This is the secret that differentiates hobby gardeners from harvest heroes…
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceMost people assume the reason for pruning trees is to make them looks nice. But pruning is much more powerful than that! There is a specific time after the harvest when certain cuts can change the *very DNA* of the tree to focus on growing more fruit and not more leaves. If you don't make these cuts, you could be missing out on hundreds of pounds of fruit!
Save this article for later so you don't lose it. Enter your email and I'll send it to you now—plus you'll get my favorite backyard birding tips delivered to your inbox.
The magic happens because freshly harvested trees enter a brief ‘decision-making’ phase for how they will allocate energy for next year. Prune during this window, and you trigger hormonal shifts where the trees are flooded with fruit-producing compounds instead of growth hormones.
1. Apricot Trees
As soon as the summer harvest ends and while the wood is still soft from the season, begin the pruning process. Start with diseased branches as these are the priority, then remove smaller branches in order to improve airflow. This helps the tree focus on next year's growing season and not late season growth.
2. Avocado Trees
After harvest, cut the tallest branches back to around 12 feet so that all the fruit is within picking reach. Avocados respond well to a light pruning that will open up the canopy without shocking the tree. This sort of height management encourages the tree to put energy into growing lateral fruit-bearing branches rather than vertical ones.
3. Fig Trees
During winter dormancy, instead of suckers, crossing branches that compete for nutrients should be removed. Figs fruit on new wood. Therefore, winter pruning encourages new growth to be fruitful the following season. Aim for an open center to enhance sunlight penetration.
Get our free Hummingbird Attraction Guide! Plus, we'll send you our best tips for attracting more birds to your yard.
4. Grapefruit Trees
Right after harvesting, it's best to do a light trim by shaping it to size and removing dead wood. Be gentle with your cuts as heavy pruning can affect your citrus trees. Just be sure the cuts you make improve airflow and light access because your trees will be able to set more fruit next year.
5. Guava Trees
After the spring or autumn harvest, remove the water sprouts and suckers that steal the trees' energy for fruit production. Guava trees are vigorous growers, so keeping them focused on fruit production rather than excessive foliage will help reduce problems with poor air circulation and pests that excessive foliage encourages.
6. Kumquat Trees
Post-harvest pruning should be minimal such as maintaining the shape of the tree and removing damaged branches. Since kumquats naturally remain compact, excessive pruning may actually reduce the amount of fruit produced. Aim to improve airflow in the center of the tree.
7. Lemon Trees
Once the harvest is done, cut back the old woody stems, but leave the younger, more pliable branches that will be used for fruiting. For easy access when picking, keep the fruiting branches low. In warm climates, lemons will continuously produce fruit, so if you do your heaviest pruning after the heaviest harvest, it will maximize production for the following season.
8. Lime Trees
After harvesting, remove any damaged or diseased wood, as well as thorny branches. Lime trees benefit from having their interiors pruned so that light can get in and stimulate more flowering buds. When working with lime trees, always wear heavy gloves to avoid thorns.
9. Lychee Trees
The benefit of harvesting lychee is that cutting down fruit clusters automatically prunes the tree. When harvesting, entire fruit clusters with 6-8 inches of the branch attached should be cut. This natural method of pruning stimulates the trees to grow new shoots that will bear fruit in the next season.
10. Mango Trees
Once you finish harvesting, prune all the branches that are over 15 feet tall and thin the canopy to improve air circulation. Mango trees are massive, so practicing height control after harvest enables fruit to stay within reach and encourages the tree to develop more productive lateral branches instead of verticaling.
11. Sweet Cherry Trees
In the summer after harvest, cut back long shoots that will not bear fruit and thin out areas of excessive growth. Because of the potential for bacterial infections during wet weather, cherry trees will benefit from strategic pruning that improves airflow to help keep the trees healthy and promote fruit production.
Essential Pruning Principles
To avoid the spread of disease, always use clean, sharp, and sterilized tools with rubbing alcohol, and do this between trees. Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle and do this just above an outward-facing bud or branch. Start by removing dead, diseased, or damaged wood. After that, focus on opening the canopy for more light and better air circulation.
To help tripling your harvest, you must understand post-harvest pruning does more than just maintain your trees. It programs your trees for top-tier fruit production. By removing competing growth right after the harvest, you instruct the tree to divert energy into next year's fruit festival instead of wasting resources on unnecessary growth.
