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Pruning guide

How to prune longan

Best time
Immediately after harvest (typically summer to early autumn)
How often
Annually post-harvest; remove dead or diseased wood whenever observed
Technique
After picking, use clean loppers to remove dead, diseased, or congested branches. Tip-prune the current season's long shoots by 20–25% once they have firmed up, encouraging lateral branching that will carry next year's flower panicles. Keep the canopy open and balanced; do not remove more than 25% of the canopy at one time.

More longan care

Pruning longan — FAQ

When should I prune longan?

Immediately after harvest (typically summer to early autumn). After picking, use clean loppers to remove dead, diseased, or congested branches. Tip-prune the current season's long shoots by 20–25% once they have firmed up, encouraging lateral branching that will carry next year's flower panicles. Keep the canopy open and balanced; do not remove more than 25% of the canopy at one time.

How often does longan need pruning?

Annually post-harvest; remove dead or diseased wood whenever observed. Longan requires annual post-harvest pruning to encourage the vegetative flush that becomes fruiting panicles the following season. Remove dead wood and crossing branches, and lightly tip shoots to stimulate branching. Like lychee, longan fruits on current-season tips — excessive pruning delays bearing by one or more years.

How do you prune longan?

After picking, use clean loppers to remove dead, diseased, or congested branches. Tip-prune the current season's long shoots by 20–25% once they have firmed up, encouraging lateral branching that will carry next year's flower panicles. Keep the canopy open and balanced; do not remove more than 25% of the canopy at one time.