Pruning Orange Trees

• 1). Sterilize all pruning materials with rubbing alcohol in order to prevent diseases. If you are pruning more than one tree, sterilize materials in between prunings.
  
  
• 2). Pick a specific pruning time. It is recommended that you prune orange trees before blossoms appear. Most blooming periods will be between January and March, depending on your location.
  
  
• 3). Remove all dead branches with hand pruning shears or a pruning saw beginning with the lowest branches on the tree. Work your way up the tree removing all dead branches as you go. A ladder may be needed for the higher branches depending on the height of the orange tree. Make sure to cut these branches off as close to the tree trunk as possible. A straight cut is fine for these branches.
  
  
• 4). Trim healthy branches once dead branches have been removed. Straight cut branches to about 1/3 of their original length. If there are branches that are crossing over and preventing the trunk from receiving adequate sunlight, cut back these branches more than 1/3 their original length. If necessary, remove these branches altogether.
  
  
• 5). Trim your tree regularly over a few weeks. Trimming the tree all at once could cause the tree to go into shock and could cause sunburned branches.