David,
I copied this from a University website... just like I stated. What makes
you more knowledgeable than UC Davis?

Unlike you, I don't have to talk out of my ass.
Contact a cooperative extension that has extensive knowledge with citrus and
argue with them. Stop trying to give HORRIBLE advice to novices.
Dumb ass
Nicole
"David E. Ross" wrote in message
...
Nicole does not know anything about citrus.

Nicole wrote [in part]:

1.. Prune fruit trees when the leaves are off (dormant). It's easier to
see what you are doing and removal of dormant buds (growing points)
invigorates the remaining buds. Summer pruning removes leaves (food
manufacture), will slow fruit ripening, and exposes fruit to sunburn.
Summer pruning can be beneficial, however, when used to slow down overly
vigorous trees or trees that are too large. It is usually done just after
harvest.

The question was about a lemon tree. Citrus is evergreen.


2.. Right after planting a new tree, cut if off to short stick 24 to 30
inches high and cut any side shoots, remaining below that, to one bud.
This encourages low branching and equalizes the top and root system.
Paint the tree with white latex paint to protect it from sunburn and
borer attack

That's a good way to kill any citrus. Never cut back a lemon to the point
where there is no foliage.


3.. Young trees should be pruned fairly heavily and encouraged to grow
rapidly for the first 3 years without any fruit. Leave most of the small
horizontal branches untouched for later fruiting.

Citrus never needs pruning for fruit production. An unpruned lemon or
orange will produce very well. Citrus is pruned to remove dead wood
and -- in a garden -- to improve appearance. Where snails and ants are a
severe problem, citrus is sometimes pruned to eliminate any growth (other
than the trunk) that touches the ground. Commercial orchards are pruned
to make it easier to harvest (by removing growth that would require too
tall a ladder).


4.. When deciding which branch to cut and where to cut it, remember
that topping a vertical branch encourages vegetative growth necessary for
development of the tree and opens the tree to more sunlight. Topping
horizontal branches is done to renew fruiting wood and to thin off
excessive fruit. Horizontal branches left uncut will bear earlier and
heavier crops.

As I indicated above, citrus does NOT need pruning for renewal.


5.. Upright branches generally remain vegetative and vigorous.
Horizontal branches generally are more fruitful. A good combination of
the two is necessary, for fruiting now and in future years. Remove
suckers, water sprouts and most competing branches growing straight up
into the tree. Downward bending branches eventually lose vigor and
produce only a few small fruit; cut off the part hanging down.

For citrus, ALL branches are equally productive.


NOTE: For dwarf citrus grown in containers, it is sometimes necessary to
prune in order to keep the foliage from exceeding the ability of
constrained roots to supply moisture. Prune more than two months before
the first frost and not before the last frost.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/