How to prune a Meyer lemon tree 🍋 ✂️ A step-by-step guide

To prune a Meyer lemon tree, first trim out any dead branches. Prune back damaged branches until only healthy branches remain. Identify the most important stems (main scaffold branches) and remove any crossing branches with your pruning shears. Lemon tree pruning is best done in early spring as growth begins for the growing season.

Meyer lemons growing on a tree — Prune your meyer lemon after harvest

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How to prune a Meyer lemon tree

Meyer lemon is a dwarf lemon tree variety commonly grown as a potted lemon tree. Young trees are either left to their own devices for a few years or carefully trained into a specific shape.

These trees can be grown indoors or outside but have the best fruit production when the trees are outdoors for at least a portion of the year. This particular citrus tree produces edible fruit that is juicer than standard lemons. The tree also has a rather compact mature size.

Shaping a young tree

Meyer lemons are usually left as bushy plants. Stems grow where they please, and it’s tricky to force them into any sort of pattern. It is usually easier to let the plant go for a few growing seasons and then select scaffold limbs after a plant has calmed down in growth. These trees can handle significant pruning as long as it is done infrequently.

Pruning equipment

To prune a small Meyer lemon, you’ll need a sharp pair of pruning shears, a pair of gardening gloves, and perhaps a stepladder if your tree is quite established. Collect the right tools before you start and check to make sure everything is in working order.

Potted Meyers are usually easiest to prune if they are on a low plant stand with wheels. This makes it easy to remove branches from around all sides of the tree.

Steps for pruning Meyer lemon trees

Here are the basic steps for pruning small citrus trees like Meyer lemon:

1. Start pruning by completely trimming off any dead branches.

2. Prune back damaged branches until only healthy wood remains. Any diseased wood should be removed immediately to minimize spread.

3. Remove water shoots, which are the skinny vertical branches that tend to shoot up. The idea is to leave only main branches and the secondary branches that grow off the main large branches.

4. Identify the most important stems (main scaffold branches). Remove any branches that cross these main stems or have the potential to rub against them.

5. To shape the tree, shorten each branch to an outward-facing bud. We want the new growth to go outwards into new space, not inwards where it will crowd the tree.

6. Make sure to leave the tips of all branches with at least three or four healthy buds if possible.

7. Trim off any twiggy growth around the outer edges of your tree and the main trunk, as well as any lower branches that may touch the soil.

8. Prune off suckers growing up from the roots. These basal shoots rarely grow into productive branches and can adversely affect overall fruit production.

Keep on top of pruning

To keep your Meyer lemon tree healthy and productive, prune it each spring. The primary goal is to open up the center of the tree to light and air circulation by removing crossing branches and shortening weak limbs. Citrus trees are generally very tolerant when it comes to how much you can prune them.

Pruning a lemon tree can seem a bit daunting for home gardeners. Just remember that these trees are surprisingly hardy and tend to grow back quite vigorously after pruning. If your tree does not grow back vigorously, check that it’s getting enough light. Meyer trees growing indoors usually need more light than a window will provide, so invest in good plant light.

“Citrus grow as bushy, evergreen trees that need little or no pruning – just as well, given the capricious response of citrus to pruning cuts. Do most of what little pruning is necessary just before the spring flush of growth where winters are cold, or anytime in perpetually hot climates.”
The Pruning Book, by Lee Reich

When to prune a Meyer lemon tree?

The best time to prune a Meyer lemon tree is in late winter or early spring. This is typically after the main harvest season (for established trees), but before the first big flush of spring growth. Pruning lemon trees at this time of year allows you to select productive branches, encourage outward growth during the upcoming season, and maximize fruit yield.

“Plants will grow almost continuously under warm conditions and high light; therefore, the upright, spreading branches need to be pruned back to maintain a dense, well-branched specimen. Prune young plants to create strong scaffolding that will bear the weight of plentiful fruits when the plant matures.”
Growing Tasty Tropical Plants in Any Home, Anywhere, by Laurelynn Martin and Byron Martin

Meyer lemon trees vs other small lemon varieties

‘Meyer’ is a specialty hybrid citrus variety. This type of lemon is actually thought to be a cross between a standard lemon and a sour orange. Sour oranges are sweeter and juicier than standard lemons, and so the resulting ‘Meyer’ lemon is also sweeter and juicier than standard table lemons. They also have a nice thin skin, which makes them perfect for zesting.

Meyer lemon trees are generally more compact and have less dense foliage than other small citrus varieties like kumquats and tangerines. This makes the tree easier to prune and shape, as well as gives it a neater overall appearance.

Additionally, Meyer lemons are more cold hardy than some other small citrus varieties, which means you can successfully grow them in more northern climates. While they are more tolerant to cooler weather, they should be brought indoors if freezing weather is in the forecast. They don’t grow well at temperatures below about 60°F (15°C).

When taking care of your Meyer lemon tree, keep in mind that all citrus trees prefer full sun and well-draining soil. They benefit from fertilizing with a balanced fertilizer every two to three months during the growing season. And be sure to stay on top of regular pruning for optimal health and maximum yield!

“‘Meyer’ is thought to be a hybrid between a lemon and a sour orange. It will produce almost twice as much juice as a common table lemon and has a distinct rich flavor.”
Growing Tasty Tropical Plants in Any Home, Anywhere, by Laurelynn Martin and Byron Martin

FAQs

How hard can you cut a Meyer lemon tree back?

Meyer lemon trees can be cut back quite hard, as long as this practice is not done frequently. These trees are vigorous growers that tend to sprout back quickly after pruning (as long as the tree is healthy).

If, for instance, you’d like to create a standard topiary, remove all branches except one tall vertical stem. On an old, unproductive tree, a rejuvination pruning can be done by removing all twiggy growth so that only the main and secondary branches remain.