Rules on How to Trim an Avocado Tree

Trimming an avocado tree can make it bear more productive.avocado fruits on a wild avocado tree image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com

An avocado tree can obtain a height of 40 to 80 feet if left unpruned. A large tree, however, does not necessarily guarantee more fruit production. According to Avocado Source website, the yield of an avocado tree is in direct proportion to the amount of healthy fruitwood and foliage on the tree. Pruning by the rules can help accomplish an ideal ratio that allows the tree to thrive.

Prune Only When Necessary

Most avocado trees will flourish with little or no pruning. In some cases, over-pruning will actually reduce the tree's fruit production by stimulating growth or foliage at the expense of fruiting. There are instances, however, when pruning is necessary. The Avocado Source website suggests pruning avocado trees to prevent wind damage by lowering the height of the tree and to permit effective irrigation, cultivation and mowing by removing low-hanging branches. All deadwood should be pruned away as it occurs, to promote the growth of healthy fruitwood.

Remove only one major branch at a time. For example, as the University of California Extension website suggests, if you want to prune to reduce the height of the avocado tree, cut out the tallest branch one year, and then the second tallest branch the next year, and so on. This places less stress on the tree, allowing it ample time to recover in between heavy pruning episodes.

Heavy pruning of avocado trees is best done immediately after harvesting. Keep in mind that heavy pruning stimulates new growth in the tree and can make it susceptible to frost damage, so the pruning should be done as early as possible in the late summer or early fall in areas where cold injury may occur. Light pruning can be done at any time of year, and will provide a stimulus to vegetative growth when done in the spring.

Heavy pruning stimulates new growth, with the greatest growth occurring nearest to the cut. By making cuts close to lateral branches, you will encourage the tree to spread out rather than up, thus making it more compact. A compact and dense tree bears more fruit than a stringy, pole-like tree.