HI Guys I am new and from Australia on the edge of the desert in a place called Kellerberrin in western aus I have a lime tree that has dropped all its leave and has tried to flower it was looking a bit on the sick side so I dug it up to have a look at the root growth it was planted 7 months ago any way the root growth was not good very small it was nearly the same as when we planted it I did put a load of manure old stuff and Nitrogen into the mix and replanted it The question is should it have had moor growth on the roots it gets full sun for about 3/4 of the day any help would be great we also put in the same time Lemon Grape fruit tangerine orange and all are ok with new growth Trevor
When you plant a citrus tree, the hole should ONLY be big enough to comfortably fit the root ball. Back fill the hole with the same soil that you dug, do not add any amentmens. Remove 1/2 to 1 inch of the soil from the outside and bottom of the root ball so that the roots will extend into the new soil. This GREATLY helps the roots to establish and quickly grow into their new suroundings. This is ESPECIALLY true when the container grown roots are tightly wound around the container in a circle. If the roots are tightly compact they do not grow into the adjoining soil very quickly at all. Fertilizer should be applied at the first sign of new foliage growth. - Millet
Hi Millet Thanks for the prompt reply I did as the garden books and the TV shows in Aus keep on telling us to do but there is no fast growth rate on any of the trees I have planted, your way sound good just with the small whole but how do you know the Ph level 6-7 do you have a look at the outside ring you make !! will this give the roots some goodness to grow into I have bean told to mulch on the top of the soil I have Pea straw one biscuit thick around the trees I have, and on top of that I put Horse poo, chicken and turkey poo when it fit to go Regards Trevor
Ial, it is also not a good idea to mulch citrus trees. If you do mulch, do NOT put the mulch up against the tree's trunk. Leave at least a one foot clear spacing around the trunk. Mulch greatly encourages trunk rots and mice/rat damage. If you want to know the pH of the soil take a sample from the soil in or near the root area. When you dig a large hole to transplant the tree into, it causes the irrigation water to form a pool of water that the tree's roots set in. Citrus roots that constantly remain wet develop root rot very easily. - Millet
