Yellowing Orange Tree (forum)

Josh Waters starts with ...
I have a young valencia orange tree that I planted over a year ago which hasn't really grown much and always has these yellowing leaves with some bite chunks out of some.
It had buds come out for the fruit last year but they barely grew and shriveled up soon after
Nothing I've tried seems to help it, anyone have any suggestions?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 4th September 2015 12:49pm

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About the Author Josh Waters
Mildura
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Waterfall says...
its spring now so I would clear at least 1m diameter of grass away from around the trunk, make a border with old bricks or pavers, something to stop the grass growing back and stealing the nutrients. Then give a bit of citrus fertilizer, they are very hungry plants, I use blood and bone and dynamic lifter but its up to you. Then a deep layer of mulch, I like lucerne or sugar cane.

Time: 4th September 2015 1:56pm

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About the Author Waterfall
WATERFALL,2233,NSW
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Markmelb says...
Update - As waterfall said before - remember it been a cold winter - and give a feed of iron Chelates also a little epsom salts too and if you can get it put 500 gm of Dynofert Citrus food - or Dynamic Lifter organic away from trunk below drip line.

Remember Citrus are big feeders and they should do well in Mildura - also whats your soil like? Is it clayey? did you develop soil under plant with at least 500mm around base with at a bag of compost in your native soil? Does help.

Did you watch Better Homes Tonite - good sement on Citrus - he said to feed at begiining of every season but I suggest after frosts have finished or you could lose new growth.

Time: 4th September 2015 7:34pm

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Original Post was last edited: 4th September 2015 7:30pm

About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
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Julie says...
I had a pic that looked like yours,but it wouldn't post. You can see it if you click on the link and go to citrus nutrition.

'Vein clearing in the leaves of an orange tree is usually associated with root injury or girdling, but may occur when normally well fertilised trees are suddenly deprived of nitrogen.'

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/citrus

I agree with Waterfall - remove the grass. It is depriving the tree of nitrogen and other nutrients.


Time: 4th September 2015 7:53pm

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Original Post was last edited: 4th September 2015 7:53pm

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Josh Waters says...
Thanks for the help, the grass is not far off the trunk so hopefully clearing that will help it out

Time: 4th September 2015 9:18pm

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Mildura
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Markmelb says...
Josh - As Julie says - its more than the grass issue - Citrus are notorious for root balling - As a last resort you can lift plant - redevelop ground with compost - (add some rock dust) tease out roots and replant.
If that doesnt work try again with a new healthy seedling with greater knowledge :) Dont worry we have all lost a plant or 2 due to insufficient preparation and understanding.

Time: 4th September 2015 10:36pm

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About the Author Markmelb
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Bangkok says...
My citrus don't need extra iron here in Thailand and they are in pots.

The pomelo needs manganese though so i bought it. The leaves get yellow around the veins.

But in Holland they always recommend ironchelate for citrus, i never grew citrus there though.
If you buy that then make sure you get the right one for the ph of your soil.
There are different ironchelates for every ph-value.

I just culled my tahiti-lime because it never kept fruit, they always dropped. But the graft on the pomelo keeps them and still has blooms as well.

I fertilise it a lot though (if i'm not too lazy). Now it has a handfull of slowrelease ferts, much easyier.

I just saw that pic, i 've never seen citrus greening but maybe this is it?
You don't need ironchelate because the green color is good.



Time: 4th September 2015 11:04pm

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About the Author Bangkok
thailand
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Markmelb says...
Josh - what type of soil is it in?
How cold has it been there too? How many frosts?

BK - thats yellowing of all the leaves or I need a new laptop? Remember Mildura gets pretty cold in winter and very hot in summer.

Until November to see if could be saved - Clear grass around base and Mulch 10cm
- Iron Chelates Monthly(liquid form best)
- Tablespoon of epsom salts in 9lts water
- seasol until last frost
- Slow release citrus food after that a little every month.
If it hasnt fixed it go visit a local citrus farm for advice - then a local nursery for a new one.

Time: 5th September 2015 7:49am

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jakfruit etiquette says...
Its most likely a soil/root problem. The lawn is too close, the soil is probably not biologically active enough( add the organic fertilizers and work in as others suggested ).Seasol Blood+Bone Dynamic Lifter.
Could be soil pH causing deficiency.
Could be vine weevil borers in the roots. Any pencil sized holes near the base of the trunk? The weevils are attracted to stresed trees. Your best chance is to start now in spring as Citrus will take off soon. In an open unshaded yard, I would put a shade cover over it in summer, the heat will shut the tree down again.
For one tree I would try this, multicrop B-green from woolies or bunnings
http://www.multicrop.com.au/home-garden-products/b-green-organic-fertiliser.php

Time: 5th September 2015 10:32am

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Original Post was last edited: 5th September 2015 10:31am
About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
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