When is the best time to hard prune a lemon tree if it is constantly floweirng and fruiting? Our tree has flowers, and lemons from green to ripe year-round. We do get light frosts in winter. 

Generally citrus do not require pruning.

• Pruning can be done to keep trees to a manageable size, to make fruit picking easier, remove weak and diseased wood, improve air circulation by removing branches crossing over and to regenerate new growth as citrus fruit on new seasons growth.
• When pruning reduce the canopy by one third, any more than that can cause shock to the tree and it will be slow to re-generate. Prune by another third the following season. 
• Typically citrus fruit in late winter, early spring so the best time to prune is after fruiting has finished.
• As your tree doesn't stop fruiting, the best time to prune will be in spring and summer when the risk of frost has passed.
• If you prune too early in spring and there is a late frost, the new growth won't have had time to harden- off, frost will damage the new growth.
• Summer pruning is also possible as long as it isn't too late into autumn and the new growth has time to harden-off before winter.
• If pruning in spring and summer make sure all wounds are sealed with a water-based paint or pruning paste to prevent the Lemon Tree Borer entering the wound to lay its eggs, it will cause significant damage and this native insect is very hard to control once it enters the plant. 

Read the Tui Citrus Grow Guide

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