Proper pruning of indoor lemon. Lemon pruning at home: photos, rules, timing and recommendations. Indoor lemon twists

Recently, you can often find a lemon tree as an indoor ornamental plant. To prevent the plant from losing its appearance over time, you need to know how to prune a lemon. Crown formation plays an important role in caring for this indoor plant.

Pruning is an important part of lemon care.

When to prune

Timely pruning of lemon allows you to form a crown and regulate its growth. In nature, the lemon tree reaches 2–2.5 meters in height. In conditions indoor growing the tree will not fit, so at the age of one year the apical point of growth is cut off. This is how it is possible to activate the lateral buds and stimulate the growth of the crown to the sides, and not upwards.

Pruning is done at the end of February or beginning of March, when indoor lemon has not yet recovered from winter and can easily endure the procedure. Although the lemon tree is evergreen, it winter period vital processes slow down significantly . It is for this reason that in winter the plant is watered less often, and fertilizing is reduced to once a month or removed altogether.

It is recommended to pinch the tops for the first time no earlier than a year after planting the cuttings. If the tree was grown from a seed, then only after two years. It is better to maintain an interval of several months after transplanting the lemon into new pot. This is done so that it has time to grow damaged roots during transplantation and take root firmly in the substrate.

You cannot prune a lemon while it is flowering or fruiting. At this time, the plant is very vulnerable and instantly reacts to external stimuli, dropping flowers and fruits. No need to trim homemade lemon in winter. During this period, due to the slowdown in vital processes, not only are the side shoots not activated, but the cut branch itself may dry out.

Homemade lemons should be limited in height

How to prune

To create beautiful tree, you need to know how to properly form the crown of a plant. To do this you will need sharpened pruning shears or garden shears. Before pruning, they must be disinfected so as not to introduce fungus or any pathogenic organism into the cut. After finishing the work, you need to treat the cuts with garden varnish - a local antiseptic. Neglecting this rule can lead to the death of the plant.

How to form a lemon crown depends on the preferences of the grower himself. The most commonly used is a flat crown. Such lemons bear large fruits and grow foliage faster. To do this, during the first pruning you can shorten the trunk of the plant, and in subsequent years - the branches of the first, second and third order.

Formation of the citrus crown: a - pinching of the 0th order branch; b - pinching of 1st order branches; c - pinching branches of the 2nd-4th order

An effective way of pruning is to form a bush. It is much easier to care for such a lemon, and the entire volume of land will be more rationally used. To do this, it is necessary to shorten the trunk during the first trimming to 20 centimeters. In subsequent prunings, the side shoots are partially removed.

When the crown is formed, the branches need periodic pinching to maintain this shape. The ends of the branches are cut off by 3–5 centimeters. It is preferable to carry out this procedure in summer or late spring.

Care after pruning

Pruning lemongrass implies special care for the plant after it is done. In addition to disinfecting cut branches, flower growers are recommended to carry out unscheduled feeding of the tree. Adding phosphorus-containing fertilizers to the soil promotes rapid healing of damaged areas of wood and intensive growth of green mass.

2-3 months after pruning, you can think about transplanting the lemon into a larger container, if necessary. The roots in the pot should not look out and completely cover the pot. This lemon needs to be replanted after the pruning injuries have healed.

Transplanting a lemon into a larger pot is carried out 2-3 months after pruning.

Germination of cuttings after pruning

After pruning, there are always quite large branches left, which do not necessarily need to be thrown into the trash. Most effective method lemon propagation is by cuttings. At the base of the cutting, a cut is made obliquely and placed in a container with water for germination.

For quick rooting, seedlings are dipped cut into special drugs, accelerating the development of the root system. They can be purchased freely in flower shops.

Using cuttings left over from lemon trimming is a simple and inexpensive way to get several plants from one. Caring for them at home is no different from caring for lemons grown from seed.

Trimming indoor lemon- not just a whim of gardeners, but a necessity for the plant. Proper crown formation can significantly increase productivity lemon tree and its decorative qualities.

For growing in room conditions Low-growing trunks are excellent, from which it is easier to form a bush or flat crown. Do not forget that the splendor of the crown does not depend on pruning, but on the quality of the substrate and the degree of its moisture.

Probably most of us dreamed of growing exotic fruits to not only enjoy your own lemons or oranges from your mini-garden, but also create an unforgettable atmosphere in your home. Most commonly grown heat-loving plant in our latitudes it has become a lemon. Of course, it does not produce as many fruits as when grown in open ground in subtropical conditions. However, when proper care, pruning and watering can be achieved excellent results. In addition, the flowering of this plant will fill the whole house with an excellent aroma, which has a very beneficial effect on emotional condition person.

Characteristics of fruits. Lemon trimming

The homeland of lemon is considered to be China, India and the Pacific Islands with a subtropical or tropical climate. It is believed that this fruit arose due to the natural hybridization of related plants belonging to the Rutaceae family.

The first mention of this citrus, or more precisely, of the citron, which is its ancestor, is found in documents created by the philosopher Theophrastus in 280 BC. True, at that time citron was practically not used as food. It was used as a remedy for small pests, for example, aphids and moths. Then they simply did not suspect that this fruit had such useful qualities. A thousand years later, the famous physician Avicenna, after the first description of this citrus, began to use its juice to treat people - to relieve nausea, treat heart disease, jaundice. Moreover, these recipes have survived even to this day. Today, lemon trees can be successfully grown at home. We'll talk about this in more detail later.

Why trim a lemon? It is, first of all, aimed at creating correct crown tree. If a plant seedling is left unattended, its structure will more closely resemble a candle, stretching upward. Naturally, there can be no talk of any fruits from this tree. A properly formed crown can significantly increase the fertility of a tree, make it more beautiful, reduce the risk of diseases, including the root system, and increase life expectancy and fruiting.

You need to be aware that this is not so much a complicated as a responsible procedure. After all, its incorrect implementation may not only not benefit the tree, but also harm it by causing the wrong direction of growth. Most often, errors in crown formation can be corrected only by cutting large quantities tree branches, which obviously will not do him any good. Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to carefully study all the recommendations of specialists and think through a thorough pruning plan.

First lemon pruning

The first pruning of the plant is done in the first year of the plant's life. The trunk of a ripened lemon is cut off at a height of approximately 20 cm. In this case, it is necessary to leave 4 sufficiently developed buds. They will become the basis for the formation of first-order branches. It is desirable that the kidneys are located with different sides trunk and at the same level.

If the first pruning is done correctly, the indoor lemon is guaranteed to bear fruit. Usually the latter grow on small branches that are covered with foliage.

Features of the growth of lemon branches and their pruning

As is already known, a young seedling produces only one vertical shoot, from which in the second year or at the end of the first several lateral branches of the first order arise. Only 4 of them are left to form second-order branches. Thus, the tree forms its crown. Lemon begins to bear fruit after the formation of shoots of the 4th order and beyond.

Not all tree branches begin to bear fruit after the formation of branches of the 4th order. Some of them continue to grow to bear fruit the following year. As the tree grows, so-called “fat” branches may appear, which grow vertically and do not bear fruit. So that they don't take away the whole tree useful material, it’s better to get rid of them. You can do this in two ways:

• Complete removal. Shortening them by 20-25 cm in the hope of degeneration into a fruit-bearing branch. The fruit branches are considered to be the richest in fruit-bearing ovaries. They are usually located at the top of the tree crown. Their most common position is horizontal, however, hanging fruit-bearing branches are also found.

• Partial removal. Even as the tree grows, dead branches begin to appear. They must be removed immediately. They can not only reduce the yield of a tree by taking away all the necessary nutrients, but also cause infection with all sorts of diseases, especially pests that love to settle under the bark of a dead branch. Old and useless branches still thicken the tree crown quite strongly, preventing penetration sun rays. Because of this, the lemon fruit may be too small and lack its traditionally bright aroma.

The nuances of forming a lemon crown

Exist general rules trimmings fruit trees. However, for citrus fruits there are some nuances that you need to know and follow to get a good harvest. By acting according to a specific plan, you can avoid extra effort during further tree trimmings.

Some rules for pruning lemons:

• Work on crown formation can be carried out throughout the entire growing season of the plant.
• All branches of a tree without exception can be shortened, but it is necessary to start from the trunk. Thanks to this sequence, the tree can take the form of a bush with the formation of a large number of fruiting systems.
• The trunk is trimmed to no more than 20 cm, and, as a rule, only a couple of well-developed buds are left, oriented in different directions.
• The recommended amount of shortening of shoots of the first level is no more than 25 cm, shoots of the second level is no more than 10 cm.
• Subsequent branches are shortened by only 5 cm.
• By pruning branches of 3,4,5 orders, the formation of the lemon crown can be completed.

After pruning, all sections must be thoroughly treated with an antiseptic. It is worth noting that branches of small thickness (less than a pencil) should not be processed. The treatment is carried out oil paint or a special garden varnish. If the operation is carried out incorrectly or not in a timely manner, the tree may simply die. It must be borne in mind that our climate is not entirely suitable for the growth of this plant, so it requires more strength for adaptation, even if it grows in a pot in warm apartment. Therefore, lack of treatment after crown thinning can lead to additional tree diseases.

Pinching and removing excess blooms

This operation is carried out for all fruit trees without exception, and lemon is no exception in this matter. This is done to accelerate the growth of young shoots and increase the yield of the tree itself. Pinching involves removing unnecessary young shoots. This is done as soon as they are born. The “workers” leave the shoots behind. As soon as at least 6 full-fledged leaves appear on them, they pinch off the top.

Lemon is distinguished from other fruit trees by its very dense and bright flowering. Of course, the crown of a tree covered with flowers cannot but please the eye, however, it is too abundant flowering, for all its beauty, can be detrimental to productivity. The fact is that excessive flowering depletes the tree, and even if it bears a lot of fruits, they will be of poor quality. Therefore, it is better to remove excess flowers. It is necessary to begin removal with the weakest flowers. If it blooms poorly whole thread, don't be shy and trim it. It is better to sacrifice the “weak link” for the sake of a good harvest in the future.

Naturally, for many reasons, growing lemons in our latitudes requires special knowledge and skills, and not every novice gardener can cope with this. Therefore, if a person has never practiced working with this plant, it is better for him to read the advice of more experienced amateurs and professional agronomists in order to grow good harvest own citrus fruits. So, to grow a good productive tree, you need:

1. It is imperative to combat excessive flowering. This will not only affect the formation of the ovary, but also the development of the entire tree. So, after several years of such flowering, the tree may simply dry out.
2. Perform annual anti-aging pruning of lemons at home to form the crown of the tree. This must be done with feeding the tree.
3. Try to pinch the “working” branches in a timely manner to speed up their growth.
4. Constantly monitor the growth of “fatty” branches and promptly prevent their further development.
5. Try to prevent the tree from bearing fruit until the crown has formed. Once this process is completed, yields will be much higher than otherwise.
6. Lemon should not be allowed to bloom in its first year. This process can deplete the tree so much that it is likely to simply die. Even if the lemon survives, such a plant is unlikely to produce a normal harvest, both in quantity and quality.
7. Give preference to the formation of a flat crown, as it will provide large area exposure to sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on the development and fruiting of the lemon tree.
8. Pruning branches only where really necessary. It must be remembered that errors in crown formation are very difficult to correct later.
9. Remember that short pruning is necessary to form strong new shoots, and long pruning is necessary to form fruit buds.

When to trim a lemon

On this issue, the opinions of specialists who have been working with this plant for a long time differ. In principle, at home this operation can be carried out year-round, because the temperature in the apartment is maintained almost all the time more or less stable. However, it is still generally accepted that the most appropriate time for pruning is early spring when the tree begins its period of flowering and budding. If there is an urgent need in home or greenhouse conditions, you can prune in winter, at the end of February. Trimming homemade lemon early stages its formation can be carried out only when absolutely necessary, because it can cause irreparable harm to the plant.

Pruning and forming the correct crown of a tree will not only make the lemon a decoration for your winter garden, but will also bring excellent harvest, which will delight your whole family, because it will be very pleasant to drink tea with your loved ones, biting with your own grown lemon.

Why should you grow lemon?

Lemon is rightfully considered a unique product, full of valuable and useful properties. It is difficult to overestimate its benefits. After all, in it, or rather, in lemon juice, contains a very large amount of valuable vitamins and minerals. As for calorie content, 100 grams of fruit contains only 15 kilocalories. Moreover, this amount of citrus contains 0.8 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat and 0.4 g of carbohydrates.

The juice obtained from the fruit is a yellowish transparent liquid that has a characteristic aroma. The juice is usually obtained by pressing. It can improve performance and help cope with stress. In particular, these properties can help before exams and business meetings. In general, it will be useful for anyone who needs to increase concentration and improve brain activity. In a word, lemon juice makes a person more confident in himself.

Due to the fact that lemon contains quite a lot of vitamin C, people who consume it may not be afraid of seasonal colds. In addition, its consumption can prevent the appearance of premature wrinkles. It is noteworthy that one average lemon contains approximately 25% of daily norm this vitamin. Thanks to regular consumption of fruits, spring hypovitaminosis can be prevented.

Lemon pruning: photo

Lemon trimming: video

It's no secret that most lovers indoor plants dream of growing a lemon tree at home. True, many are afraid of the difficulty of caring for it. The tropical lemon plant, indoors and in the hands of an inexperienced gardener, can get sick, lose leaves, or, on the contrary, become “fat” and refuse to bloom.

The owner needs to learn to understand the wishes of his green pet, creating for him the maximum comfortable conditions, and know how to care for lemons at home. Pruning is vital for him. If you want to not only grow a tree, but also get fruits, you will have to work hard. In order for the plant to look well-groomed and neat, it is necessary to properly prune to give decorative form his crown. We will discuss the features of this procedure in this article.

Is pruning necessary?

There are a number of reasons indicating that pruning a lemon in a pot at home is necessary:

• This procedure rejuvenates the old tree. If this is not done, the lemon will stretch upward and refuse to bear fruit.
• Pruning significantly reduces the risk of plant diseases.
• A correctly formed crown will increase the life span of the plant and the period of fruiting.
• The crown should be evenly shaped even if fruit production is not planned. Otherwise, the tree will look unkempt.

Basic rules for pruning lemons at home

It is important to carry out this procedure so that it does not harm the plant, so you must follow some rules:

1. The procedure is carried out during the plant's dormant period.
2. All fruits are removed from an adult fruiting plant.
3. Shoots of the first level are cut to 25 cm, the second - no more than 10 cm. The branches following them are shortened by a maximum of 5 cm.

At first glance, the procedure is simple, but it should be approached responsibly, since incorrectly pruning a lemon at home will set the tree in the wrong direction of growth. Correcting mistakes made during an unsuccessful procedure can often only be done by removing many branches, so you should act strictly in full accordance with the recommendations of specialists and experienced owners of these plants.

Timing of pruning

Experts are divided on the best time to prune indoor lemons. Some of them believe that the most suitable time for such a procedure is the beginning of spring, before the formation of new shoots. For fruiting, lemon pruning at home is carried out in late autumn. Others argue that the crown can be adjusted in winter.

First trim

When caring for lemons at home, pruning has special meaning. It is very important to carry out the first procedure in a timely manner. If it is carried out correctly, the owner can count on receiving fruits.

This is a rather long process - the formation of a crown in a young tree. It can take up to four years. Having completed it, it will be enough to trim the shoots a little in subsequent years so that the plant does not lose its attractive looking. The first pruning should be done in the first year of the tree's life. The trunk is cut at a height of 20 cm from the ground surface, keeping 3-4 buds on it, from which shoots will later form. It is desirable that they are at the same level, but on different sides of the trunk.

When pruning a lemon at home (you can see the photo in the article), you should remove all branches growing vertically. It is best to carry out this pruning in February. The height of the plant depends on the location where you plan to place the plant. If, for example, a lemon will stand on a windowsill, the plant should not be too tall, but if it is on the floor, then you can let it grow in height. This should be taken into account when forming the crown.

Subsequent trims

In the second year of life, the seedling expels lateral branches, which experts call first-order branches. There should be 3-4 of them. As you remember, during the first pruning, 3-4 buds were left. To form shoots of the third order, pruning is also necessary. After this, the tree will form a crown on its own, and fruiting will occur after the appearance of branches of the fourth order.

Typically, two methods are used:

• complete - old or dead tree branches that can cause various diseases;
• partial - reducing the length of non-flowering branches by 25 cm.

Shoots are also removed if they interfere with each other. In this case, the strongest shoot is left and the weak one is removed. A strong shoot, but growing vertically, must be cut out, while leaving, albeit less strong, but growing horizontally. At the top of the head, you must first trim the shoot that grows upward.

Difficulties of the procedure

When pruning lemons at home, novice gardeners may encounter some problems.

Sometimes a single shoot is actively forming at the pruning site, while at least three should develop. In this case, it is completely removed (broken out) under the base. Quite often this procedure has to be repeated several times.

So-called tops sometimes appear on the plant - shoots that are incapable of bearing fruit and, moreover, grow vertically. They grow much faster than fruit branches. Removal is the easiest and effective way fight them.

Experts warn that lemon pruning at home should be done very carefully, since it is very difficult to correct the result.

To successfully form the crown of a homemade lemon, you must follow the tips and recommendations experienced flower growers.

• Be sure to process the sections after the procedure. For this, garden pitch is usually used. But if very thin branches were removed, then such processing is not necessary.
• A beautiful crown of indoor lemon will be formed by annual pruning of the tree, during which branches that grow vertically and weak shoots are removed.
• It is necessary to pinch the tops of the working shoots so that they begin to bear fruit. This is done after seven leaves appear.
• Quite often there is a need to adjust the crown of an adult tree that grows in a pot. This pruning is carried out in April or early May, when shoots begin to grow. In an adult plant, crown formation is carried out for aesthetic purposes.
• It is important to promptly remove diseased and dead branches.
• Tops should be cut off throughout the year, as they appear.

Removing flowers

If you grow lemons at home for fruit, removing excess flowers will allow you to control this process. This procedure will allow you to direct all the forces of the tree to the full development of the remaining flowers of the ovaries. The number of buds left depends on the age of the young tree. For a three-year-old lemon, half of all formed buds are removed, and then 2-3 fruits are left. For a five-year-old tree, the number of fruits is increased to seven. A seven-year-old lemon is left with up to 10 fruits.

The weakest flowers should be removed. If a whole branch does not bloom well enough, it is advisable to cut it off completely. The more empty flowers and weak flowers you remove, the more high-quality ovaries will remain on the branches and, accordingly, the richer harvest will be.

Pruning for rejuvenation

Sooner or later, every owner is faced with a situation when a plant ages. In this case, what kind of care does indoor lemon need at home? Pruning to rejuvenate a plant will not just improve appearance lemon, but will also significantly increase fruiting.

When the tree is 15-20 years old, it is time for this procedure. Pruning is carried out in the spring, cutting off all branches to the fifth order. This will cause active growth of dormant buds and the appearance of young, strong shoots. After this procedure, the tree should be transplanted into a new container, very carefully shortening the roots by about 30%. In this case, the roots that are inside the earthen clod cannot be touched.

Lemon is often grown at home. It's not only beautiful tree, it is also capable of bearing fruit. When growing and caring for lemons at home, the formation of the crown and regular pruning of the tree play a significant role. Thanks to correct pruning the tree will look beautiful, neat and well-groomed. In addition, the growth activity of the tree depends on the correct pruning.

Why is pruning necessary?

Lemon pruning is done to achieve the following goals:

• maintaining a beautiful and well-groomed crown shape;
• security correct height tree and fruiting;
• extension of life and duration of fruiting;
• rejuvenation of an old tree;
• reducing the likelihood of developing tree diseases.

Pruning a lemon at home is not only done so that the tree begins to bear fruit faster and more. Pruning also performs only decorative tasks to make the tree look beautiful.

How to trim a lemon at home in a pot?

Pruning must be approached competently, otherwise you can harm the tree. There are several basic rules for cutting a lemon:

• The tree should be pruned when it is dormant. This condition occurs during the cool season;
• All fruits should be removed from a tree that is already bearing fruit before pruning;
• the lowest shoots are shortened by 25 cm, those next from the bottom - by a maximum of 10 cm, the rest - by no more than 5 cm.

There is nothing complicated about pruning. But mistakes cannot be made, since the tree may grow in the wrong direction.

Correcting errors will require pruning a large number of branches, which will slow down the development of the tree. Therefore, before pruning a lemon at home, you should think through in detail the scheme and sequence of removing branches.

When to prune a lemon tree?

Citrus growers do not consensus regarding the timing of pruning lemons grown in pots. According to most, it is best to trim the tree in early spring, before young shoots have yet appeared.

But even in winter, a slight thinning of the crown is allowed. To improve fruiting throughout the next season, it is also recommended to prune the lemon tree closer to the beginning of winter.

First lemon pruning

The first pruning plays a vital role in terms of fruiting. Pruning must be done in the 1st year of life of the lemon tree. Pruning should be done at a height of about 20 cm.

It is important to leave 3-4 full healthy buds, which are necessary for the appearance of young shoots. Lateral branches will form from them. Lemon pruning is done with pruning shears.

Pruning young tree, remove branches that grow vertically. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in February.

The height of the tree is determined by the location of the pot. If it is on a windowsill, do not let the tree grow too tall. Based on this, the shape of the crown is determined.

Second and subsequent cuts

Starting from the 2nd year of life, lateral branches will form on the tree. These shoots are usually called first-order branches. Their number should be 3-4 units. Therefore, in the 1st year, exactly 3-4 buds are left during the pruning process.

To form branches of the 3rd order, the tree should also be pruned correctly. After this, the tree will form a crown on its own. When the branches of the 4th order grow, the process of fruiting should begin.

Ways to remove branches

There are two main options for pruning branches:

• partial. Large branches are made 25 cm shorter;
• complete. The branch is completely cut off. The method is usually only relevant for dried or damaged shoots, which can cause tree diseases to develop.

Shoots need to be cut off if they create obstacles to each other's growth. Weak shoots need to be removed and the strongest ones left. In the case of vertical strong shoots, they should also be cut off. At the top of the tree, first of all, the shoot, which is directed vertically, is cut off.

Lemon tree pruning diagram

The tree should be pruned according to this pattern:

In the 1st year, only the trunk is cut so that the lateral branches begin to grow. Without such pruning, the tree will be too long and sparse. The plant should be 25-30 cm in height.

In the 2nd year, cut off the side branches. This promotes the formation of young shoots. The latter should be about 3. If only 1 shoot has formed, it is cut off to stimulate the development of others.

Then the 3rd order branches are pruned.

When the branches of the 5th order are cut, the crown is considered formed. From this moment fruiting begins.

Subtleties of lemon trimming at home

Experienced citrus growers give several useful recommendations for pruning a lemon tree:

• After pruning, the cut areas must be treated with garden varnish. When complete removal thin branches, processing may not be performed;
• the tree needs to be pruned every year to create a neat decorative crown;
• all weak and vertical shoots must be removed;
• The tops of fruiting shoots are cut off to activate the process of fruit formation. The top can be pinched when 6-7 leaves have formed.

If the tree is already quite old, it is worth doing rejuvenating pruning. It involves shortening old branches to stimulate the development of young shoots.

Photo instructions on how to trim a lemon

Homemade lemons must be trimmed regularly and correctly. Without formative procedures, the plant will develop chaotically, look untidy, and in general will quickly turn into a real one. tropical tree. How to trim a lemon so that it not only looks nice on the window, but also begins to bear fruit faster?

Best time to prune indoor lemon

It is better to remove woody branches with pruning shears, but for young branches you can use two nails. Don't forget to disinfect your tools!

In principle, excess shoots from indoor lemons can be removed at any time of the year. The most suitable time for this matter is March - early April.

At the same time, experts still recommend refraining from performing “surgical” intervention in late summer and early autumn. The fact is that pruning a lemon stimulates the formation of new shoots, which are absolutely unnecessary in the cold season.

Since lemon grows in waves, several prunings per year are allowed.

How to trim homemade lemon, step by step

When cutting a branch, hold the pruning shears at a 45 degree angle.

For lemons growing indoors, shoots are pruned according to the following rules:

1. The main shoot is shortened when it reaches a length of 18-23 centimeters (usually this happens already in the first year of life). This promotes more active branching of the plant.
2. Subsequently, 3 to 4 strong ones are left on the bush, evenly scattered along the crown of the shoot. These will be first order branches. When they reach 15-20 centimeters, they are pinched, removing 1-2 upper underdeveloped buds.
3. On each first-order branch, two second-order shoots are left (they are pinched in the same way as described above).
4. On branches of the second order, from 3 to 5 branches of the third appear, and later an increase of the fourth and last order is formed.

This is where the formative pruning of the lemon ends - the fourth-order branches usually begin to bear fruit.

Immediately after harvesting the fruits, fruit-bearing shoots are cut to ¾ of their length.

Young lemon trees less than 10 years old can grow so-called fattening branches. As a rule, they are formed from the main shoot or from first-order branches. It is easy to distinguish them from normal shoots - they grow much faster and have large, fat leaves.

If the crown of the plant is of normal density, then it is better to get rid of such shoots immediately. But with weak branching, shorten them by 60-70% of their length.

And every time you prune a lemon, be sure to get rid of inward, diseased, damaged and shriveled branches.

In order for the crown of a homemade lemon to develop more evenly, it must be rotated weekly around its axis by about a quarter.

Lemon ringing for quick harvest

Broken branches are removed entirely

A procedure called “ringing” is carried out in order to hasten the entry of the lemon tree into the fruiting phase.

It is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. Copper wire is tightly wrapped around the main shoot of the plant at the very bottom (you can also “ring” several skeletal branches).
2. The wire should fit tightly enough, then press a little into the bark of the plant.
3. The ring is removed after about six months, but it can be left in place for up to a year.
4. The injured area is covered with garden varnish and wrapped with a piece of elastic bandage.

In the area of ​​constriction, the bark is deformed and seems to float onto the ring. This causes accumulation nutrients in the tissues of the lemon and it begins to lay fruit buds faster.

This operation is carried out when the indoor lemon has reached the age of two - three years. If a one-year-old lemon produces flowers, they should be picked off. Premature flowering weakens the plant and slows down its branching, which is necessary to initiate the formation of fruit buds. In addition, if there are less than 15 leaves per flower left, then the lemon will simply not be able to “bear” the harvest.

Regular pruning of lemon allows you to obtain plants with a compact but dense crown. In addition, it promotes intensive branching, thereby stimulating the plant to lay fruit.

Of course, pruning is also stressful for the lemon. To make it easier for him to cope with it, after surgical procedures, be sure to feed your pet some weak organic fertilizer. For example, you can use blood water after washing meat.

How to form a homemade lemon tree and direct the development of the crown using simple technique(be sure to watch!), well told by the expert on tropical plants Sergey Marinkov:

Well, how to trim a lemon without making the most serious mistakes can be found in this article - http://marianablog.ru/obrezka-citrusovyh/.

Let me remind you that this article is part of the “lemon” series (you can find out how to grow a lemon from a seed). If you are excited about the idea of ​​growing homemade lemon, be sure to subscribe to the blog and notifications about new materials will be sent directly to your email!