When is the best time to prune tea trees?

Tea tree pruning time

The time for pruning tea trees is generally one month before the new buds sprout . Due to differences in climate, the pruning time varies in different regions. In Fujian, Yunnan, Jiangxi and other places, pruning is generally done 20 days before the Spring Festival , while in various provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Basin, pruning is generally done around spring .

Tea tree pruning method

1. Thinning branches

  As the tea tree grows, its branches will become denser and denser, which will affect the internal permeability of the plant. It needs to be thinned out in time to cut off all dense branches and crossed branches. At the same time, check for dead and diseased branches and cut them off as well to prevent further deterioration.

2. Picking buds

  After the tea tree buds appear, it is necessary to thin out the buds. The number of buds to be retained should be selected according to the strength of the branches. For thin branches, try to keep as few or no buds as possible, but for strong branches, a few more can be retained. In addition, the buds should be thinned out evenly, and do not pick only one side.

3. Plastic surgery

  Tea trees also need to be shaped and pruned to increase their ornamental value and improve their yield. For some upright varieties, the upper part can be pruned short. For slow-growing plants, the overly long branches can be cut off to make the branches of uniform length. For varieties with larger crowns, the crown width needs to be pruned.

Notes on pruning tea trees

After pruning the tea tree, you need to add appropriate fertilizer to it, generally apply more nitrogen fertilizer, which can promote the germination of new buds of the plant. At this time, it cannot be exposed to light and needs to be moved to a semi-shaded, well-ventilated environment for maintenance. Wait until it resumes growth and then move to a bright place.