Since avocados are naturally programmed to grow into massive trees, those little pits carry some pretty big ambitions! Unless you live in a house with 30-foot ceilings, you’re going to run out of room pretty quickly. That’s why knowing how to prune your avocado plant is key to keeping it happy (and fitting) in your home or on your balcony.
Finding the Perfect Spot
In their native tropical homes, avocados soak up tons of sun and heat. To get them to thrive in our neck of the woods, you’ll need to find the sunniest, warmest spot available. While you’re sprouting your pit in late winter , a warm windowsill indoors is your best bet. Once you’ve got your little trees settled into pots , they can move outside after the last frost in May. A south-facing wall or a sunny balcony is perfect, but if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, your avocados will absolutely love it there.
Care and Feeding
When it comes to soil, avocados aren’t too picky, but they do best in mixes designed for palms or citrus trees. If you’re a DIY gardener and want to use your own compost, try mixing two parts compost with one part sand for better drainage. When you’re repotting, you can mix in some slow-release fertilizer , like horn meal, right into the soil. Just a heads-up: avocados are light feeders, so use about a third of the amount recommended on the package.
During the growing season (April through September), give your avocado a boost with liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks. Again, stick to about a third of the suggested dose—less is often more with these guys!
Pruning for Success
Left to their own devices, these plants will grow straight up like a telephone pole to reach the sky. If you have the space, you can let them do their thing.
However, if you want a fuller, bushier look, you’ll want to start pruning when the plant is about three months old and roughly 15 inches (40 cm) tall. The best time for a major trim is early spring.
At this stage, your avocado probably looks like one long stem with no side branches. Take a sharp knife or a clean pair of pruning shears and snip off the very top.
By removing that main growth point, you’re telling the plant to start growing sideways. Throughout the year, you’ll see new side branches popping out. Once these new branches have about 5 to 7 leaves, you can pinch or cut those back too—just make sure to leave a few leaves on the branch. You’ll see little “eyes” (nodes) where the leaves meet the stem; that’s exactly where the new growth will sprout!
For a really lush, bushy plant, keep up with regular pruning every spring or summer. Your avocado will reward you with plenty of green leaves and a much more attractive shape.
Pro Tip: If your plant gets hit hard by pests over the winter, don’t panic. You can do a “radical” prune to get rid of the infested parts. As long as you leave a few nodes on each branch, the plant will bounce back with fresh, healthy growth.
