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Should I prune this branch?

14 years ago

Hello all! My lemon tree (that I've kept alive a whole 3 weeks now-woohoo)has this one big green branch. The other branches all look more like wood but this one is deep green. It's pretty much straight vertical and sticks up taller than anything else on the tree. It also has all the new growth on it. Is it going to take all the growing power away from the rest of the tree? Or is this normal? I'm wondering if it needs to be cut off or not. Thanks in advance for your help! Everyone on this forum has been so sweet and helpful. Here is a picture of the weird branch if it helps:

{{gwi:652595}}

Comments (11)

  • 14 years ago

    If it has leaves larger than typical; if it has spines larger than typical; and it is growing straight up as it seems to be, it might be a "water sprout". They often appear when a tree is being over cared for; not a problem, just prune it back to the level of the main canopy and it will revert to normal growth. Some of my friends actually let these go for awhile to increase the size of the tree; but I recommend cutting them back to the level of the main canopy. I often see water sprouts in my budwood grove, which gets super care. Not to worry, just prune it back to the main level and it will grow new shoots that are normal. If it does not have larger than normal leaves or spines; thus, not a water sprout, I would still prune it at the canopy level for esthetics if nothing else.

  • 14 years ago

    Is the tree grafted? Can you see the graft line in person? I don't see an obvious one in the photograph. If it's a Meyer then it might not be grafted at all. If it's grafted you just want to make sure the branch is above the graft line. All new citrus branches start as that deep green. If you don't see a graft line and the leaves look the same (generally - as in no trifoliate, etc) then it's probably safe to assume it's just an ungrafted meyer and that the branch can stay if you want that structure in the tree.

    The leaf in the bottom right that looks "wet" is probably the most concerning thing. If you touch those spots that appear wet are they sticky? If so you have an insect issue (probably scale). Or maybe they were actually just wet when you took the photograph...

  • 14 years ago

    Hello! Thanks for all of the help! I will cut it a little off the top so it matches the rest of the tree. What should I use to cut it? Are there special scissors or something?
    Oh, and the leaves are actually wet. They had dirt on them so I cleaned a couple of them off with a wet paper towel.

  • 14 years ago

    Now I am sure it is a watersprout; you are one of those who dotes on their plants... good for you. Cut the branch with a scissors, or ordinary pruning shear; just be sure it is clean.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks Johnmerr, I cut it today and I think it looks much better!

  • 14 years ago

    Looks to me like it's a below the graft shoot to me and if it is then there's another one already. If you look there seems to be a V shape and a crease where the stem has been pushed apart.

    Hard to tell for sure though and Im just a newb :)

    Regards
    Nick

  • 14 years ago

    Nick,
    What your are looking at closely is not the graft point; it is only a branching node; it typically shows up at every branch, sometimes more pronounced than others.

  • 14 years ago

    I bought two little orange trees from lowes two years ago. I also have a branch that is growing alot higher than the rest but it has different looking leaves. I think I can see the graft line and it seems to be coming out above it. I can take pics of it if needed.

  • 14 years ago

    Same issue... waterspout; common in citrus that are treated too well. Just prune it back to the canopy level and it should revert back to normal growth.

  • 14 years ago

    I actually cut it back last year before I brought it outside for the growing season and it just shot back up. Will it start to grow normal leaves again?

  • 14 years ago

    In that case, Jon, take it all the way back to the trunk (personal preference).

    Josh