The Best Time to Prune Citrus Trees

Prune lemon or other citrus in spring.

Citrus trees are easy to grow in warmer climate zones. If you live farther north, you can grow citrus in a large container and bring it indoors before fall's first frost. You may need to prune a citrus tree for various reasons.

After the Final Spring Frost

Citrus trees don't mind pruning if you want to keep yours compact and well shaped. Wait until after the final spring frost to give your tree a pruning, however. At that time, cut off any foliage that has winter frost damage and shape your tree as you want it. Always remove water sprouts from the tree's base.

In Summer

You can also prune your citrus tree in summer, but be careful not to remove an excessive amount of upper foliage because the tree might become sunburned. If your tree has flowers, avoid pruning them to ensure the largest possible harvest of fruit later in the year.

Don't Prune in Fall or Winter

If you prune a citrus tree in fall or winter, the tender new growth that emerges below cuts will often sustain frost damage. Also, many types of citrus fruit ripen in winter, so if you prune fruit before it's ripe, you'll have a smaller harvest.

References

• Purdue University: Orange
• University of Arizona: Pruning Citrus