Pruning Fruit Trees (forum)

Scintilla starts with ...
I have a small back garden orchard which is loved by the local cockatoos.
The only defence is total exclusion and I have buit a frame and netting over each tree.
This is working but I need to keep the size of each tree small enought to stay within the frame which is about 2.5 metres tall.
Am I harming the trees in keeping them to this height and if not when is the best time to prune?
The trees are mostly citrus which seem to always have either flowers or developing fruit on them.

Time: 26th February 2013 3:59pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Tony
Avoca Beach NSW
#UserID: 6930
Posts: 8
View All Tony's Edible Fruit Trees

MaryT says...
Scintilla I don't believe pruning would harm your citrus; I am always pruning mine as they are in pots. Prune after your major harvest. With our crazy weather mine are always flowering and fruiting too (particularly the kumquats) so I tend to do it when I feel like it (but I have been told off for not waiting for the 'right time'). They don't mind, as long as you feed them (greedy guts).

Time: 26th February 2013 4:26pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
I read an article a while ago which said the French prune everything, to keep them small. You could cram a lot more trees into a small space if you did that.

Mary, thanks for that. I am always a bit unsure about citrus, as they never have a dormant period like stone fruit.

Time: 26th February 2013 8:45pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

MaryT says...
That's right, Julie. That's how I can fit fifty pots in my car space. We've had a lot of rain and the trees all pushed out new growth and I am constantly cutting/rubbing back green shoots. They're like giant bonsai; being bossed back all the time.

Time: 27th February 2013 7:43am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees