Is it safe to drastically prune lemon tree this late?

[Tipjar]

Hello, I'm in southern California and have a well established decades old Meyer lemon tree long overdue for reshaping. I'd like to prune off all the branches less than an inch (25mm) in diameter which would also pretty much remove all its current leaves and lemons. I've heard major pruning should be done in the late fall or winter and it's already the beginning of spring here. Is it too late to do such a drastic pruning? One concern I have is the hot summer sun damaging the tree's ability to rebound. Thanks for any help.

 

[Chuck]

When pruning a tree one should NEVER remove more than 25%-30% of the foliage during a growth period or per year. My next door neighbor killed 2 big mature pecan trees by taking out at least 50% of the foliage last summer. If you stick to the 25% rule you will be OK but pruning in the fall or during dormancy is best. The rule still applies.

 

[Tipjar]

When pruning a tree one should NEVER remove more than 25%-30% of the foliage during a growth period or per year. My next door neighbor killed 2 big mature pecan trees by taking out at least 50% of the foliage last summer. If you stick to the 25% rule you will be OK but pruning in the fall or during dormancy is best. The rule still applies.

Good to know! Thanks.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

My first step when pruning something is to take out the crossing over pieces. You don't want them, even if they don't rub they impede each other, and the shape becomes much clearer.

 

[roadrunner]

My Meyer lemon tree just started flowering and it started producing flower buds a few weeks ago. I would not prune a tree that is in the process of producing flower buds.

If you have unhealthy limbs I would prune them, otherwise wait for the winter to prune. Do you see any flower buds emerging? They can be small in the beginning, but you will be able to see them up close.

 

[cpp gardener]

Citrus are subtropical plants, not hardy deciduous trees and are sensitive to cold.You should ONLY prune citrus in the Spring, even if they’re blooming then. If you prune in the Fall or Winter, you stimulate tender new growth that is more susceptible to freezing than hardened old wood. Even in SoCal you cool lose the new growth.
The recommendation to remove only 25% still applies, but if you don’t mind losing the fruit for a year, more can be removed. I’ve seen some citrus that had most of their foliage removed and survived, just didn’t bloom and fruit for a year.

 

[saiful4151]

Drastically pruning your Meyer lemon tree in early spring in Southern California isn't ideal, but it's not necessarily disastrous either. While major pruning is typically recommended in late fall or winter when the tree is dormant, spring pruning can still work—though with some risks.
Your main concern should be sunburn and stress from the upcoming summer heat. Removing most of the foliage now could expose the trunk and remaining branches to intense sunlight, which may lead to bark damage. To mitigate this, consider:

1. Leaving Some Canopy – Instead of removing all branches under an inch in diameter, try a more gradual approach over multiple seasons.
2. Whitewashing the Trunk – If a lot of foliage is removed, apply a diluted white latex paint (50/50 with water) to exposed branches to prevent sunburn.
3. Watering and Mulching – Keep the tree well-watered and add mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
4. Fertilization – Giving the tree a balanced citrus fertilizer can help it recover more quickly.

If your tree is healthy and well-established, it should bounce back, but be prepared for reduced fruit production this year. If reshaping is a priority, it might be worth the risk, but a staggered pruning approach would be safer.
By the way, since you have a blog on Fruit Tree Yields, you could document this process! It would be a great topic for your readers—sharing before-and-after results, recovery progress, and lessons learned could be really valuable. Let me know if you need help drafting a blog post!

 

[Tipjar]

My Meyer lemon tree just started flowering and it started producing flower buds a few weeks ago. I would not prune a tree that is in the process of producing flower buds.

If you have unhealthy limbs I would prune them, otherwise wait for the winter to prune. Do you see any flower buds emerging? They can be small in the beginning, but you will be able to see them up close.

There were no buds on my lemon tree yet, only on the orange tree.

 

[roadrunner]

There were no buds on my lemon tree yet, only on the orange tree.

So did you do a massive pruning? If not is it starting to bloom now?

 

[cpp gardener]

Here (Pomona) they're a mass of flowers. With the weather the way it is you should be fine with pruning now.