Can you make a tree stop bearing fruit permanently?

Question

I would like to know if I can treat a tree to keep it from producing fruit.
It either stops bearing fruit or I cut it down....but I want the shade.

Answer 1

This is what I do to a plum tree.. I want shade in that spot, but, not much room there. So every spring I go out and strip the branches either by hand or put the power washer on it. That pretty well gets rid of potential fruit dropping fly attracting plums on the ground.
PS I do this when the blossoms are on it.

Answer 2

You been watching the apples bouncing off my roof?? Some fool (me) planted what was labeled a dwarf apple too close to the house. It was mismarked........grrr.

No, the best bet is to cut it down. There's one other option called pollarding (which is far different from topping but only a trained and certified arborist knows the difference). However if the tree is more than about 8 years old, it's probably too late for pollarding.......plus it must be trimmed every year there after.....you can't skip a year.

There's one product you can spray the tree with each spring; however it's hard on the bees and we are in serious crisis with the world's bee population. No bees, no fruit or vegetables to eat, flowers to admire.

Answer 3

Why not eat the fruit? We moved and I miss our orange, grapefruit, and tangerine trees. Or give the fruit to your neighbors. The kids in our neighborhood would pick the fruit.
Its a shame to cut down a tree........they take years to get that big!
I live in Central FL and we have lost so many groves to subdivisions. And now, since the market is going down, we have to look at barren land that was meant for houses. But the groves are gone and now weeds are reaking havick!
Sad.

Answer 4

Why would you want to? There are only 2 ways I can think of. 1 is to cut it down and the other is to pick off all the buds. The buds produce the fruit.

Answer 5

cut it down not unless you want to pick all the flowers off before it bears fruit to keep the shade

Answer 6

Hummm, that's a hard question. I can't find anything for you. How about calling your local County Extension Service/Agent. Don't be shy. Your taxes pay for this free service.

Answer 7

I dont think so but maybe if you let it become overgrown and somewhat bushy and don't fertilize at all...the fruit would be poor and not much yield at the very least!

Answer 8

MAYBE GIVE IT A REALLY SEVERE PRUNE, MIGHT WORK FOR A COUPLE OF SEASONS............ BUT WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE THE FRUIT TO FRIEND OR FAMILY, EVEN PUT IT OUT THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE FOR FREE...

Answer 9

I was going to say chop it down, but you thought of that.

Answer 10

SHAME ON YOU!! YOU CAN SLOW IT DOWN BY TRIMMING IT WHILE THE FRUITS ARE ON IT..