Beautiful trees. Branches That become exposed during pruning are prone to sunburn. You should apply a coat of water-based white paint to stem and main branches for protection

I don’t think you have over pruned your tree, however, it is fairly late in the season and as lemon lime above stated, you may need to protect any sun exposed branches with a white wash. Afternoon sun that is hitting the exposed trunk/ branches can burn the sensitive thin bark on citrus trees, a 50/50 mix of water with white latex paint works very well to protect your tree.

On another note, can you take a closer picture of the branch with the arrow pointing at it below? It looks to me like it may be a root stock sucker that has grown as another branch of your tree and may need to be removed.

see edited photo.

Evan

A link to a good discussion on painting tree trunks is below.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4509285/to-paint-or-not-to-paint-your-trunks#n=24

Thanks for the replies. I noticed it too, but it seemed so old and a part of the canopy I didn’t think to remove it. I attached some photos.

Are there grapefruits on the branch in question? If it is fruiting the same as the rest of the tree then it is not the rootstock.

Oh yeah, it was fruiting. I cut a lot off the middle branches of that one and left the higher canopy and trimmed some off so it wasn’t getting stuck in my lime tree.

You’re good to go then, looks like it’s part of the scion, was just double checking.

Thanks everyone. My main concern, will the branches I pruned grow new branches? Or are they basically this way for ever now and the branches I left will need to grow over them to fill out the tree?

Yes they will grow new branches. Just keep watering, feeding and treating your tree like you do every season and it will sprout new growth from near the terminal end of the branches where you cut them. You may still want to white wash the branches most exposed to the sun, but don’t worry the new branches will grow right through that paint. Some before and after pics of my grapefruit tree trim.

Before

Rio Red Grapefruit Tree · More Info

After

Rio Red Grapefruit Tree · More Info

Evan

Awesome. Thanks

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/save-your-citrus-trees-with-white-paint

Thanks! I tried to buy the right paint but now I’ll need to double check to make sure it’s not enamel

If you want organic paint, you can buy IV Organics white wash on Amazon.

Well this is how I white washed it. Not quite as full as I thought it would turn out, but it seems the 1:1 ratio of paint to water was way too much water. Had to buy another quart to thicken it up and I don’t think it helped all that much. I did notice the paint seemed to form like a layer or wax like layer over the wood, so hopefully that’s the point. I used interior white latex.

It’s not enough. I usually do 2 or 3 coats to make sure it’s on there thick enough. It should look like it’s painted white when you’re done.

Freshly painted trunks · More Info

Evan

Haha well here is round two. Way less water combined with the paint.

That looks like Casper the friendly citrus tree.

Steve

It looks perfect!!!! Great job!

Thanks! It is pretty bright though haha

Evan. what a great job and a beautiful tree...Man I wish I could see your yard in person))

Haha the yard isn’t too pretty. But there’s a lime, lemon and apple tree behind it and then a garden to the left. It’s more of a functional/productive yard than a pretty one lol

I think it's going to look like an umbrella full of fruit. Nice in my opinion...)