The term “fruit tree” is all-encompassing. Many woody trees produce edible fruits that we enjoy eating. For maximum fruit production from these specimens, timely pruning is crucial. It’s an important part of a comprehensive care regimen.

A few deciduous trees appreciate pruning in late summer and fall after harvest, though most of the species on this list are tropical growers that fruit at the end of the season. You may prune them when you harvest, as they’re actively preparing to grow another crop for the next year. 

Prune these fruit trees after harvest to shape your tree, to promote fruiting, and to improve the health and vigor of your orchard. Annual pruning is a necessary part of caring for fruit trees. Without it, the specimens may outgrow the space, making it difficult for you to reach their fruits during the harvest season!

Apricot

Open canopies allow air to flow through branches.

Apricots ripen from late spring through summer before most other stone fruits. Their flowers emerge early in the season, in late winter and spring. Instead of pruning them before the buds swell, it’s best to prune these fruits after harvest.

Pruning apricots in the summer prevents nasty infections caused by Eutypa. Eutypa is a genus of fungi that infects woody trees, causing dieback, oozing wounds, and cankers. It spreads through humid, rainy weather that’s common in spring.

When pruning, start by removing the three D’s: dead, damaged, and diseased wood. After removing the three D’s, make precise cuts to maintain the canopy at an easily reachable height. Remove criss-crossing limbs, weak branches, and crowded shoots. 

Avocado

Shorter stature encourages steady, plentiful fruit each year.

Avocados are warm-weather lovers that grow best in tropical and subtropical regions of the U.S. They ripen at various times of the year, depending on their variety. Some, like ‘Hass’, mature from April through October, while others, like ‘Corona,’ finish in the summer. 

Avocado trees tend to form strong branches that rarely need pruning for shape. To prune these fruit trees after harvest, simply lower the height of the tallest limbs. It’s best to keep your avocado tree between 10 and 15 feet for easy harvesting and maximum fruit production. 

Fig

Some varieties reward growers with two sweet harvests.

Figs are delicious. Some varieties have two harvests a year, while others have a single picking period. It’s best to prune them in winter before new growth occurs. Pick any long-standing fruit that persists on the branches, then make cuts to remove crossing branches and suckers from the base.

Avoid pruning figs in the fall, as you may open them up to winter injury during frosty weather. Pick their fruit, then wait to prune until the leaves fall off. In warm-winter regions, the figs may ripen long into the winter. 

You may remove unruly, quick-growing branches without fruit at any time of the year. Figs are like hazelnuts; they form dense thickets over time with many branches sprouting from their base. The fruits require an annual prune after harvest to look and perform their best.

Grapefruit

Sweetness deepens the longer the fruit stays on the branches.

Citrus trees, like grapefruits, ripen late in the growing season from autumn into winter. Leaving the grapefruits on the tree helps them grow sweeter and more tasty. If you leave them on the tree, you may prune the tree’s branches shortly after harvesting the fruit. 

Growers with cold winters should wait to trim their trees until spring or early summer. Frosty weather can injure the limbs and cause severe dieback. In all other regions, make cuts after harvesting before new flowers emerge. 

You won’t need to prune grapefruits as heavily as apples. Remove the three D’s, and reduce the height of the tree if it’s too tall for harvesting.

Guava

Two ripening seasons make the harvests generous.

Guava trees are heat-loving specimens that produce bushels of fruit. They grow well in tropical regions of the U.S., in parts of Florida, Hawaii, and California. 

Guavas tend to have two ripening seasons. They bear fruit once in spring and again in the fall. You may prune the trees after either harvesting period. Shape them so you can reach the guavas, and remove any suckers to prevent thickets from forming. 

Cutting a guava stem causes more to grow. Where you cut the single shoot, two or more new ones will appear after pruning. Use this to your advantage to shape a single-trunk specimen into a productive and bushy tree. 

Kumquat

Minimal trimming keeps them tidy while fruiting generously.

Kumquats are unlike any other citrus fruit you’ve eaten. They have tart flesh, edible peels, and a small size. Pop them in your mouth for a tasty treat, or chop them into jams, jellies, and sauces.

As with other citrus, kumquats begin forming at the end of the growing season. You’ll pick them from fall through spring, and prune their branches right after the harvest period.

Most kumquats stay between three and six feet tall, and they require minimal pruning. Remove the three D’s, and leave healthy branches for optimal fruit production. 

Lemon

Occasional shaping keeps trees tidy and fruit within reach.

Tart lemons are essential in home kitchens. Use their juice, flesh, and rind for flavoring dressings, desserts, drinks, and cooked meals. Lemon trees grow best in warm regions of the U.S. that don’t have significant frosts during winter.

They take to pruning like kumquats and grapefruits. They don’t need much, but these fruits do benefit from a prune after harvest. Harvest the lemons when they’re yellow and fragrant, then prune the woody stems shortly after.

Take care when trimming the stems. Many citrus trees, including lemons and limes, have thorns on them. Wear gloves, look where you’re pruning, and put on a long-sleeved shirt to protect your skin.

Lime

Harvest season stretches long, from crisp fall through spring.

Limes need hot temperatures to perform their best. Most grow well on their own; you won’t have to prune them outside of removing dead or diseased wood. Plant them outdoors in warm states, or grow them in pots and bring them indoors for the winter.

Limes are ready to harvest during the colder months, from fall through spring. Leave the fruit on the stems until they’re green, then pick the limes and bring them indoors. To prune fruits after harvest, trim the thorny branches shortly after the harvest period, before new blooms emerge. 

Lychee

Clusters ripen evenly under warm, sunny conditions outdoors.

Lychees are growing in popularity in the U.S. These fruit trees produce round, small fruits with red, knobby skin. Inside, their flesh is white and jelly-like. 

Lychees are easy fruit trees to prune after harvest. The fruit ripens in clusters, and you’ll need to trim the stems to harvest the bunches. You’ll effectively prune the tree by harvesting the lychees when they’re ready. 

If you have a lackluster year without many lychees on the tree, prune the stem tips at the end of the growing season. This helps encourage ample fruit production the next year. 

Mango

Sweet mangoes develop best with proper branch spacing.

Mangoes are full of rich, golden yellow flesh that’s sweet and delicious. They’re incredible tropical fruit trees in the home garden. Watch as their tall, reaching branches create shade in your yard, then wait for edible mangoes at the end of the season!

Without pruning, mango trees reach impressive heights. They may grow to 50 feet or taller when mature. Keep them within reach with annual cuts shortly after harvest. 

Prune back tall branches and improve crowded regions by thinning excess growth. If the leading limbs grow over 15 feet, cut them back to lower side branches. 

Sweet Cherry

Cut back long shoots to maintain a manageable height.

Sweet cherries don’t seem to belong on this list. They’re not tropical fruit trees, and they grow best in temperate regions with winter frosts. Their small, sweet fruits mature from spring through summer.