Q.Need to know if topping (pruning) a potted lemon tree is safe
Lemon tree is “leggy” and requires staking, Base isnt widening, and tree is growing upwards rapidly
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Yes. Lemons flower on new growth, so prune where you would like it to start branching. Only let new growth come from this point, or close to this point. Prune off all other growth except for this.
I have to assume that this is an indoor specimen, since you are outside of their native range. You may have to address the reason that it is leggy. It should never need staking, as this is a sign that it is not receiving near enough light. During its indoor stay, if you intend to produce fruit, you will need at least 200 watts of horticultural lighting per tree. If you only intend to have an ornamental tree for the house, and outside during summer, then no extra light will be needed to simply keep it alive during its indoor stay.
