Tips from the Grove Master

Principles for increased Hass avocado production:

  1. Water, water, water, water.  Avocados  like it and you will like the results.
  2. Prune mature trees up to 15% each spring (like winter) after harvest.  Train immature trees (new or regenerating) up to 1/4.  Prune mostly for light enhancement.  Most crowded groves  require side cuts and exceptionally tall trees require height cuts.  Virtually any cut is better than no cut.  I typically only cut side limbs (the ones that are encroaching on adjacent trees) and top of trees to 20 feet maximum.
  3. Trees are best pruned or cut back in spring (and late winter).  Irrigate normally.
  4. Trees that are stumped (cut to 3-4 feet) require no water until new growth has reached 1-2 feet.
  5. Sickly trees that do not respond well to normal irrigation should be “capped” and “headed back” until they flush new growth.  this is regeneration without the more traditional stumping or removal approach.  If the tree continues to decline, keep the water off and continue cutting back the tree until a flush does occur, or replace it.  This requires a bit of experimentation, but is most satisfying!
  6. Avocado trees like their feet covered, so use organic mulch.  Yard waste compost is my all around favorite.
  7. Feed the crop not the tree.  Light crops need only tree maintenance feeding.  Heavy crops (observed in August) need a good feeding for both the crop and the tree in late summer or early fall.
  8. Heavily-set trees may cause limb breakage.  Stake limbs for support.
  9. Learn to train avocado re-growth.  Learn to prune for both sunlight and shaping;  it will delay trees from crowding.
  10. Pollen donor trees (Bacon, Zutano, etc.) to increase yield.  I recommend 20 Hass to 1 Zutano.
  11. Don’t forget that avocado flowers are pollinated exclusively by the honey bee.  Do yourself and a neighbor a favor and create several bee sites on you property.