Fruit · pruning calendar
When to prune citrus trees
Mature citrus trees need little pruning, and extra pruning can cut the harvest. Remove suckers from the base any time. After a freeze, wait until new growth shows what’s dead before cutting.
Citrus pruning by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Don’t prune now | February: Don’t prune now | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Don’t prune now | December: Don’t prune now |
| Tropicalzones 12–13 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Don’t prune now Cuts now can push growth that a freeze kills. If a freeze hit, wait until new growth shows what’s dead.
- Prune now Frost risk is past. Remove suckers, dead wood and stray branches.
- Wait Little pruning needed. Snap off suckers from below the graft whenever you see them.
How to cut: Remove only suckers, dead or crossing wood and low branches touching the ground. Unnecessary pruning reduces fruit.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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