[Arid_gardener] Re:How to Trim Pomegranate tree or Bush in Yuma

[Olin Miller]

---- Original Message ----- From: <tja2004me at yahoo.com>
> I am trying to find out how and what time of year to trim a pomegranate
> tree or bush in Yuma AZ and do you need to trim the roots
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Our pomegranates are grown in Phoenix but I suspect growing in Yuma would be
similar.  How and when to prune depends somewhat on whether you are growing
the ornamental dwarf 'Nana' or the full-sized deciduous types like
'Wonderful' and whether you are growing it for its fruit or as an
ornamental.

If you want to train types like 'Wonderful' as a tree, you will need to keep
removing suckers which grow heavily from the crown.  The tree will also need
to be supported for a few years.  To trim it for for shaping just trim it as
needed.  Annual pruning for fruit production is not necessary but the
bearing branch ends lose their vigor after a few years and should then be
removed.  There will always be new growth.  I believe training as a tree is
the best method but I allowed our two 'Wonderfuls' to grow as bushes some 20
years ago because the heavy sucker production was difficult to control.
With the bushes, I usually take out some of the older shoots every 2-3 year
by cutting off at the base and it has not been necessary to do any other
pruning.  There have always been new suckers to replace them.  As to timimg,
January or February when the tree/shrub is dormant is the best but I would
lean towards January because the pomegranates are the first to leaf out in
the spring.

We also have a dwarf, evergreen 'Nana' that grows a bit taller than
advertised.  We have had to top it twice in 10 years to keep it from pushing
against the eaves.  It is, and always has been, a four-trunked tree and it
hasn't produced and suckers.  The fruit is not palatable.  I suppose the
winter months would also be best for and trimming but we just cut it back
whenever it gets in the way without regard to time of year and it seems to
be okay.

Pomegranates are easy to grow, moderate to low water use, and pomegranate
syrup is great for making natural grenadine and pomegranate jelly.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ