Hello, we recently bought a house that has a large mango tree, large mulberry tree and several large paw paw trees. I am seeking advice on whether these can be pruned back to a more manageable level as all fruit is too high to pick and is just feeding the birds at the moment. The paw paws and mulberry trees both have early fruit but the mango tree does not. We are located in Lake Macquarie, NSW. Attached is a photo showing the mango tree and several paw paw trees with the mulberry tree located directly behind the mango tree. Any advice is appreciated as I am finding conflicting information on the internet.
Well Jamie, the Paw Paws cannot be pruned down - and yes they look like they are fruiting well. I'd suggest a telescopic handle with a net attached to get those down. We sell one by Wolf but the net may not be big enough for those paw paws of yours. As for the other two they are planted too close together by the looks of it. The Mango tree can be pruned back to a more manageable level, just make sure you do it after fruiting has finished. As for the Mulbery, its rather hidden. You can prune them back a bit but I'd be taking it out and planting a new one further away from the Mango - fruit trees really do need space. As with all fruit tree pruning it must be done in the quiet months when they are either dormant or resting.