When is the best time to trim fruit trees?

Question

I have an orange, lemon, apple and avacado tree.

Answer 1

Citrus trees can be pruned anytime. You should only trim branches that cross other branches and to keep the tree uniform. Cut branches back to just above a leaf as there will be a dormant bud there to begin new growth.

Apple trees can be pruned anytime from late summer (August) through early spring (before buds begin to swell). Cut back long growth that have no fruit spurs to 3 or 4 buds. Completely remove weak or crossing branches and to open up the center of the tree.

No experience with avocado trees, but generally you can prune trees when they are dormant without injury. Once again you should be looking for weak and crossing branches.

Never cut more than a third of a tree's canopy as it will cause rampant growth to replace the lost leaf surface.

Answer 2

Now, before blooming starts,

apples can be done in late fall and early spring before blooming, i dont leave nothing but the main branches, old saying you need to be able to throw a 1/2 bushel basket between the limbs.

Make sure to add your fertilzer to them also, i use 12-12-12 on all of them. maybe 2x a year. I also have a compost pile where i put my yard clippings and add them under my trees also all year, helps maintain moisture and less woody fruit. I also dig around all my trees , for every inch of diameter i dig one foot , so a 6 inch diameter tree i have a six foot wide grass free exposed ground.

Are you in florida? thats where i live!

FYI, good luck!!

Answer 3

in the Fall
trimming in the Spring will cut off the fruit buds

Answer 4

The best time is in the fall. Otherwise you'd be pruning off the new buds.

Answer 5

winter to spring but before anything starts to grow buds for leaves or fruit

Answer 6

Fall is a good time for pruning, or spring before the dormancy break-up.

Answer 7

Why ask anyone here? Do a search and you'll find a university website or someone else who actually knows.

Answer 8

spring