When to Prune Grapefruit Trees

Grapefruit trees are pruned in early winter

Young citrus trees do not require extensive pruning when they are brought home from the garden center. Three to five scaffolding branches should have already been formed and should be ready to grow. Trunk sprouts are removed by hand or pruning shears several times a year during the first two years. Occasional root sprouts appear and are easily removed. Root sprouts have hardened pointed spines by the time they are three inches in height and are difficult to handle. Minor pruning of broken and frost-damaged limbs as they occur contributes to the overall health of the tree.

Control Tree Size

Extensive pruning makes fruit more accessible to pick. Grapefruit trees that aren't pruned produce larger yields but may be difficult to harvest. Pruning controls tree shape and size. Trees are hedged and topped, creating a square shape with the tree canopy extending to the ground. Fruit-producing tree limbs are easily accessible without the use of a ladder or fruit picking equipment. Home gardeners also control tree size to prevent excess ripe fruit dropping and rotting on the ground.

Season and Cycle

Prune grapefruit just prior to bloom or just after fruit set in early winter. Fruit develops to maturity in five to 18 months. Pruning after fruit set allows the tree time to adjust its fruit load during the summer fruit drop. Ninety-nine percent of grapefruit flowers do not develop into fruit. Frequent light pruning every two to three years is optimum. Avoid late-season pruning because tender new growth is frost-sensitive.

Equipment

A heavy-duty long-handled pruner with a curved blade works best on young citrus trees. If the tree is pruned regularly and not allowed to attain its full height, long handled pruners are sufficient to cut the branches. Pruning a mature grapefruit tree for the first time requires professional tree cutting equipment.The limbs are two to four inches in diameter at that point. Commercial growers use large rotating blade windmill hedgers and toppers to trim large citrus groves.

Method

Well-pruned grapefruit trees are 13 to 15 feet in height at the center and 10 to 12 feet at each shoulder area. Branches are allowed to grow as close to the ground as possible. All branches that cross each other, or are diseased or broken, are pruned out of the center area. Light and space in the tree's center facilitates air circulation and ease of access. Once the tree's shape is established, continue to reshape it every two years.

References

• Texas A&M University Extension: Pruning Citrus
• Alabama Cooperative Extension: Citrus for Southern & Coastal Alabama
• Sunkist: How Citrus Trees are Grown

Resources

• UC Davis: The California Backyard Orchard: Citrus