Illustration of orange tree pruning:

Tools: fruit tree pruners, orange trees.

1. Explicit update method, explicit update method is also called light update method. For senescent trees that bear little or no fruit, shorten the 5th to 7th-level branches and delete intersecting and overlapping branches, which is called explicit renewal. This method can produce strong branches in the current year. After the shoots are harvested, the weak branches that are too dense can be removed in a timely manner, and the excessive branches can be thinned out. The yield can be restored from the second year onwards.

2. The main branch renewal method is also called the re-renewal method. For some very declining old trees, the branches are damaged by diseases and insect pests, but the lower parts of the main backbone branches of the declining trees are still good. The main backbone branches can be shortened for strength, and the thin, curved and knotty large branches can be deleted from the remaining backbone branches. This method can produce strong new shoots in the current year, which will begin to bear fruit in the second year, and the yield will gradually increase after the third year.

3. Root system renewal method. As the aboveground parts are renewed, the underground parts must also be updated accordingly. Generally, the underground part can be dug at the drip line outside the crown, and the rotten and declining roots can be cut off. After being exposed to the sun for 1 to 2 days, plant ash can be sprinkled on the cut roots, and mature high-quality compost or green manure can be applied to improve the soil and promote new roots. Happens in large numbers.

Orange tree pruning precautions

For adult tree crowns, in addition to dead branches, diseased and insect branches that must be pruned, generally green leafy branches should be pruned from the light-shielding branches in the middle and upper parts of the crown, and the light-shielding branches in the middle and lower parts of the crown. Cut as little as possible to keep the upper part ventilated and light, and the lower part free of dead branches, which can increase the fruiting capacity. Green-leaf branch pruning mostly removes branches on the periphery of the crown, and only dead branches, diseased branches, and insect-infested branches are removed from the inner section. Normal green-leaf branches should not be pruned as much as possible, so that the inner section has a higher fruit-bearing capacity.