Growli
Get the app

Pruning guide

How to prune lychee

Best time
Immediately after harvest (summer), to allow one or two new flushes before winter
How often
Annually, post-harvest; remove dead wood as needed
Technique
Using clean loppers or pruning saws, thin the canopy to improve light and airflow: remove dead wood, strongly crossing branches, and water shoots. Tip-prune long whippy shoots by one-quarter to stimulate lateral branching. Do not remove more than 20% of the canopy at once.

More lychee care

Pruning lychee — FAQ

When should I prune lychee?

Immediately after harvest (summer), to allow one or two new flushes before winter. Using clean loppers or pruning saws, thin the canopy to improve light and airflow: remove dead wood, strongly crossing branches, and water shoots. Tip-prune long whippy shoots by one-quarter to stimulate lateral branching. Do not remove more than 20% of the canopy at once.

How often does lychee need pruning?

Annually, post-harvest; remove dead wood as needed. Lychee benefits from light annual pruning after harvest to encourage a new vegetative flush that will become next season's fruiting wood. Remove dead, crossing, or inward-growing branches. Avoid heavy pruning — lychee fruits on the tips of mature panicles and hard cutting delays production significantly.

How do you prune lychee?

Using clean loppers or pruning saws, thin the canopy to improve light and airflow: remove dead wood, strongly crossing branches, and water shoots. Tip-prune long whippy shoots by one-quarter to stimulate lateral branching. Do not remove more than 20% of the canopy at once.