How to Prune a Dwarf Lemon Tree

The Meyer lemon is shaped more like an orange, with an orangish color tone.

The Meyer lemon and the eureka lemon trees are commonly grown throughout North America as the choice dwarf citrus for all climates. In areas with cold winters, they must be brought inside during the winter as they go dormant at 54 degrees F. They produce fruit almost year-round, so pruning the tree means a loss of some fruit. These citrus varieties, although of small stature, can still reach 12 feet tall. Reducing the size of the tree is one reason to prune, the other is to remove any branches that are not healthy, or are dead.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp pruning shears
• Heavy garden gloves

Instructions

How to Prune a Dwarf Lemon Tree

1. Root prune the citrus every four to five years, re-potting into a 10- to 15-gallon container each time. Root pruning is an effective method of keeping the tree small enough for the pot. When re-potting, spread out the roots and clip off the last inch of the roots with sharp garden shears or pruners. The lemon tree has thorns, so heavy gloves are advisable.

2. Cut selective branches of the lemon tree with sharp pruners, again only every four to five years. Cut about 1/4 of an inch above a bud that points to the outside of the plant rather than inside. Make a slightly slanting cut parallel to the slant of the bud below the cut. This ensures branching is outward and open rather than crowding to the inside of the tree. Sharp pruners help you avoid crushed or ragged cuts which encourage disease. Every healthy branch that is cut is a sacrifice of fragrant blossoms and fruit so only remove crowded crossover branches, dead limbs, or to control the overall height of the tree.

3. Cut off all shoots from the root or lower stem forming in the soil around the base of the lemon tree. All fruit trees eventually push up these sprouts, known as suckers, from the rootstock and these need to be cut back as they rob the tree of food. Cut off right at soil level.

Tips & Warnings

• Although the eureka and Meyer lemon trees can take brief periods of cold weather, they will die back with extended periods of freezing weather. If they have been exposed to a freeze and look dead in the spring, prune all dead branches back to 6 to 8 inches. Water and keep in a warm sunny place over the following summer and the tree may show new growth.

• Avoid pruning unnecessarily. The dwarf lemon varieties need only very light pruning.

References

• "Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening"; J.I. Rodale; 1970
• "Sunset Western Garden Book"; Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine; 1995
• Peaceful Valley: How to Grow Citrus Trees

Resources

• AgrLife Extension: Home Fruit Production--Citrus