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.