Plant Care
Citrus
Every garden deserves a citrus tree. In all but the coldest districts, citrus trees feature in backyards. They’re incredible survivors, but will perform better and bear wonderful crops if they’re well cared for.
WHERE TO GROW
Plenty of Sun – Citrus trees need to be in full sun. If you’re short of sunny spots in the garden, grow citrus in pots that can be moved to take advantage of changing patterns of sunlight. Although citrus are traditionally grown in terracotta, these pots can be heavy (and expensive!). Yates have the perfect solution: their Tuscan pots are lightweight, surprisingly inexpensive and have that wonderful Mediterranean look that goes so well with citrus. Tuscan pots come in a range of sizes. The large 50 cm size is big enough to grow almost any type of citrus tree happily for many years.
Good Drainage – In the garden citrus must have good drainage. In heavy clay soils it’s best to put some extra effort into preparation. Before planting, raise the level of the bed as much as possible, dig in some coarse sand and plenty of old organic matter (compost, aged manure or commercial soil improver).
FERTILISER
Before Planting – Mix some Dynamic Lifter organic pellets into the soil before planting. Dynamic Lifter’s gentle organic nature means that it won’t cause root burn, even if it accidentally contacts some of the roots.
Established Citrus – Feed with Thrive Granular Citrus Food at least twice a year. Citrus are very greedy plants and, because of the extra demands imposed by their heavy crop, it’s always best to use a specifically formulated food. Occasionally switch to Dynamic Lifter organic pellets to improve the levels of microbial activity in the soil.
Potted Citrus – To reduce the risk of root burn, citrus in pots should be fertilised with a slow release plant food. Here again, Dynamic Lifter is suitable, or choose Thrive Once-a-year-feeder Shrub & Citrus.
PESTS & DISEASES
Scale
- Symptom: Lumps on fruit and leaves that can easily be scratched off.
- Remedy: Scrub gently with a soft brush and soap.
Cold damage
- Symptom: Curled-up leaves. Reddish-brown patches on back of leaf
- Remedy: Move potted citrus to warmer position
Verrocosis
- Raised, warty lesions on outer skin.
- Spray with Champ DP before, during and after flowering.
Comments (27)
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Seymour
Yates site member
12:16, 11 September 2009
Already sent. Most of my citrus tree have black soot on leaves and fruit. Have tried Copper and Neem Tree Oil sepatately without much success. Last year lost my Tomato crop with infestation of Green Shield Vegatable Bug. Had to destoy all crop. I have growing Marigold,Winter Sweet and Pyrethrin
Gina
Yates site member
14:38, 14 September 2009
Having little luck with the citrus I planted in Blenheim. All in a well drained and sunny area fed with thrive citrus food, but the meyer lemon especially is really struggling and yellowing more and more. Any suggestions please? Should I be feeding it something else too?
Anne
Yates site member
12:50, 27 September 2009
I am having the same problem in Taumarunui with a lemon tree that is getting more and more sickly with leggy growth, and yellow leaves that drop off over the past two years – despite water and fertiliser. Strangely though a lime tree beside it (which should have struggled with the frosts we’ve had) is looking in rude good health – indicating that the problem is with the tree itself. I’d love a solution too – I’ve just given it a good prune back to see if I can force it to do some healthy regrowth.
michael
Yates site member
11:23, 21 February 2010
yellowing of the leaves is often the result of a magnesium deficiency. buy some magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) from the garden centre or supermarket. dilute it (probably on the instructions) and spray the leaves then give the roots a drink of it as well. should notice the difference in a month.
herta peggy
Yates site member
12:28, 26 September 2009
hello to your garden team
our citrus tree, besides an avocado tree, not bearing
fruits, had last year wonderful lemons. but now, after
the winter, it shows curly leaves,dry and not nice to look at. what can we do? did we too often furtilize it
with our urin? my urin goes with water, but peter peed
to it. was that too strong?
we had learned that citrus tree like pee.
the 2 other lemon trees are fine. I feed them also with
pee, mixed with water. the other 4th lemon tree, under
too much shade has gone. could you give us an advice pls. thank you
and kind regards
peggy bormann
l42 ocean beach road
tairua/coromandel
phone fax 07 864 77 39
Peter
Yates site member
14:19, 28 September 2009
I to have sickly lemon tree to with black sooty stuff .I have wipe it and spared it with copper and have shifthed to a sunny spot do you think there much more I could do
daniel
Yates site member
21:05, 29 September 2009
i planted a lemon an orange tree two years ago the lemon is fine but my orange never flowers .any ideas ?
Hugh
Yates site member
16:52, 01 October 2009
I would like to know if when a Meyer lemon in a large pot has large clusters of flowers at this time of the year if I should thin out the flowers to get a better fruit set.
Steve
Yates site member
00:35, 02 October 2009
Find a water level. Then the tree will start to sprout leaves in appreciation. An even dissipation of rain helps the leaves get real growth.
Carolyn
Yates site member
12:56, 08 October 2009
Anyone got any suggestions – my orange tree bears lots of fruit each year but is always too sour to eat.
Have tried epsom salts & sulphate of phosphate- too no avail.
Can anyone assist?
max
Yates site member
21:38, 09 October 2009
I planted an orange in an area thatis too wet 12 months ago.Would it tolerate a transplant to a more suitable position?
Doreen
Yates site member
07:25, 14 October 2009
I have a small lime tree that I planted in a sunny spot about 2 years ago and it has never grown an inch, yet. It has no new leaves and does not flower. It is on a slope, but my garden is one big slope.I’m thinking I should dig it up and bin it.
Colleen
Yates site member
13:54, 24 October 2009
I have a meyer lemon tree – about 1 and a half meters high that, according to my garden centre, has “brown rot” – pale brown soft patches on the fruit. They advised me to spray it with Super Shield and I am wondering how long I will need to leave it before the fruit can be used.
Joanne
Yates site member
06:58, 25 October 2009
Hi I live in Hawkes Bay and I am wanting to know if it is suitable to plant lime tress.We have a big open space with all day sun, but also good heavy frost in the winter months.
max
Yates site member
11:51, 27 October 2009
I have decided to delay transplanting my orange tree until winter.
jenny
Yates site member
18:29, 09 November 2009
have re planted my lemon tree i grow in the pot leaves all yellow have feed with citrus fertilizers, give some sheep pellets,hope this will help, but any other helpfull hints most welcome,happy gardening.
Christine
Yates site member
09:16, 22 November 2009
We would like advice on a lemon tree which we have had for two years…leaves continually drop off branches and we have yielded only one fruit which has not grown in size enough to be picked….have fertilised as instructed by local garden centre and concerned friends to no avail…desperate for a solution.
richard
Yates site member
06:06, 29 December 2009
I have a accidentally sprayed my lemon tree with round up . The surrounding lawn has gone brown. How can i get that back to life? Will the lemon tree be ok. The fruit is fabulous, but leaves are falling off each day.
Lyn
Yates site member
14:53, 03 August 2010
How long ago did you spray it?Did you spray all the tree or only a section? If it happens again wash the spray off immediately and if in doubt remove the leaves that were sprayed as that is how it is absorbed. The leaves if removed will regrow but I have a nasty feeling it is too late for your present tree especially as the leaves are falling already.
Jennie-
Yates site member
17:44, 01 February 2010
I hsve bought some Thrive Citrus Plant Food and as it is rather a large bag and I only have one lemon tree and one lemonade tree, what other plants would appreciate a handful of the plant food?
Vic
Yates site member
13:24, 04 March 2010
I also give the Camelias Rhododendrons and even some Hydranges a dose
Lyn
Yates site member
14:55, 03 August 2010
All acid loving plants will thank you for the citrus plant food. Ericas are another plants .
ruby
Yates site member
20:49, 11 February 2010
have a tihitian lime tree, its 3 years old, first time its got lots of fruit,but living in miramar,wellington, be interested if the fruit will grow to full size, does anyone else grows it in the eastern suburb.
Laloo
Yates site member
10:36, 25 April 2010
Have a manderin tree thats loaded with fruit but for no reason leaves are starting to yellow.Have been told epsom salts could help cure this problem.
Any help would be appreciated as would not like to lose the fruit
thanks
Glenis
Yates site member
09:07, 06 May 2010
I buy my Epsom Salts from the Bulk Bin, you can get a huge bag for just a few dollars, sprinkle around your citrus out to the drip line. I spray with a copper spray three times a year and fertilize with Citrus Fertilizer three times a year, I never seem to have any problems. Of course this year with the drought in Northland keeping up the water on Citrus was crucial.
Anne
Yates site member
20:11, 07 June 2010
Hi i have a Meyer Lemon Tree in a large pot, I have had it about a year now. It seems to not be doing to well now. Perhaps due to invercargill weather although iam putting it in the sun and it recieves lots of water. I also take it under shelter at night to keep it from frosting.it is not thriving despite feeding it citrus fertiliser and epsom salts when the leaves turned yellow. some leaves and small fruit buds have just fallen off and some leaves are dry and curled at the end.
Any tips would be much appreciated
colleen
Yates site member
09:52, 23 June 2010
I have had my old yates garden book out and orthene was recommended for my citrus problem of black sooty and slightly curled up leaves. i dont believe this product is available now, so what is the alternative. thanks
Simon
Yates site member
16:28, 08 August 2010
I have a Lime tree growing in a pot approx 30cm x 30cm x 30cm and want to re-pot into a half wine barrel – 660mm diameter x 380mm deep.
When shld I do this ?
In also note the the fruit currently on the tree is quite yellow rather than green – what does it need ?
jonathan
Yates site member
02:16, 06 September 2010
Simon…best to move up 2 to 3 inches in size to the next pot….moving up such a big size will result in soil not being used by the plant,becoming stagnant and harming the plant…waste of extra potting mix too.The yellow fruit can often be too wet….tip your pot over and look for roots coming out of the bottom…That is the time to repot..cheers
jonathan
Yates site member
02:22, 06 September 2010
Ruby..I would suggest you thin the fruit out…visualise a space for a fruit to grow…not squashed by a neighbour..citrus are greedy flower setters…thin out a third to half of the flowers before they become pea size.Make sure the plant has nitrogen during fruit growing to help the fruits reach their potential…The tree will get better with age…often takes 5 years before you get really good fruit…better to go for quality,rather than quantity.
Kiri
Yates site member
11:37, 08 September 2010
We have planted many lemon, lime, mandarin and orange trees which were all thriving, aided by Yates citrus food. However the rabbits have just decided they love them, and are munching all but the lime trees to almost nothing. They wont eat pindone, any other suggestions apart from staying out all night to shoot them ??
linda
Yates site member
17:33, 08 September 2010
hi all my lemon tree was not doing to good so i went back to my mother addvice from years ago put tins into water and let them rust pour arond tree it looks realy great this year with plenty of fruit hope this helps
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