How to Prune an Avocado Tree

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: May 2, 2022 References Approved

Because avocado trees need lots of foliage to ensure a high amount of fruit, they don’t need a lot of pruning. However, your tree may need some minimal pruning to maintain easy tree access, balance, and enough sun exposure. If your tree needs major re-shaping, some heavy pruning may be necessary. To prevent shock and the spread of blights, always prune during early spring or summer and wash your tools between pruning different trees. With proper care and minimal pruning, your avocado tree can thrive and keep producing fruit for years to come!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Choosing Pruning Tools

1
Use hand pruners for branches less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. These tools are smaller and can typically handle smaller growths. Hand pruners are perfect for removing smaller branches in the tree’s canopy to let the sun shine through.^{[1]
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- You could also use specialty hand pruners made specifically for avocado trees, which have rounded tips to keep from damaging any of the fruit.
2
Choose loppers to cut any branches thicker than 1 inch (2.5 cm). Loppers are perfect for removing large branches, particularly at the base of the tree.^{[2]
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Research source} These tools often go dull easily, so sharpen your loppers often and make sure they’re sharp before you start pruning.
- Make any major cuts clean and keep them in line with the natural contour of the trunk.^{[3]
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3
Protect your skin with gloves, casual clothes, and a sun hat or visor. Before you start pruning, put on some comfortable, casual clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Add a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face and neck.
- For example, you could wear a long-sleeved T-shirt, some old jeans, sneakers, and a wide-brimmed straw hat.
4
Take a sturdy ladder with you for easier access to the tree. Use a tall, secure ladder with a firm base, and have someone hold it while you work if you need the extra stabilization. A ladder is especially essential for pruning newly planted trees, which have shallow root systems that can’t balance out accelerated growth at the top of the tree.
5
Gather your pruning tools before you begin. To cut down on trips back and forth from your garage or tool shed and the tree, pull out all the supplies you’ll need first. For example, you’ll need a bottle of Lysol spray, hand pruners, and loppers.
6
Spray your tools with a disinfectant to keep from spreading insects or disease. Pruning tools like pruners and loppers can carry insects, fungus, and bacteria between trees, so it’s essential to clean them between each pruning.^{[4]
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Research source} Fill a spray bottle with a disinfectant spray, like diluted bleach or rubbing alcohol, and keep it with you to spray down and disinfect the tools before moving on to the next tree.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Pruning Heavily in Spring and Summer

1
Prune heavily only during spring or early summer to prevent shock. Cutting back during fall or winter weather could expose the avocado tree to cold temperatures and frost, so it’s important to prune in warmer temperatures. The optimum times are the first few weeks of spring or summer.^{[6]
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- To promote overall regrowth, prune back branches in the spring.^{[7]
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- Summertime pruning promotes regrowth length and makes the tree grow wider and taller.^{[8]
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2
Thin out the canopy so the bottom branches receive enough sunlight. Avocado trees tend to have thick, lush canopies of leaves, sometimes leaving the bottom branches to wilt in shade.^{[9]
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Research source} Create little “windows” in the canopy by pruning back a few of the topmost branches.^{[10]
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- Be careful not create too many open areas in the canopy, though, as this could expose the tree’s major branches to heavy sunlight.^{[11]
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- A conical or pyramidal tree shape is best for even sun exposure.^{[12]
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3
Re-shape the sides of the tree if it becomes too wide. Re-shaping is essential if the tree's branches start tangling with another's, or if the branches are blocking you from irrigating and mowing the area.Use loppers to cut away wild side branches if the tree’s growth gets out of hand. Focus on smaller branches, pruning several on each side, and only prune 1 major branch per year.^{[13]
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- Aim for a symmetrical conical shape, which provides the best amount of sun exposure.
- Re-shaping will likely make fruit yield drop drastically that year, but it should stimulate fruit growth in 2 years.
- Remember to be extremely careful with this kind of heavy pruning! If you prune too much, you can permanently stunt the tree’s fruit growth.
4
Aim for balance and symmetry when you’re pruning. Keep track of how many branches you remove from each side and mirror your cuts on the other side of the tree as well. It’s important to prune the sides of the tree symmetrically, making identical cuts to either side, to balance the tree’s weight.^{[14]
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- For example, if you prune several branches on one side of the tree, it may stunt fruit growth on that side. When the fruit grows, the tree’s weight will be unevenly balanced and make it more susceptible to strong wind and harsh weather.^{[15]
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5
Remove branches at the top of the tree to control its height. Use your loppers to trim back the top slowly, removing only 1 major branch per summer, starting with the tallest.^{[16]
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Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source} This is especially important for newly planted trees, which don’t have a strong enough root system to support extra height.^{[17]
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- Be extra vigilant with trees purchased from nurseries, which will likely have a good deal of the roots removed.
- This process may take 3-4 years to complete, but the slow and steady approach will help reduce stress on the tree.^{[18]
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  University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
  Go to source}
6
Cut away any dead branches at their base. Use your pruners or loppers to cut away dead branches just above their connection to the trunk, or the branch collar. This will direct the tree's nutrients to the healthy limbs and promote new growth.
- Although it may be tempting to cut away dead wood at any time of the year, remember that frost damage can sometimes make a branch look dead. Wait for the new growth to begin in spring or summer before determining whether or not the branch needs to be pruned.^{[19]
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7
Don’t fertilize the tree after a heavy pruning. If you’ve pruned the tree more than it’s usually pruned in a year, skip the fertilizer.^{[20]
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Research source} Heavy pruning will naturally trigger more foliage, and adding fertilizer could lead to dangerously high amount of leaf growth.^{[21]
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8
Cut the tree back to its main trunk if it needs rejuvenation pruning. This is an extreme, risky form of pruning, usually used in orchards to promote new growth in later years. Use your loppers to cut all of the branches back to the main trunk, clipping them at the raised ring, or the branch collar, at their base.
- If you live in a particularly sunny area, paint a thin layer of white latex paint diluted with water over the cuts to protect them from sun exposure.^{[22]
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  University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
  Go to source}
- Avocado trees usually take 3 years to grow and produce fruit again after rejuvenation pruning.^{[23]
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- Since this type of pruning can permanently damage or kill your tree, it is not recommended for beginners. Unless you have experience with avocado trees, have your rejuvenation pruning done by a professional service.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Preventive Pruning Year-Round

1
Use preventive pruning often to reduce the need for major pruning. Use your hand pruners ot cut away any growing tips in areas where you don’t want new branches. Since heavy pruning tends to lower the fruit yield and make the tree just grow back faster, frequent thinning cuts are a much better way to keep the avocado tree’s growth in check.^{[24]
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- You can perform light preventive pruning any time of the year.^{[25]
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  University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
  Go to source}
2
Remove water shoots to prevent imbalances. Before the tree flowers in the spring, use your hand pruners to trim away any water shoots at their base.^{[26]
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Research source} These vigorous, leafy shoots grow vertically in the bark and pruning them helps keep the tree’s growth lateral and controlled, rather than wild and untamed.^{[27]
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Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
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3
Fix small limb breakages by cutting away the branch at its base. If your branches have been broken by the weight of their fruit or a strong wind, you should remove them completely. Use your loppers or hand pruners to cut away any small broken branches at their base. This will help redirect nutrients to the rest of the tree and encourage branch regrowth^{[28]
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4
Control wild growth by using thinning cuts. In any areas of the tree that tend to grow quickly and get out of hand, prune smaller branches back to their main subtending branches. These “thinning cuts” will help keep the tree’s growth in check and prevent wild growth in the future.^{[29]
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University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source}
5
Nip minor issues in the bud so they don’t become major problems. If you spot any wild branches starting to form, such as at the top or low to the ground on the sides, it’s much easier to cut them with loppers or pruners while they’re still small. Waiting until they’ve grown will make the pruning process more difficult and can potentially cause the tree more stress.
- For example, watch for horizontal branches forming close to the ground. These branches will grow to block your access at the base of the tree, so cut these back at their base as soon as possible.^{[30]
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Community Q&A

Question

Should I paint the exposed area of the cut tree branch?

Community Answer

No. There is no real reason to do this. Most people find it helpful to cut off a dead branch and give it time to grow back.
Question

Do you need two avocado trees in order to get avocados? (To pollinate.)

Lia 💖

Community Answer

To ensure good yields of fruit, two avocado trees are required. Both flower types produce and are receptive to pollen at different times of day, so when avocado cultivars A and B are planted together, the pollination and fruit set is optimal.

Warnings

Expect lots of leaf growth and less avocado fruit following an extensive pruning session.

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Pruning will likely reduce your tree’s fruit output for the year, but increase fruit output for the next year.

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Remember that less pruning is always better for avocado trees. If you’re not sure if your tree needs any pruning, err on the side of caution and avoid pruning.

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Never over-prune your avocado trees. Over-pruning can lead to stunting, losing all of the fruit, frost injuries, or sun damage.

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When pruning your trees, always wear gardening gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after pruning.

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