I live in Central Florida and have a small lemon tree that has born fruit since we first planted it. This year the fruit is plenty and so heavy that the tree has bent almost from the tip to the ground. How can I trim this tree without killing it? My fault for not holding it down with stakes in the first place.
Do not trim this tree. You will set it back from fruiting in the future if you do. You should only ever prune citrus in very special circumstances. Support it with canes for now, or thin the fruit out so that it isn't bending so much. Bending won't damage it - in fact it will strengthen the branches -but don't let them approach the point where they snap. Do not prune. Thin out some of the fruit or support with canes.
