Citrus Trees - Tips for Planting and Growing Healthy Fruit

Citrus trees or shrubs are available in many different varieties and growing them in your yard will provide you with juicy, healthy and delicious fruits. These trees have evergreen leaves and will add beauty to your surroundings. If you take proper care of them, some trees can grow up to 25 or 30 feet tall.

You can get smaller plants as well like dwarf or semi-dwarf trees and these can be grown in containers. You can plant grapefruit, lemon, orange and even more types depending upon your available space. Citrus trees can be relatively easy to grow; of course it helps if your climate is warm enough. Even if your conditions are not ideal, there may still be a citrus tree for you.

Appropriate Temperature

These plants do not grow well in areas where the temperature goes below or near freezing. The protection that you provide them from any frost is very important and most citrus will suffer freeze damage if the fruit temperature should drop below about 28 degrees F. Citrus varieties will always grow their best in regions that are generally frost-free, sunny and humid.

Type of Soil

Citrus will grow well in different types of soil, anything from sandy to clay based soils providing it has good drainage. They prefer acidic soil that is fertile and loose. If you are using a sandy soil they will need to be fertilized and watered more often. It is also a good idea to use compost to improve the water and nutrient retaining attributes of the soil.

The Where, When and How of Planting Time

Try to find a location in your yard that is warm and sunny. Normally a western or southern exposure will benefit your citrus tree also. Don't forget to think about shelter if cold is a concern. A wall or a fence can provide a little extra warmth and shelter.

When planting your outdoor trees it is best to do it in the spring as this will provide more time for them to become resistant to the colder weather of winter. If cold is not an issue in your area you can plant them as late as the autumn just as well.

Once you have decided upon the location, dig a hole that is about 3 feet in diameter and deep enough to hold the contents of the container. It is always best to make sure you do not bury the root crown and also plant your new tree several inches higher than the soil around the base of the tree. This will allow for some settling of the soil. Most citrus trees will have a graft union. This is where the small tree was grafted together and there will be a slight, but obvious, bend. This union or bend should be at least 2 or 3 inches above the soil which will help in preventing any rot or even fungus from occurring to your tree.

Now that your tree is properly in the ground, don't forget about using mulch. Apply your mulch to the depth of 3 to 4 inches over the root area, this will help by keeping the water in and even the weeds out.

Taking Care of Citrus Trees

These plants do not require a lot of water but you need to deeply water the plants at least weekly until it is well established. The roots of citrus plants are shallow and can spread quite far from the trunk. A mature and healthy tree should be able to deal with some drought, if so this will influence the fruit production. Mulch is more than just attractive in your yard; it will help keep the moisture in.

The citrus flower buds should begin to develop in early winter and throughout the later part of winter and into spring. The flower from these buds will be fragrant but not all of your flowers will result in fruit. Moisture and temperature have a lot to do with the actual fruit production at this time. When your tree does flower a sufficient supply of water is very important.

Fertilizing and Pruning

Fall and winter is the best time to fertilize citrus trees in normal regions. You should also fertilize during early to late summer. Using a fertilizer that is formulated for citrus will be beneficial as it will contain the nutrients the tree needs. Make sure you follow the instructions on the label and spread evenly as this will assure you avoid burning the roots.

Citrus trees do not require a lot of pruning. You should only prune once in a while to remove any shoots that happen to grow beyond the shape you desire.

Insects and Diseases

Insects may occasionally be a bother to your citrus but as the plants mature and are healthy this should be less of a problem for you. You can help control disease by making sure that the soil is allowed to dry out between watering. You can help keep insects and diseases to a minimum just by providing good care to your tree.