Citrus tree (forum)

Reece starts with ...
can anyone tell me if my citrus tree will live . I planted 15 orange mandarine, lemon and lime trees , i put them into the ground which is very clay soil , these trees are graghed for that though. I think i may have over done it with the fertiliser, the leaves went yellow and dropped off. The stems are still very green and it does look like there are small buds comming up . What should I do from here ?

Time: 27th July 2010 6:53am

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Harvey
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Brendan says...
Hi Reece,
Try applying a lot of 'gypsum' around the trees, like 4 or 5 handfuls per sq metre, and scarify it into the soil. That might pull 'em through.
How long ago did you plant them?
I'd also give them some liquid gypsum, to speed thing up.

Time: 27th July 2010 7:05am

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Reece says...
Thanks Brendan ,
I planted them about 4-5 months ago , they have stayed green in the trunks and stem just lost all leaves, do you think they will make it.
Its a bit embarassing I live in Harvey and everyone one elses are booming

Time: 27th July 2010 7:10am

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Brendan says...
Hi Reece,
Silly question, where's Harvey?
Gypsum is the answer, don't forget to mulch them as well, but keep the mulch ~ 200mm away from the trunk(s), to stop rot setting in.

Time: 27th July 2010 7:25am

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craftsmaster says...
When you're planting the herb initially, place the plants about 12 or 15 inches apart to give them plenty of "elbow room."
_______________
Carmel Santos
CEO of Herb Gardening Guide
The Australian Guide to Herb Gardening


Time: 27th July 2010 11:21am

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Charles cant spell says...
Reece what soil is and and where is the water level. Some area of harvey are clay and water lodged.

Harvey is SW WA. 150 km south of Perth between Darling Range and coast. High intensity Dairy and Citrus area.

Citrus are surface feeders though so you can encourage the roots up with organic food and mulch around the root area (just not the against the bark)

Time: 27th July 2010 11:22am

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Original Post was last edited: 27th July 2010 11:23am

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
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Itdepends says...
Citrus take a while to get established- and the growth spurts are in Autumn and Spring. They wont be doing anything right now- so if they've lost their leaves- don't give up on them unless you fail to see any action by the end of spring.

Also kill the grass/weeds inside the dripline (basically if you were looking down on the tree from above- kill any weeds/grass that would be hidden by the foliage).

Watch out for iron and magnesium deficiency in spring (yellow leaves, green veins).

Daniel



Time: 27th July 2010 12:17pm

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Rhys says...
Any time i hear about a citrus struggling in clay, i get a big wave of deja vu. I planted a couple of citrus into clay based soil, having done a drainage test which seemed "OK", and thought i'd done a reasonable job preparing the site as well. But there was absolutely no new growth over spring, summer, and autumn, with the leaves slowly turning yellow, and the odd one being attacked by caterpillers as well. After looking around the internet a bit, asking a few questions, and contacting the nursery that supplied them, i decided to dig them up and put them in pots for the time being...it might have been coincidence, but within a week of transplanting them, there was new growth on both of them. The leaves actually started to yellow more quickly after the transplant and many have now dropped, but i'm putting this down to transplant shock and the fact that the new growth might be sucking some nutrients out of the old leaves (if you're keen, you can follow their progress here: http://myfolia.com/gardens/17306-citrus-splitzer-garden).

If there are new buds coming up (and make sure they are above any graft union), then maybe they are going OK and you don't have to dig them up...but i'd certainly wait until you were sure there was new growth before giving any more fertiliser. Not sure when you planted them, but if it was only recently, then i'd wait to see what they do over the warmer months before doing anything too drastic.

Improving the soil is much harder after planting, but i would agree with the gypsum and mulching comments. If you plant any more, or do decide to transplant these ones, make a big mound to plant them in, or even build a raised bed...this will help with the wet feet from the clay soil.

Also, citrus like full sun, so if they aren't getting enough, this could also cause problems.

Also, not sure what "graghed" was meant to be?

Good luck and let us know how you go!

Time: 28th July 2010 5:19pm

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About the Author Getafix
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amanda says...
Also - Liquid gypsum is great in a emergency! It's a bit expensive but u don't need much. Back it up with coarse grain gypsum for long term control as well.

Time: 28th July 2010 7:25pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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Diana says...
Hi Reece,

I have very heavy clay soil too. I initially planted my Lisbon lemon in the ground and it didn't do well. After a couple of months I decided to dig it up, put a couple of large bags of compost, and one of soil mix mixed in with the clay and some gypsum under it, and put it back on the mound (about 20cm high), and it has never looked back. It is two years old now. It was definitely worth doing that. I think even a moderate sized mound lifts enough feeder roots off the clay, even if other roots are in the clay.

Diana.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 28th July 2010 8:07pm

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Rosalind says...
I am soon to plant my Mandarin
Clementine in the middle of the front lawn. It faces

Time: 18th May 2013 8:48am

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About the Author Rosalind
Mount Waverley
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Diego says...
Looks like you are doing everything right Rosalind.

Time: 21st May 2013 1:12pm

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Grizzly fm LV says...
I planted a well established clementine orange tree last October, had plenty of fruit on it through to January. did have some difficulties with watering properly and now have underground emitter's for that. 3 times a day, 15 min. at a time just during this hot hot summer here. my problem now is that all the little fruit bulbs are falling off by the hundreds. I'm afraid by the time they are ripe to eat there will be none. can anyone help me?????

Time: 24th July 2015 4:04am

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About the Author Grizzly fm LV
Las Vegas
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Julie says...
A total of 45 minutes watering per day sounds excessive. I'm in hot, dry Western Australia, and my citrus are watered an hour twice a week, which is all we are allowed.

This winter they are loaded with fruit after a long, hot summer.

Time: 24th July 2015 1:16pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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