Meyer lemon trees (Citrus x meyeri) are prized as ornamentals for their fragrant blooms, dark and waxy foliage and nearly thornless nature as well as for the fruits they produce, which are rounder and more orange than other lemon varieties. Meyer lemon trees naturally grow about 10 to 12 feet tall but reach a mature height of only 5 to 6 feet if grafted to a dwarf rootstock. These trees, which are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 and grown over a broader range indoors or as a container specimen, benefit from an occasional pruning that encourages health and an attractive form. Perform most of the pruning to shape this citrus in late winter.
Cut off all shoots that are growing out of the tree's roots or the lower portion of the trunk below the graft union where the Meyer lemon was joined to the dwarfing rootstock. Make these cuts at ground level or nearly flush with the trunk.
Prune off any watersprouts, overly vigorous, vertical or nearly vertical shoots, growing out of branches in the canopy.
Cut dead or injured branches and branches that are rubbing against each other or crossing back towards the inside of the canopy back to just above a bud or branch junction.
Cut back branches that seem too long, overly vigorous or leggy, working your way around the Meyer lemon tree's canopy to give it a uniform, rounded appearance or to reduce its overall size. Make every cut cleanly and no more than about 1/4 inch away from a healthy bud or junction with another branch.
Trim off any branches that are touching the ground or other structures, as these can act as bridges for ants and other pests.
Thin out fruit selectively by gently cutting small fruits off at the stem junction, leaving healthy fruits that are spaced evenly around the tree's canopy. As a general rule, leave one fruit to develop for approximately every 42 leaves. To encourage establishment and vigor, you may opt to remove all fruits as they appear for the first two years following planting.
Inspect the dwarf Meyer lemon for pests and diseases regularly throughout the growing season and cut off diseased, broken or heavily infested portions of the tree as you notice the damage, making a cut several inches below the damage or infection into healthy tissue and just above a bud or branch junction. Destroy or dispose of the infested or diseased portions of the tree that you remove.
Things You Will Need
- Pruning shears or loppers
- Never remove more than one-third of the Meyer lemon's branches or overall bulk in a single pruning session but instead reduce its size over the course of multiple years, if needed.
- University of Florida Nassau County Extension: Meyer Lemon
- University of California Cooperative Extension Sacramento County: Growing Citrus in Sacramento
- Oregon State University Extension Service: Meyer Lemons Can Be Grown in PNW if Protected From Winter
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service: Growing Citrus in Patio Containers
- National Gardening Association: Edible of the Month: Lemons and Limes
- National Gardening Association: How to: Grow Citrus in a Container
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