When is the best time to prune sugar apple?

Sugar Apple Pruning

When the sugar apple grows naturally, it has few branches, and the branches easily grow too long, resulting in a messy crown. During the growing season, the branches need to be topped and leafed, which can control the growth length of the branches, promote the sprouting of shoots, and promote branching. In addition, through back-pruning, the germination power of latent buds on old branches is also very strong.

Sugar apple pruning time

Sugar apple can be heavily pruned in mid-March in spring, when most of the deciduous branches have sprouted. Generally, it only needs to be pruned once a year.

How to prune sugar apple

Keep the main trunk of the sugar apple at a height of 40-50 cm and top it off. Trim the leaves on the upper part to keep 3-4 main branches. When the main branches grow to 60 cm, you can pinch off the top. After 30 days, when the leaves turn green and mature, you can remove the middle and upper leaves of each main branch, and keep 2 secondary branches each. When the secondary branches grow to 35 cm, pinch off the top. After the leaves are mature, remove 2 more leaves.

Repeat this cycle. During the branching period, preparations for shoot thinning need to be made. Only one new shoot should be left in each leaf axil. The trees should also be pinched and topped, and yellow leaves should be cut off in time. Young trees can be encouraged to produce new shoots 4-5 times a year.

During the growth period of sugar apple, it is necessary to pinch the top and leaves, which can reduce the consumption of nutrients and make its latent buds grow faster. In addition, during the winter dormancy period, the dead, old, diseased and weak branches can be pruned in time to help it survive the winter better.

Precautions for pruning sugar apple

In June, sugar apples need to be pruned and leaves removed, and work needs to be done to promote flowering. Flowering and pollination can be carried out in different months as needed. This can adjust the timing of fruit measures and extend the fruiting period from September to March of the following year.