When is the best time to prune a lemon tree in the mid north of South Australia? Regards al

al said:

When is the best time to prune a lemon tree in the mid north of South Australia? Regards al

now
regads pep.
need any help? – i’m in gawler.

pepe said:

al said:

When is the best time to prune a lemon tree in the mid north of South Australia? Regards al

now
regads pep.
need any help? – i’m in gawler.

regards not regads.

pruning lemon trees in spring – mine has too many flowers so losing some will not hurt.

1. look at the highest branches and ask yourself ‘do i want to pick lemons on a ladder?’ normally the answer is no – so cut the top leading branch to, say, 2.5m (8”). trim all tall branches to this height.
2. clean out all the overlapping branches in the centre of the tree to let more light and breeze in.
3. cut water shoots back to the shoulder.

fertilise and water well.

i’ve hear conflicting ideas about the water shoots. some say to cut them and some say not to. personally i always cut them off totally, as usually they’re not in a good spot, and it’s a single cane with apparently no foliage or flowers. what is the function of the water shoots in a tree?

aquarium said:

i’ve hear conflicting ideas about the water shoots. some say to cut them and some say not to. personally i always cut them off totally, as usually they’re not in a good spot, and it’s a single cane with apparently no foliage or flowers. what is the function of the water shoots in a tree?

What IS a water shoot???

what is the function of the water shoots in a tree?
———
they are males – they have no function they just look good – chuckle – seeyas

Thanks for the quick responses.I should have said it was fairly old and in need of TLC.Is that an issue? Pep,thanks for the offer but will be able to do the job………………..Regards…al

just a thought…you might find some citrus pruning videos on youtube. certainly has a lot of other diy videos. i’m finding it myself hard to understand the instructions from books on how to prune the different fruit trees….cut this to second year’s growth etc. might have a look myself.
al said:

Thanks for the quick responses.I should have said it was fairly old and in need of TLC.Is that an issue? Pep,thanks for the offer but will be able to do the job………………..Regards…al

thanks to the magic of youtube…finally learnt how to fold a fitted sheet :)
aquarium said:

just a thought…you might find some citrus pruning videos on youtube. certainly has a lot of other diy videos. i’m finding it myself hard to understand the instructions from books on how to prune the different fruit trees….cut this to second year’s growth etc. might have a look myself.
al said:

Thanks for the quick responses.I should have said it was fairly old and in need of TLC.Is that an issue? Pep,thanks for the offer but will be able to do the job………………..Regards…al

bon008 said:

aquarium said:

i’ve hear conflicting ideas about the water shoots. some say to cut them and some say not to. personally i always cut them off totally, as usually they’re not in a good spot, and it’s a single cane with apparently no foliage or flowers. what is the function of the water shoots in a tree?

What IS a water shoot???

the famous ones come up from the root stock and try to form a new branch of the tree which is not the grafted variety.
the less famous ones occur along branches and grow in a year, grow straight up, are totally green and have no fruit. they are an outcome of over watering. sometimes called male branches they seem to have no function.

thank you Pepe.

aquarium said:

thank you Pepe.

probably they are a defense mechanism to save the tree from water logging during periods of high rainfall.

Can I butt in? I think that’s what my lime tree did last year – lots of fast upward new growth with no flowers. Would it be a good idea to cut them off now??
Thanks :)

orchid40 said:

Can I butt in? I think that’s what my lime tree did last year – lots of fast upward new growth with no flowers. Would it be a good idea to cut them off now??
Thanks :)

yes you can butt in anytime OC
yes – cut them off as near to the branch as possible.

pepe said:

orchid40 said:

Can I butt in? I think that’s what my lime tree did last year – lots of fast upward new growth with no flowers. Would it be a good idea to cut them off now??
Thanks :)

yes you can butt in anytime OC
yes – cut them off as near to the branch as possible.

Thankyou Pepe :)

pepe said:

bon008 said:

aquarium said:

i’ve hear conflicting ideas about the water shoots. some say to cut them and some say not to. personally i always cut them off totally, as usually they’re not in a good spot, and it’s a single cane with apparently no foliage or flowers. what is the function of the water shoots in a tree?

What IS a water shoot???

the famous ones come up from the root stock and try to form a new branch of the tree which is not the grafted variety.
the less famous ones occur along branches and grow in a year, grow straight up, are totally green and have no fruit. they are an outcome of over watering. sometimes called male branches they seem to have no function.

Ooooh! I see. I wondered why some of those branches seemed “different”. Mind you, hard to believe anything is overwatered in my garden =/

Slightly OT, but i’m wandering why my lemon tree always has lots of flowers, lemons and new shoots but never seems to get any taller….it stands at about 4 ft high.

Rook

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Happy Potter said:

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Hi HP,

How did i know someone was going to ask me what type it is…..LOL

I have absolutely no idea….when you say small fruit, how small is small

Rook

Happy Potter said:

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Hi HP,

How did i know someone was going to ask me what type it is…..LOL

I have absolutely no idea….when you say small fruit, how small is small

Rook

Rook said:

Slightly OT, but i’m wandering why my lemon tree always has lots of flowers, lemons and new shoots but never seems to get any taller….it stands at about 4 ft high.

Rook

what variety is it? Meyer lemon trees are a compact variety.

Rook said:

Happy Potter said:

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Hi HP,

How did i know someone was going to ask me what type it is…..LOL

I have absolutely no idea….when you say small fruit, how small is small

Rook

Well when I say small fruit, it’s because they are starting to grow, olive sized atm, they will be normal sized lemons in a few months.
Can you take a pic of it to show us?, we might be able to ID it for you.

Happy Potter said:

Rook said:

Happy Potter said:

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Hi HP,

How did i know someone was going to ask me what type it is…..LOL

I have absolutely no idea….when you say small fruit, how small is small

Rook

Well when I say small fruit, it’s because they are starting to grow, olive sized atm, they will be normal sized lemons in a few months.
Can you take a pic of it to show us?, we might be able to ID it for you.

Thanks HP, i will take a pic this week and post it up…..i think it may be a Meyer as yourself and bluegreen has stated.

Rook

Happy Potter said:

Rook said:

Happy Potter said:

Hi Rook, what type of lemon tree is it ?
If it’s a ‘lots o lemons’ meyer it’s a dwarf tree. I have one , years old now , loaded with flowers and small fruit and 5 ft high.

Hi HP,

How did i know someone was going to ask me what type it is…..LOL

I have absolutely no idea….when you say small fruit, how small is small

Rook

Well when I say small fruit, it’s because they are starting to grow, olive sized atm, they will be normal sized lemons in a few months.
Can you take a pic of it to show us?, we might be able to ID it for you.

Thanks HP, i will take a pic this week and post it up…..i think it may be a Meyer as yourself and bluegreen has stated.

Rook

………………..hi people,well i took to the lemon tree (type unknown) but couldnt really have a decent hack as i think it is very old and got the sympathy vote.Some blossoms and new growth but couldnt bring myself to really chop into it.Did the outside dead branches etc. gave it a drink and will see what happens.Regards……….Al