Advice needed, on apical dominance, pruning.

[awitz2001]

I've got a lime tree that is just one 4' spindly trunk with a single 15 inch branch that  runs straight up. Does apical dominance apply to the single branch since the main trunk has already been pruned?Trying to figure out where to prune to gain any kind of lower growth on this sad little tree. Thank you

[poncirsguy]

You can bend the tree over so it sends up a side shoot to be the new leader then let the main trunk back up.

[Oolie]

https://crfg.org/wp-content/uploads/Central-Leader-Modified-Central-Leader-Pruning-Presentation.pdf
https://crfg.org/wp-content/uploads/CITRUS-PRUNING-Presentation.pdf
https://crfg.org/wp-content/uploads/Natural-Target-Pruning-Presentation.pdf

[Bomand]

The tall shoot can become the main trunk. I would top this tall shoot when its tall enough. This will cause lateral branches to grow and your tree will have more branches, be fuller and when fruiting time comes.....more fruit.

[Millet]

The reason why removing the top most bud, called the apical bud, works to promote lateral branching, is because the apical bud releases a hormone called indo acetic acid or IAA that is spread down the shoot to all lower buds causing them to either stop all growth, or at least to grow very slowly. This is accomplished by IAA inhibiting the growth hormon cytokinin.  By removing the apical bud, the IAA's signal stops, thus the growth hormone cytokinin is no longer inhibited, therefore new lateral growth will quickly begin.

[Laaz]

Sometimes... I have various lemons that I top, and the new growth pushes right where I topped it. On these trees I have to continue topping it or move down & top lower.

[awitz2001]

Thanks guy, snipped it back 6" and has already resulted in 7 new growths!