How to Trim Sea Grapes

An evergreen, large shrub to small tree native to the coastal habitats across the Caribbean basin, the sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) produces clusters of rounded, black fruits that mimic the look of edible grapes. Sea grape plants are either male or female, and only the pollinated blossoms on female plants produce the attractive fruit clusters. Trimming a sea grape isn't difficult or confusing, but the size of the plant can make things more challenging. Taller plants may require high-reach equipment to effectively trim safely.

Bypass or hand pruners
Loppers
Pruning saw
A-frame ladder

Instructions

- 1
  Remove low-hanging twigs or branches from the sea grape any time of year to preserve safety. You don't want low branches blocking views to roadways, nor creating a low canopy that people's faces or heads may bump into. Make cuts 1/4- to 1/2-inch above a lower leaf, branch junction or with the main trunk. Use a bypass pruners on branches less than 3/4-inch thick, loppers on those 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches thick, and a handheld pruning saw on even larger branches.
- 2
  Remove any broken or dead twigs and branches after waiting until mid-spring. If you do not want flowers or fruits on the plants, you may trim branch tips across the canopy of the sea grape to create a symmetrical plant. Use a sturdy, A-frame ladder to safely reach higher branches.
- 3
  Delay pruning to shape the sea grape until after the flowering season ends in late winter to early spring and you see where developing fruit clusters are. Preserve branches or carefully prune with them in mind as you balance out the branches to create a uniform silhouette.
- 4
  Tip-prune branches again in mid- to late summer as needed to maintain more formal hedges. Tip-pruning is not needed on wild or natural plants that display the natural twisted, billowy silhouette.

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