How to Prune Meyer Lemon Dwarf Trees
Dwarf Meyer lemon trees are perfect for indoor gardening, though they can thrive outdoors in hardiness zones 8 to 11. These trees need full sun. If you're growing them indoors you'll need to supplement the natural light with a fluorescent bulb. Meyer lemon fruit is sweeter than a traditional lemon and displays a canary yellow skin. The lemons and the young blossoms are quite fragrant. You'll need to prune your dwarf Meyer lemon more heavily when it's young to encourage a good branching shape. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Check the branches of your dwarf Meyer lemon tree for dead or damaged branches. If you've moved your tree from outdoors to indoors, you might have scraped some branches during the journey and these should be removed for the health of the tree.
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Cut off dead or damaged branches at their intersection with the main branch. Damaged branches will show a cut or have a blemish from fungus or bacteria. Dead branches will feel hollow to the touch. After you've removed any dead or damaged branches, cleanse your pruning shears with a disinfectant spray.
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Cut off any suckers growing below the graft site, which is identifiable as a vertical scar a few inches above the soil. Suckers will display bright green leaves and will appear between the soil and the graft site. If left unchecked, they will grow vigorously. These are part of the rootstock, not new Meyer lemon shoots.
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Prune off any wispy, thin stems. If the branch looks like it would snap under the weight of a lemon fruit, cut it off.
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Thin out the interior canopy of the tree so that sunlight and air can circulate through the branches. This helps prevent disease and aids in proper fruit ripening. Remove small vertically-growing branches and branches that rub up against other branches.
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Look at the overall tree and decide how you want to shape it. You can trim the tree back severely or you can perform a light trim.
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Tips & Warnings
Meyer lemon fruit ripens in the late winter. Wait until your lemons are ripe before pruning. Harvest your lemon crop and then prune your tree, typically between February and April.
