Pruning Citrus - Why

Cindy Fake University of California Cooperative

Extension, Placer & Nevada CountiesJanuary 2012

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Why Prune Citrus?

• Improve fruit quality & marketable yields by: – Increasing light in the canopy– Pruning out non-productive branches

(watershoots) – Reducing risk of soil borne pathogens affecting

fruit• Reduce costs by:– Facilitating weeding, mowing, & mulching– Reducing tree height (also injury risk)

• Improve tree health• Reduce insect and disease problems

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Benefits of Pruning• Pruning increases annual returns – Improve quality through better flavor and color– Increase yields– Increase percentage of larger fruit– Decrease pesticides use– Decreases harvest costs

• Increases orchard life

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But …?• Each grower must weigh

the cost of pruning against the increased revenue from higher quality or higher yields

• Pruning must provide an increased return to compensate for the increased cost of production

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Why?

Thank you!