Caring for Citrus Trees

BY JEFFREY GIBBS

Backyard gardeners often choose to plant citrus trees due to their popularity and suitability for the local climate. Lemons, oranges, manderines, limes, cumquats and grapefruits belong to the category of citrus fruits which can be grown successfully in gardens or big containers. To ensure optimum crop production from your trees, consistent care is necessary throughout the year. Maximize the growth potential of your citrus by using our expert tips and seasonal guide.

Location

Plant various citrus varieties in an area with ample sunlight and protection from chilly gusts. Citrus trees in regions with harsh winter conditions can be grown successfully by placing them near a warm wall that faces the north and offers protection from the chilly southern winds. If a location with full sunlight is not possible, opt for a spot that receives sun for six to eight hours in the morning.

Planting

Having good soil drainage helps ensure that citrus stays healthy. Whether placed in a garden bed or a pot, these plants grow equally well provided that they receive their required care. For optimal growth of your citrus, pick a position with proper drainage. For better soil drainage when dealing with slow-draining earth beds, try planting citrus fruit into larger containers or elevated beds full of specialized potting mix. For optimal results, consider utilizing Supersoil’s Rose & Citrus Potting & Planting Mix. Make sure any pot or container you utilize has holes at the bottom for drainage. A plant variety grafted onto dwarf rootstock is the most suitable option for container usage. The end result of this approach is a manageable plant with typical-sized fruits. The ideal times for planting citrus trees are from autumn to spring (it’s best to avoid planting during excessively hot or cold periods).

Seasonal citrus care

Evergreen citrus trees have leaves all year long. In general, most kinds will start fowering during springtime (or later part of winter), while their fruits ripen by late summer. Yet there are still several which can blossom or/and bear fruits whenever they desire.

• To prevent plants from drying out, water them regularly. Irregular watering and abundant rainfall during orange maturation can result in fruit splitting.

• Make sure to give your citrus plants complete citrus food during mid to late summer (following the instructions mentioned on the fertiliser bag or container). Try out Gyganic for your Fruit and Citrus needs. Container-grown plants require monthly watering with small amounts during the summer to early autumn.

• Thinning out could be essential when crops mature and their weight increases because weak branches cannot withstand additional pressure. Pay attention to pests similar to those illustrated in this picture, such as the bronze orange bug or spined citrus bug, which can leave unsightly marks and make the fruit taste less fresh. Stink bugs frequently form clusters on tree trunks when it’s hot outside. Be cautious when removing pests. Prevent any irritation from the bugs’ defensive spray by wearing protective glasses.

• During summer, scale may appear on citrus trees (though it can affect them anytime). The hard waxy covering of this insect usually comes in the colours white, brown, or black and serves as its protective shield. There are several locations where scale may be discovered: underneath leaves; attached to twigs and stems; or present on fruit. Deal with the issue by crushing individual clusters and using a horticultural spray oil, like Pest Oil.

• The citrus leaf miner is responsible for leaving silver trails on leaves and causing them to pucker in most cases during summer. Even though fruit production remains unaffected by this pest, its presence can be unsightly. Your greatest protection is Success Ultra.

• Citrus trees often attract ants because of the presence of scale insects, aphids or mealy bugs. Regulating the pest often regulates the ants. If you see black sooty mould on leaves, it may indicate a pest attack has occurred.

Stopping the source of sooty mould is typically achieved by removing the pest. Spraying a soap spray like Natrasoap from Nature’s Way Herb and Vegie Spray can effectively remove it.

• Mites are a common nuisance for citrus farmers during humid summers. Webbing under leaves as well as misshapen fruit and speckled or discoloured foliage can indicate a mite infestation that requires attention. Administer eco-oil for healing.

• Keep an eye on developing fruits for indications of pest assault that may include possums, rats, birds and fruit fy (as seen on the right). Protect your individual fruit clusters from harm by using exclusion bags or stretching tautly some bird- and bat-safe white knitted netting over the trees where necessary. Inspecting netted trees regularly is crucial in preventing the entrapment of animals, birds and reptiles.

• Your garden may still be facing issues caused by citrus leaf miner during the autumn season. Use Success Ultra to treat.

• Utilize organic splash baits and lures such as eco-naturalure to protect your fruit from fruit fy. The vulnerability of fruits such as mandarin to fruit fy attack is quite high due to their thin skin.

Harvesting citrus fruit can happen as needed since they hold up well on the tree. Although, mandarins must be collected at the right time since overripe fruit loses its taste and its skin swells up. Checking the size and colour of the fruit helps in gauging its ripeness. Additionally, taking a few samples by harvesting them may help confrm their level of sweetness. Ripe citrus fruit is generally sweeter in taste. The process of re-greening may occur in oranges after they have ripened as a means of naturally safeguarding against the harmful effects of the sun. Give acidic fruit more time to fully develop.

• Move your potted citrus into a frost-free location for the duration of winter.

• Control juvenile life cycle bronze orange bugs during winter by utilizing horticultural spray oil like Pest Oil.

• During late winter, generously water your plants after applying complete citrus food like Gyganic.

• A decrease in temperature can cause nutrient defciency and result in yellowing leaves. The leaf colour should get better with the rising temperatures. Apply if the leaves remain yellow. Use Yates Leaf Greener Iron Chelate or Yates Health Tonic Trace Element Chelates and check watering.

• Cold exposure is often indicated by curled leaves. If the tree is not shielded from the cold, explore options for increasing its shelter such as creating a partition.

• Flowering may begin in late winter.

• Envision perfumed citrus petals appearing in the spring season. Collect any leftover fruit (even if lemons can accommodate mature, immature fruit and fowers simultaneously).

• Ensure that plants receive consistent watering during the fowering and fruit formation stage, particularly if the spring season is arid or if they are subjected to hot and dry winds.

Unripe fruits falling off trees may occur naturally when exposed to cold temperatures, dryness in tree and excessive crop loads. This process occurs naturally.

• Late winter feeding of plants being skipped means applying a complete citrus food such as Gyganic is essential to come early spring.

Weed around the tree to remove all undesirable plants and place a thin layer of natural mulch on top, like sugar cane. Make sure not to heap up any mulch near the tree’s stem.

• During spring, citrus leaf miner may attack new growth after a quiet winter. To achieve success, use Success Ultra.

• Pay attention to new growth, which may attract aphids. Squishing the aphids or blasting them with water from the hose are both effective methods. Spray the plants with an organic aphid control like Nature’s Way Herb and Vegie Spray Natrasoap as another option.

• Citrus trees don’t require pruning for fruit production, but if you need to manage their size, then prune them in spring. Don’t prune during the summer months since the wood that’s exposed could get sunburned. Anytime is appropriate for removing dead wood. new growth after a quiet winter. To achieve success, use Success Ultra.

• Pay attention to new growth, which may attract aphids. Squishing the aphids or blasting them with water from the hose are both effective methods. Spray the plants with an organic aphid control like Nature’s Way Herb and Vegie Spray Natrasoap as another option.

• Citrus trees don’t require pruning for fruit production, but if you need to manage their size, then prune them in spring. Don’t prune during the summer months since the wood that’s exposed could get sunburned. Anytime is appropriate for removing dead wood.