I recieved an email this morning from someone who surfed into my website. They wanted to know if 45-50 year old orange trees were past their time of production or if they could be pruned back so that the new growth could once again produce bountiful crops. I think I read on here about the original Washington Navel in California living to a ripe old age. Any takers on this one? Im in an area that doesnt have any 45 year old citrus trees! I have some approaching 20 years but thats about the oldest there are in my area.

Although I myself have not tasted the fruit from the more than century old Washington Navel near Riverside, the UC professors and colleagues of mine can attest that the tree is still very much productive to this day, and the fruits taste as great as ever.

It sometime happens that trees in bearing for a considerable length of time begin to deteriorate, the growth becoming stunted and the crops lighter from year to year. In such cases, the trees may be brought back into good condition by cutting them back severely and growing new tops on them. In arid and semi-arid climates, it is good practice to protect the exposed trunks and branches from sunburn. The shaded bark of limbs is easily sunburned, and if the injury is exensive the tree seldom recovers. Also there is a rejuvenation process called skeletonization. which is the removal of ALL branches less that an inch in diamerer. This leaves the tree in a skeleton like frameword, and leafless. >>>> (from The Citrus Industry) "The growth response to skeletonization is distributed through the entire system of framework branches instead of localized in some parts of the tree, and as a result the growth that puts out is usually not markedly vegetative, and soon, ordinarily within a season or two, becomes fruitful. Although this system necessitates more cuts and requires more time than deheading, the additional work is much more than offset by quick recovery and resumption of bearing.<<<<< - Millet















































































































































































































































































































































































































recover.