How to Prune the Roots of Orange Trees

Orange trees can be kept small in containers.

If you grow orange trees in containers, the containers limit the maximum size to which those trees can grow due to the restriction of the tree roots. If you would like to limit the size even further, you can prune the roots of orange trees to limit the growth of the roots, which, in turn, inhibits the growth of the trees. Pruning the roots of orange trees also helps maintain the health of the plants. The technique is similar to that used for bonsai.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Spade
• Garden hose or sink
• Clean knife
• Potting mix

Instructions

1. Choose a shady location, such as an open garage or a porch. Lay newspaper out over the space where you want to prune the orange tree roots.

2. Run a spade along the inside edge of the container in which the orange tree is planted to loosen the soil around the edges. Grasp the orange tree at the base of the trunk, right above the soil, and tilt the container upside down. If the tree doesn’t slide out by itself, pull gently on the trunk to dislodge the tree from the container.

3. Brush as much of the soil as you can from the roots of the orange tree with your hand. Let the soil fall onto the newspaper for easy disposal.

4. Spray the roots of the orange tree with a garden hose or place the base of the tree into a sink with running water. Remove as much soil as possible.

5. Cut off any roots that appear rotted or shriveled. If you want to limit the size of the orange tree, cut each root on the tree back by approximately one third of its length with a sharp knife.

6. Put new potting mix, or garden soil mixed with compost, into the orange tree’s container. Make a hole in the center of the mix large enough for the bottom of the tree and put the tree back into the container. Push the soil back around the roots of the tree and firm the soil lightly against the base of the trunk to make sure the tree stays straight.

7. Water the tree until the soil is moist all the way through and water starts to flow out the bottom of the container. Return to your normal care routine for the tree.

References

• Green Harvest: Organic Citrus Care
• Oregon State University; How to Grow a Potted Tree on Your Patio or Porch; Carol Savonen