Abracadabra! Turn a bush into a tree in 3 steps.

​Look at these two pomegranate trees. They are both the exact same variety of tree but why does the one on the left look like a perfectly symmetrical tree and the one on the right is growing like a messy bush?  Let's do some magic!

Our Pomegranate Tree

click image to enlarge

We had this pomegranate tree hanging out at our office and didn't like the way it looked.  Typically pomegranates grow like bushes with multiple branched coming up through the soil, but that doesn't mean that they have to.  Here are the few steps we took to turn this ugly bush into a nice looking tree.

Step 1: Identify the 2 Strongest Branches

click images to enlarge

Sift through the plant to identify the two thickest and straightest branches.  Cut all the others down past the soil level.  

Tip 1: When to prune

click image to enlarge

Typically you want to prune fruit trees when they're dormant.  Basically just wait until they lose all of their leaves.  We pruned it a little late in the season because these buds were starting to grow leaves but it's not the end of the world.

Step 2: Find the best branch

click image to enlarge

Choose which branch of the two you think is the strongest and straightest and cut the other one.  You're going to be left with only one branch that looks rinky-dink compared to what was there before but It's OK, it will grow.

Tip 2: How Far to Prune

click image to enlarge

Make sure to cut all of the branches below the soil level or else suckers will grow from them which will take nutrients from the tree.

Step 3: Prune small branches

click image to enlarge

Prune back all of the small pokeys and branches growing up the main stock. Don't prune it any more than what you see here.  If you want to prune it back more, you'll have to wait until next season.

Care Tips:

Sun: Full
​Water: Summer daily, once every 2-3 days
Pruning: You will always have sucker growth, it's just the nature of trees.  Make sure to remove it as soon as possible.  Also cut off any branches that may grow below the point that you want.
Fertilize: Early spring when the leaves start coming out.  Use an all purpose fertilizer, no use in buying expensive specialty stuff.