When pruning the Trifoliate orange

When pruning the Trifoliate orange

The Trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata L., 1763) is a citrus fruit of the Rutaceae family.
Trifoliate orange is a plant native to the north of southern China and Korea, which is now grown all over the world.
The noteworthy characteristic of this citrus fruit is its resistance to cold and therefore to the possibility of cultivation well beyond the classic temperate range reserved for other citrus fruits and it is the only deciduous citrus fruit.
The Trifoliate orange is also the best rootstock for hybrids of all citrus fruits. In addition to giving the new plants resistance to cold and disease, Citrus trifoliata plants appear to favor higher yields.
It also guarantees resistance to the citrus nematode and to the rubbery of the collar.
This tree is also grown for its fruit and is easily propagated by seed and cutting.
Furthermore, by crossing the Trifoliate orange with some species of the genus Citrus, some hybrids were obtained: Citrange (hybrids of Poncirus trifoliata x Citrus sinensis; Citrumeli (hybrids of Poncirus trifoliata x Citrus paradisi).

Pruning period –
The Trifoliate orange can be raised, both as a tree and as a shrub; however it should be pruned both to give harmony of shape to the foliage and to eliminate dry branches and those damaged by the cold.
The pruning period falls twice a year: in the spring before the vegetative awakening of the plant or in the autumn after the fruit harvest.
In the month of July, the second pruning operation, the green one is carried out to avoid unnecessary waste of energy. With suitable, disinfected and well-sharpened tools, the suckers that grow at the base of the trunk, the non-productive suckers are cut off and the innermost branches are thinned out to facilitate ventilation. The branches that have lignified should not be touched but only the young shoots of the year.
For details of the pruning technique, refer to the specific sheet.