So, today I tackled a task I’ve been putting off for a while – pruning my Meyer lemon tree. It was getting a bit unruly, and I knew it was time to give it some shape.
First, I gathered my tools. I grabbed my trusty pruning shears, some gloves, and a bucket to toss the cuttings into. I made sure my shears were nice and clean. I gave them a good wipe-down. Dirty tools can spread diseases, and nobody wants that, right?
Next, I took a good look at the tree. It’s like a puzzle; you have to figure out which branches need to go. I started by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Those are easy to spot – they’re usually brown or brittle.
- I snipped them off right at the base, close to the main branch or trunk.
Then came the fun part – shaping the tree. I focused on cutting back branches that were crossing each other or growing inwards. Those can rub together and create wounds. I also trimmed some of the longer, lankier branches to encourage the tree to grow fuller and bushier.
It was a bit like giving the tree a haircut!
Throughout the whole process, I kept stepping back to check my work. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t taking off too much at once. With each snip, the tree started to look more balanced and healthy.
Finally, after a couple of hours, I was done. I collected all the branches I’d pruned and tossed them into my compost bin. The tree looked so much better – more open and airy. Now it can focus its energy on producing those delicious lemons I love so much!
I cleaned my shears again, this time with a bit of rubbing alcohol to make sure they were disinfected. I’m really happy with how it turned out. It was a good day’s work, and I’m already looking forward to seeing the tree thrive even more.
Pruning can be a bit scary, but honestly, it’s not as hard as it looks. Just take your time, have a plan, and don’t be afraid to make a few cuts. Your tree will thank you for it!
