Solving Citrus Problems

It seems every week we receive questions on what broad array of pests, diseases and deficiencies are ailing your citrus plants. There is a simple secret that can prevent these issues…. Feed your trees.

Citrus plants are hungry, hungry, hungry! They have an almost insatiable appetite for nutrients and will soak up whatever fertiliser you can send their way. In return, well nourished citrus trees will become the picture of good health, overcoming trace element deficiencies and developing natural defences against pest insects and diseases.

Where to start

Good organic matter

Citrus trees have shallow root systems, this means it is vital to have good drainage system and soil that is rich in organic matter. When planting ensure you have Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food added into the soil to ensure rich nutrients are present. Only Dynamic Lifter offers the right solution because it is processed organically and a natural product.

Fertilise regularly

Feed your trees regularly throughout the season. Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food is a complete plant food that provides your citrus trees with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth, fruit production and development. Use regularly, year-round for best results. If you have high rainfall in your area then nutrients can easily leach from the soil so you will need to fertilise more often. 

Pruning

When your trees have finished fruiting, it’s a good time to cut them back and prepare them for next year’s growth. To do this, cut back any dead/diseased wood, twiggy/straggly growth any branches growing towards the centre of the tree. Also, remove any branches that are hanging low (almost touching the soil) to help lift the canopy.

Cut back any areas heavily congested with branches to help open the canopy, which will allow for better sunlight and air circulation – ideal conditions for fruit development and it will also help lessen the chance of pests/diseases. If you live in a frosty area, wait until the chance of last frost has passed before pruning.

If your trees are a little old and didn’t perform as well this year as it has in the past, it’s worth giving them a hard prune – it will rejuvenate them and give them a new lease on life! You may not have the best crop for the next couple of years (while the tree grows back), but it will be worth it. This method is called ‘skeletonising’ and involves cutting all the growth back, so that you’re left with a single trunk and strong, evening spaced branch stumps. 

Ensure you use a sharp sterile pair of secateurs and/or loppers when pruning – we don’t want to introduce any new diseases or bad pruning practices!

Diagnose Citrus Problems

Citrus tree losing leaves?

A citrus tree that has lost many leaves and has dead wood might well be sick. Prune any dead wood off to encourage new growth. Problems can also be caused by a severe lack of water. Citrus trees need lots of water. Apply 3-4 cms each week from Spring until Autumn.

Holes in your citrus tree

Holes in your citrus tree can indicate that it has been affected by a borer. Borers will attack weak plants and those under stress. If you find a hole get a skewer and pierce it down the hole to remove the borer. If you have numerous holes then it might be best to remove, share a photo with us on Live Chat and we can diagnose further. 

Sooty Mould on citrus trees

Sooty mould is another problem to watch out for. Sooty moulds are fungi which cover plant leaves, stems and twigs in a black sticky substance. In almost all cases, the sooty mould is secondary to an infestation of insects that secrete honeydew. These insects include aphids, scale and mealybugs. Treating the insects will remove the source of the honeydew and dry up the sooty mould, which will eventually fall or wash off the foliage. The mould itself does not feed on the plant, however as it covers the leaf surface, it is blocking light and reducing photosynthesis, essential for plant growth. Yates Conqueror Spraying Oil will treat most common sap-sucking insects on citrus.