The tangerine occurs wild in southern China and is one of the most commonly cultivated citrus fruits in tropical and subtropical climates. At the beginning of the 19th century the tangerine was introduced as a cultivated plant to the Mediterranean region. The evergreen tree can grow up to seven meters high in its natural environment and also tends to grow very bushy.
The optimal time
Mandarin trees should be pruned extensively in spring if possible. The best time is at the end of the winter season, before the first new shoots sprout. if this is not possible, you can also prune the tree immediately after flowering. However, you should hurry, because shortly afterwards the first new buds will be formed - and these should better stay on the tree. In particular, pruning before new growth stimulates the mandarin tree to produce new shoots, so that a dense crown can develop. Otherwise you can remove a cheeky growing shoot or a puny / dried up branch all year round.
manual
Proceed as follows when pruning the tangerine tree:
- First, remove dried and stunted branches.
- Then inward growing shoots are cut off.
- If two (or more) branches cross, prune one (or more). However, one shoot should remain
- Whenever possible, make the cut just above one eye.
- The cutting tool should of course be sharp and disinfected.
- Hygiene is immensely important when pruning trees, otherwise fungal infections can easily occur.
- For this reason, you should also seal larger cuts with tree resin if possible.
- Do not crush the branches, this will cause serious injury to the tree, as well as disrupt the flow of sap.
- Leave fruiting branches untouched for now.
- Aim for a bushy crown that is as even as possible.
Sharp scissors such as pruning shears or a sharp knife are best for cutting. Mandarins can be grown both as a shrub and as a standard.
tips and tricks
When repotting your tangerine tree, you should inspect the root ball closely and remove any dead or damaged roots. Only then is it transferred to a new, larger pot.
IJA