This will contain the tree's height and make picking the fruit easier. However, your tree may need some minimal pruning to maintain easy tree access, balance, and enough sun exposure. Avocado trees enjoy ample sunshine and water, but impeccably free-draining soil and absolutely no standing water. Pruning any later can stimulate new growth that will be susceptible to injury if a frost or freeze affects your area. There are several general … Remember that trees tend to look the same below ground as they do above. It might include topping it to keep it from over-growing other trees or to keep it out of power lines, or to help deter portions of it from falling on a building. Cut back several of the taller limbs to their original crotch. Whether it's a Florida or California avocado, a … When pruning avocado trees, remember this: always prune with a purpose and avoid under- or over-pruning the avocado trees. Remember to be extremely careful with this kind of heavy pruning! Clean your pruning shears or loppers with a solution of 50 percent bleach and 50 percent water, to sterilize them. Only prune-out dead and crossing branches or cut the tree to limit size. That tree is at least 50 to 60 feet tall and has a huge … Prune young avocado varieties that grow tall, such as bacon and Anaheim, to promote the tree to spread instead of putting its energy into growing tall and upright. Prune the avocado tree once the fruit has been harvested, if needed. If you live in a particularly sunny area, paint a thin layer of white latex paint diluted with water over the cuts to protect them from sun exposure. The tree canopy ranges from low, dense and symmetrical to upright and asymmetrical. EDIS is the Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension, a collection of information … Avocado trees can get quite big if unpruned; to keep a tree under 15 feet, a few judicious pruning cuts each year are necessary. Unlike some fruit trees, avocado tree maintenance requires little pruning, according to This Old House. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! It is that simple. Limbs are easily broken by strong winds or heavy crop loads. Unless you have experience with avocado trees, have your rejuvenation pruning done by a professional service. Keep an eye on how many branches you prune from each side and try to keep it symmetrical so your tree isn’t too heavy on one side. Remember that less pruning is always better for avocado trees. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Prune trees that have produced fruit for several years, back to 10 to 15 feet tall. The avocados trees bear fruit generally from late winter through early summer. Fortunately, your avocado tree won’t require much maintenance, but you’ll still want to prune it during growing season to keep it in shape. I found it was explained and easy-to-understand.". With yearly pruning, you can keep your tree to a manageable size. Reed is rightly called upright for an avocado, but it is not a columnar tree in a more general sense. When Will You Get Avocados? Cut each limb close to a lateral branch. Keep in mind, though, that mature avocado ripen in about three to eight days once they are removed from the tree, and take care not to let them ripen too much. There is no real reason to do this. Make any major cuts clean and keep them in line with the natural contour of the trunk. Avocados (Persea Americana) are well suited for Florida’s warm, tropical climate. These tools are smaller and can typically handle smaller growths. The native soil of Florida is fine for successful growing. Plant the tree in well-drained, loamy soil. Your avocado tree can begin to bear fruit anywhere from three to fifteen years, but around five years is probably average. How to prune an avocado tree. Aim for a symmetrical conical shape, which provides the best amount of sun exposure. Avocado trees benefit from pruning during the first two years to encourage branching. Heavy pruning is best done after the crop is harvested but before late summer or early fall. Should I paint the exposed area of the cut tree branch? There are several tools that you will need to perform your pruning or trimming of a guava tree. Do not prune after February. Will you get avocados from your tree grown from seed? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Be aware of the general principles when it comes to avocado pruning. Pruning your avocado tree will promote more tree growth and increase the number of avocados you get. Pruning will likely reduce your tree’s fruit output for the year, but increase fruit output for the next year. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 41,425 times. Trees can also be planted on a mound to ensure proper drainage. I am in Tampa only a few blocks from Tampa Bay. Individual branches on a Reed tree will in fact droop horizontally and sometimes weep all the way down to the ground when … The trees growing larger and larger and larger with the fruiting canopy going higher and higher and higher and picking costs and liability going up. Use pruners or loppers to cut any dead-looking branches. It is best to prune a Florida avocado tree when it is only necessary and allow the tree to grow in its natural form. Avocado trees are arguably one of the easiest plants to grow in your own home. Surprisingly, avocados don’t ripen or soften while still on the … Cutting away deadwood will help prevent Dothiorella rot, which can affect the fruit and cause it to decay. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, California Agriculture Service: Pruning Avocado Trees. Prune when the tree is producing fruit, or shortly after, in order to avoid cutting out fruiting branches. Growth is maximized and defects are easier to see on deciduous trees if live-branch pruning is done just before growth resumes in early spring. I rooted it from a seed from the tree next door. Over-pruning can lead to stunting, losing all of the fruit, frost injuries, or sun damage. Too much pruning can affect next season's fruiting. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Hand Pruning Shears: Stems up to half inch in diameter can be pruned with hand shears. Kakuzi Plc's Kelvin Gathee takes you through the process of pruning an avocado tree. If you try to prune when the tree is developing new growth, the cuts will stress the plant and could discourage growth or result in disease. The adage of “prune avocado trees cautiously” was heard round the avocado community and as a result many growers would not do anything. This will help in the loss of lower limbs because of lack of sunlight and help control the tree’s size. If pruning is needed, a gardener should save it for the beginning of spring or the first weeks of summer. Heavy pruning, as the term implies, involves cutting greater portions from the tree. Also remember that what works for one tree may not work for another tree — pruning should be done on a case-by-case basis as no two avocado trees are the same. Known to be very prolific, and also produce well … Avocados (Persea Americana) are well suited for Florida’s warm, tropical climate. Wait for the new growth to begin in spring or summer before determining whether or not the branch needs to be pruned. If you prune too much, you can permanently stunt the tree’s fruit growth. Limbs can be broken by strong winds or heavy crop loads. Use hand pruners for branches less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Never over-prune your avocado trees. You May Also Like: LED vs Fluorescent Grow Lights. Temperature: Avocados are best suited for growing in a lowland tropical climate or frost free subtropical areas along the coast. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. No. Prune back to the terminal bud on any shoots that are growing upright. Prune the avocado in early spring through early summer. To promote overall regrowth, prune back branches in the spring. When pruning your trees, always wear gardening gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after pruning. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. If you wish to do a heavy pruning on your avocado tree, then you may want to wait until late winter or early spring, which is right before the active growing period for the tree. Summertime pruning promotes regrowth length and makes the tree grow wider and taller. Type A. Hass does NOT thrive as well in Florida's humidity as it does in California. This article has been viewed 41,425 times. It was propagated and patented from a single seedling that grew out of the Great Depression and produced a funny looking bumpy skinned dark avocado! Once your avocado tree is established, you’ll only need to prune it annually. References. And finally, these trees don’t tolerate flooding or poorly drained soils. ... Hi Greg, I do not live in California but central Florida. That is, with the exception of some hardy Mexican varieties – highlighted below. How to Plant Avocado Trees. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to prune your avocado tree for rejuvenation, read on! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. http://www.treeremoval.com/trimming-and-pruning/how-to-grow-and-prune-an-avocado-tree/#.WjcxWiPMzPA, http://www.californiaavocadogrowers.com/cultural-management-library/avocado-tree-pruning-basics, https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/903, http://www.californiaavocadogrowers.com/cultural-management-library/deciding-when-prune-avocado-trees, http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/AgNatRes/Pubs/Pruning_Avocado_trees.pdf, http://www.avocadosource.com/CAS_Yearbooks/CAS_46_1962/CAS_1962_PG_42-43.pdf, http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12051, http://www.groworganic.com/organic-gardening/articles/when-and-how-to-fertilize-your-fruit-trees, http://mimiavocado.com/2012/04/why-we-cut-the-trees-down-avocado-trees-can-regrow/, http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/tree-pruning-removing-water-shoots-and-suckers, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fruit-tree-limb-damage-repair-60821.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Avocado trees do not need much pruning. Please find more about those topics in my post “Pruning avocado trees. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. This process may take 3-4 years to complete, but the slow and steady approach will help reduce stress on the tree. With proper care and minimal pruning, your avocado tree can thrive and keep producing fruit for years to come! Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Prune the avocado in early spring through early summer. Through pruning, this distance can be sustained. Prune any branches that are hanging too low and will interfere with mowing the area around them. For example, watch for horizontal branches forming close to the ground. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Ideally, avocado trees would only be pruned when there is minimal risk of both extreme cold and extreme heat. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Pruning Avocado Trees. All Rights Reserved. Too much pruning can affect next season's fruiting. Hand pruners are perfect for removing smaller branches in the tree’s canopy to let the sun shine through. Avocado trees usually take 3 years to grow and produce fruit again after rejuvenation pruning. It should only be done in early spring or late fall, when the tree will naturally go dormant for a time. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to prune your avocado tree for rejuvenation, read on! Though it is still a large tree, reaching up to 37 feet at maturity. The best time when to prune an avocado tree is really anytime, as long as you are doing a light pruning. Columnar cultivars of avocado are pinched at an early age to attain a more rounded habit, but most other types of avocado require no training and little pruning. I personally recommend watching the video below to learn more about pruning avocado trees in pots: Tip #9 – Don’t Forget to Repot your Avocado Tree. If your tree needs major re-shaping, some heavy pruning may be necessary. Native to the tropical America’s, avocados grow well in the frost-free areas of the state. By using our site, you agree to our. Book your hass avocado seedlings today. Each of them is appropriate for different cases depending on age, time of year, type of pruning, etc. These branches will grow to block your access at the base of the tree, so cut these back at their base as soon as possible. Expect lots of leaf growth and less avocado fruit following an extensive pruning session. The best time to prune live branches may depend on the desired results. Also read below gardening tips. You should keep a grass-free area two to five feet out from the trunk of the tree. Very little is needed to get started, all you’ll need is three toothpicks, one avocado and a glass of water. Pole Pruner: Pole pruners have a hooked … This will remove any bacteria or fungus that might be present and keep disease from the avocado tree. Pruning should never be done in the fall or the winter as this could expose newly-cut branches to cold temperatures and frost. A dense leaf canopy can act like a kite by catching the wind and can result in tree breakage and the heartbreak of lost avocados. Soil: Avocado trees do not like wet feet, so be sure to plant your tree in well drained soil. The best time to prune is in autumn or winter before the spring growth period, when the tree isn’t developing new leaves. 3 Ensure the flat end of the seed is at the bottom and the pointier at the top. To prevent shock and the spread of blights, always prune during early spring or summer and wash your tools between pruning different trees. There are 30 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Re-shaping will likely make fruit yield drop drastically that year, but it should stimulate fruit growth in 2 years. Starr shares her passion for nature in her writing, publishing articles on horticulture, outdoor recreation, travel as well as business. Enjoy! Light selective pruning may be done at any time of year. Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs. Without this pruning and topping, avocado trees grow to be 40 to 80 feet in height and harvesting the fruit becomes difficult. When the tree has produced several crops of fruit, it is desirable to remove the entire top of the tree, then prune yearly to maintain the tree at a workable height. for later maturing varieties you should also wait until fear of any cold weather has left. You can perform light preventive pruning any time of the year. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Prune-an-Avocado-Tree-Step-01.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-an-Avocado-Tree-Step-01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Prune-an-Avocado-Tree-Step-01.jpg\/aid9595796-v4-728px-Prune-an-Avocado-Tree-Step-01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"