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PRUNING
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Pruning is
the removal of unnecessary branches or leaves that
become liability to the plant.
The primary
function of leaves is to manufacture food through the
process called photosynthesis. Root hair absorb
nutrients and water from the soil then send it to the
leaves to 'cook' the raw material with sunlight as its
fuel.
Without
sunlight, the leaves cannot manufacture food. Leaves
that are not exposed to sunlight become liability to the
tree. These leaves also consume the nutrients
manufactured by the functional leaves, thereby, reducing
the food reserved for fruiting. This will result in low
yield.
Remove all
branches with leaves that do not receive sunlight.
Without manual pruning, the tree itself will undergo
self-pruning and it will take several months and even a
year thus still consuming the food reserves.
To maintain
a low crown, the trees can be top-pruned by cutting the
vertical branches or shoots up to the desired height
depending on the cultural management of the farm or
backyard.
All pruned
branches must be closely cut from the origin. The cut
portion must be clean-cut by a pruning saw and painted
with latex or any other ordinary paint.
Water
sprouts are unnecessary branches that do not bear
fruits. These come from the lateral branch inside the
crown. These can consume all the food reserve made by
the leaves for fruiting. Thus, depriving the tree of its
fruit bearing capabilities.
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