Cultivating a mandarin in the garden may seem simple, but without a well made pruning you risk compromising the entire harvest. That’s why knowing when and how to intervene all the difference.
Grow a Mandarin in the garden It is one of those choices that give good satisfactions: a few weeks of sunshine are enough and, between the leaves, the first fruits begin to appear. A scene that repays every little effort. But there is a detail that often neglects, yet it makes the difference: the pruning. It is not enough to plant, water and wait. Without the right care, even a strong tree can become lazy and stop producing as it should.
Pore is believed to be an operation reserved for experts, but this is not exactly the case. With Few indications and a pinch of attentioneven those who do not have a green thumb can get surprising results. The important thing is to know when to act and what to cut. The difference between a mandarin full of fruits and a bare passes from here.
Let’s face it, one of the greatest satisfactions in cultivating a citrus is right in see it change appearance with the seasons: a day full of flowers, the month after loading fruits. But it’s not just a matter of beauty. A pruning made at the right time can really change the cards on the table. It makes the tree stronger, more stable, less vulnerable to seasonal ailments. Just observe how much the air circulating between the branches improves after eliminating the superfluous ones: less humidity, less mold, less problems. A small action, great benefits.
In short, prune the mandarin It is not just an aesthetic question. It is a practice that is good for the plant, the harvest and, after all, even to those who take care of you. But let’s enter detail.
When to prune the mandarin to get more fruits
One of the most delicate aspects is precisely the choice of the right moment for pruning. Doing it in the wrong period means risking slowing down the growth or even stressing the tree, reducing its productivity. The ideal season? Between the end of spring and summer, when the plant has passed the main blooms but has not yet entered the most active phase of production.
In the South, where the climate is milder, it can also start in April, while in the northern regions it is better to wait for the late May. The goal is to avoid the cold and risks related to late frosts, but also not interfere with the vegetative phase. In winter, in fact, it is better to let scissors and cessoie stay: mandarin needs rest.
For those who grow in pots, the same rules are worth more or less, with the only difference that the plant is more exposed to thermal changes. Better then keep it under control and maybe move it to a more sheltered corner before proceeding with the cuts.
Mandarin pruning techniques: which branches to eliminate and why
A good pruning mandarin It starts from the choice of tools: well sharpened and sanitized shears are essential to avoid trauma to the plant and the diffusion of diseases. But once the tools are ready, what should be cut?
There are three main categories of branches to be eliminated:
- Dry branches Or damaged: they are no longer needed to the plant and hinder the growth of the new shoots.
- Juice: those fast and intrusive sprouts that sprout at the base or along the main branches. They grow quickly but do not produce fruits.
- Branches that cross Or that grow inwards: they prevent light and air from circulating in the hair, promoting mold and parasites.
In the case of young plants, we talk about breeding pruning. It is used to give a harmonious form to the tree, often to globe, so as to facilitate its management in the following years. In the first two years the main branches are chosen and the weakest branches are removed.
When instead the plant is an adult, we move on to Production pruning. The goal is to lighten the hair, eliminate the superfluous and stimulate the fruiting in the right points. It is not necessary to cut too much: sometimes a few targeted interventions are enough to visibly improve the harvest.
A useful advice is always to observe the reaction of the plant: if after pruning it produces many shoots but few flowers, perhaps it has cut too much. Each tree has its own “personality”, and learning to know it is part of the game.
Common mistakes that compromise the health of the plant
One of the most common mistakes is to think that it simply means shorten the branches. In reality, each cut has a consequence and must be done with a precise purpose. Cutting at random can open the way for infections, imbalances or simply stress not necessary for the tree.
Another common mistake is that of prune in the cold months or too often during the year. Two interventions are more than enough, as long as they are well performed.
Also overdo it with the “cleaning“It is risky: removing too much hair all together can reduce the ability of the plant to feed and regenerate. Better to proceed a little at a time, letting the tree adapted.
Finally, the importance of observe the plant: signs of rot, discolored leaves, branches that do not bloom … they are all messages. Learning to read them makes it easier to intervene at the right time.
Cure a mandarin is a bit like taking care of a thin balance: It takes attention, but the resulting satisfaction is truly priceless. And a pruning made with criterion can really make the difference, season after season.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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