We have a dwarf orange tree that we planted about 14 years ago, I think it is a navel, it blossoms and starts the fruit but then they all fall off with a week or two. I have tried everything they have told me at different nurseries, but nothing seems to work. last weekend I talked to someone at home depot and he said that it must have been a bad graft and that I could get somebody to re-graft it or just tear it out and start over. I'm thinking about it and wonder if I could try grafting it myself, I have done it with and avocado tree, but it was new, not this old. Anybody? thanks, KarenV
Home Depot is not a nursery. What's a "bad graft", in this context? If the tree is starting to form fruits but they abort, then that is what to focus on: why might they be aborting.
To my knowledge, a graft wouldn't affect a trees fruiting capabilities. I may be wrong, but I don't think the graft is the problem. Don't do anything hasty. Tell us about its environment, how it is watered, and how fertilized and what with
It is in our backyard, in the lawn, but I try to make sure it doesn't get to much water and I feed it with some citrus food that I get at the nursey.
The WORST place to obtain advice on your citrus tree would be at the garden centers of Wal Mart and Home Depot. Home Depots advice to you is just pure ridiculous. Tell us what is the fertilizer you use, and what is the fertilizer schedule that you follow. Also, what is the irrigation schedule your follow with this tree, ESPECIALLY from bloom to a period of 4 weeks after bloom. Further what foliar nutrition did you give the tree 30 days before expected blooming time? I do not think the problem is coming from the tree. If there is a possible disease or virus, we would need to see a picture to make a assessment. - Millet
