This can be done manually, by motorised grass cutter or herbicide. Guava needs constant training and pruning to provide the desired tree shape for ease of management and for the health of the tree and to maximise fruit production. The tree is usually trained 3 to 4 months after field planting. The open heart, open center, or cup-shaped pruning and training system is the best. A number of pests attack the guava such as the fruit fly, thrips, mealy bugs, scale insects, spider mites, aphids etc.
Fruit flies are most important group of pests which attack guava.
They are attracted to the maturing fruit where they deposit their eggs. The eggs hatch and develop within the fruit, causing a break down of the fruit tissue. Control measures are field hygiene, bagging, use of poisoned baits and appplication of insecticides such as lebaycid. Fruit scabs affect immature fruits by causing a corky brown layer all over the fruits. This will cause the fruits to be unattractive and unmarketable.