried I cut too much away. The tree was quite overgrown and it was hard getting to dead branches with so much in the way. I did leave some fruit producing branches but I’m worried with the way I pruned I may have cut away any possibility of the lower branches growing anything new.
Could someone help? I attached some before and after pictures, given the before picture was from three years ago so it got a bit more grown than that. Thanks!
Comments (23)
Lemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
2 years ago
evdesert 9B Indio, CA
2 years agoI don’t think you have over pruned your tree, however, it is fairly late in the season and as lemon lime above stated, you may need to protect any sun exposed branches with a white wash. Afternoon sun that is hitting the exposed trunk/ branches can burn the sensitive thin bark on citrus trees, a 50/50 mix of water with white latex paint works very well to protect your tree.
On another note, can you take a closer picture of the branch with the arrow pointing at it below? It looks to me like it may be a root stock sucker that has grown as another branch of your tree and may need to be removed.
see edited photo.
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Comments (8)Thanks for the response! I mean, I think they were dead. If there was only one or two dried and shriveled leaves I would just cut those. But there were quite a few branches where ever single one was brown and dry and crispy. I wonder why it’s doing this. Could it be the moving stress? it’s by a south facing window with filtered light through the blinds, a humidifier running 24/7 right next to it, only water with filtered water when the top few inches of soil are dry. And I used a cactus / citrus / palm organic mix and the pot has a drainage hole. These guys are supposed to be hardy, if I can’t manage him I don’t think I can manage any plants :( also, just out of curiosity, does the after picture look over-pruned or cleaned up? I feel like it’s a fine line....See MoreI want to know how I can fix these floors on budget solution?
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2 years ago
HU-151453089
2 years agoThanks for the replies. I noticed it too, but it seemed so old and a part of the canopy I didn’t think to remove it. I attached some photos.
Ken B Zone 7
2 years agoHU-151453089
2 years agoevdesert 9B Indio, CA
2 years agoHU-151453089
2 years agoevdesert 9B Indio, CA
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoYes they will grow new branches. Just keep watering, feeding and treating your tree like you do every season and it will sprout new growth from near the terminal end of the branches where you cut them. You may still want to white wash the branches most exposed to the sun, but don’t worry the new branches will grow right through that paint. Some before and after pics of my grapefruit tree trim.
Before
Rio Red Grapefruit Tree · More Info
After
Rio Red Grapefruit Tree · More Info
EvanHU-151453089
2 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
2 years agoHU-151453089
2 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
2 years agoHU-151453089
2 years agoWell this is how I white washed it. Not quite as full as I thought it would turn out, but it seems the 1:1 ratio of paint to water was way too much water. Had to buy another quart to thicken it up and I don’t think it helped all that much. I did notice the paint seemed to form like a layer or wax like layer over the wood, so hopefully that’s the point. I used interior white latex.
evdesert 9B Indio, CA
2 years agoIt’s not enough. I usually do 2 or 3 coats to make sure it’s on there thick enough. It should look like it’s painted white when you’re done.
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