Can I Top A Tall Thin Mango Tree?

Question

I have a mango tree that is about 6 feet tall and unfortunately about a half inch thick trunk. I’m wondering if I can top it so it will have thicker trunk and branches, or will I kill it?

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Answer 1

Here are instructions for pruning a young mango (toward the end). You do make some heading cuts to encourage the scaffold branching.

The lower leaves look like they have a leaf spot fungus. See article below. It also would help to remove weeds and add a layer of mulch around the tree. The weeds are competing for nutrients and water.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/mango/how-to-trim-a-mango-tree.htm

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/miami-dade/documents/tropical-fruit/CommonMangoQuestionsRevised.pdf

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1372

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/plant-leaf-spots.htm