Basically, the tree has done its job and is going into retirement. This is when the trunk begins to crack, and the internal wood will turn black. It takes about 20 to 30 years for the main trunk of a fully mature pawpaw tree to fail. Tree size: 15 to 20 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide can grow to 30 to 40 feet tall in ideal locations. The primary reason to cut back pawpaw trees is to remove branches that might cause problems. The best time to do this is during the tree’s annual dormancy, in late winter or early spring.

Should I prune a pawpaw?Ĭonsider undertaking pawpaw tree pruning on an annual basis. Unlike other tree-like plants, papayas’ inner cores are like bamboos with a hollow center. To stop your pawpaw getting top heavy and to reduce disease on your tree, you can cut it back.Īccording to this video (in Mandarin and Chinese dialect), papaya plants can be shortened by cutting three vertical slits on the “trunk” of the papaya, so that it can be stretched to bent over. There’s no point in growing fruit if you can’t reach it, says gardening guru Phil Murray. Coming into spring, your tree will produce flowers and then fruit so autumn when the tree has finished fruiting would be the best time to prune. It will produce new branches from below the cut. Yes you can prune your Paw Paw tree to a reasonable height to where you can harvest the fruit. Where is the best place to plant a pawpaw tree?.How do you tell the difference between a male and female pawpaw tree?.How much space does a pawpaw tree need?.How long does it take for dwarf pawpaw to bear fruit?.Will a papaya tree grow back from a stump?.How can we reduce height of pawpaw tree?.

Paw paw tree flower