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Avocado
> Year-Round IPM Program > Late
Fruit Development
> Pruning
Avocado
 Prune
to Reduce Pest Damage and to Manage
Tree Growth
Remove dead limbs and old fruit, possible sources
of canker and fruit rot pathogens, at least once per tree every
year, usually during
fall. Periodically thin canopies to reduce disease-favoring humidity
and increase mortality of certain invertebrate pests.
- If anthracnose or fruit
rots were
problems in the grove in previous seasons on fruit after
harvest, prune low branches to remove disease inoculum.
- Skirt prune trees:
- Reduce spores splashing from soil to infect fruit, especially
if weather has been wet.
- Exclude flightless invertebrates from trees by pruning
in combination with barriers or other treatments.
- Reduce access to trees by certain vertebrate
pests.
- Prune and thin to reduce protected sites and minimize canopy
bridges that facilitate insect movement between trees, thereby
reducing the abundance of caterpillars, greenhouse thrips,
and mealybugs.
- Do not prune or pick fruit when plants are wet.
- Clean and disinfect
cutting tools before working on a new tree, to reduce
mechanical spread of pathogens and infection of wounds.
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