The answer is that you DON'T need to prune that lime to get a new crop. Citrus bloom on new growth flushes. Light pruning, removing leggy growth and any suckers will promote healthy growth. Small citrus are usually pruned to maintain shape. If it is a key lime just cut back the branches that have fruited a few inches down to a node. This is were a leaf attaches.It's called a heading cut and you will get new grow from that node. Any very small branches coming of the main trunk, lower on the plant, can be removed. There are quite a few types of lime, by the way. Key lime usually has small leaves, open growth and definite spines.
Step1 Prune lime almost any time from March to August, but just prior to blooming is best. Step2 Remove dead, diseased or crisscrossing limbs to open the center of the tree. Use handheld bypass pruners on small branches; long-handled loppers or a pruning saw on larger ones. Step3 Cut back branches that are getting too large or are in the way. Step4 Paint any branches newly exposed to sun with diluted white latex paint - half water, half paint. This step will prevent sunburn to sensitive bark. Step5 Prune lime every year or two, cutting back new growth by about one-quarter to one-third. Otherwise, trees will get too large, and fruit will be hard to pick. How's this ?
