Pruning is a difficult topic to discuss and describe and to arrive at a consistent approach from year to year.

And now Simon Newett, Bridie Carr and Renata Grunennvaldt have put together a survey of what avocado growers worldwide are doing to control vegetative growth.  The survey was conducted through an avocado industry extension project funded by Australian grower levies, Hort Innovation Ltd (Australia) and the Queensland governments (Hort Innovation Limited & DAF).  Thank them for their efforts.

Obviously the methods and results reported in the survey will vary according to the characteristics of the orchard and the environment in which the trees are grown.  And whether a plant growth regulator is used, such as uniconazole or propiconazole, to retard growth.

The most interesting findings were the popularity of selective limb removal, the younger tree age in which pruning is now commenced, the smaller tree size being aimed for and the fact that most people try to remove about 20% of the canopy each year.

Check out what other growers are doing in their orchards by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.