Pruning of mango trees is important in a number of ways. The biggest challenge is answering questions like what should be cut off, where, when and how.
Ideally, pruning starts after the trees have been planted and this is called training pruning. During pruning, cut off vertical growing branches in the middle to create space for air and sun light circulation in the canopy and also cut off all wood which does not help the tree produce fruits and keep only the productive branches on the tree. After pruning, its important to remove all cut material from your farm as decomposing materials attracts pests and diseases to your farm.
Cutting process
It is best to begin pruning when the tree is still young because the older a tree gets without being pruned, the more difficult it is to prune.
To prune a mango seedling, make the first cut 60 to 80 cm above the ground which is around the hip level. 4 to 6 shoots will emerge from this level. Select and leave 3 to 4 shoots depending on health and strength, and also the angle at which they are growing. They should be growing at a perfect triangle or square when looked at from above.
Make the second cut slightly above the wrinkle buds. Another 4 to 6 shoots emerge at this point but again keep 3 to 4 shoots. Make sure non of the shoots grows to close the centre of the canopy and repeat the above procedure to make the last cutting.
Once the tree is successfully trained, do maintenance pruning every after harvest to keep it in good shape .
