Hello, I have a Myers Lemon tree that I planted about a year ago. It blossomed and had quite a few lemons started, of which I removed about half. The tree was looking great this spring, but now that it's getting warmer, I'm seeing a lot of yellow leaves and some curling. I live in the Sacramento, CA area where the weather is quite warm, although it hasn't really gotten that bad yet. I sprinkled some citrus food and snail bate early in the spring and have been watering every other day, in the early morning. Any ideas what can be wrong? Thank you, Lisa
If anything is wrong, it is probably overwatering-- citrus need to be relatively dry--let the soil dry at least 2-3 inches deep before watering--when watering allow at least 10-20 % of the water to go through the container. If the leaves that are falling have the petiole attached, they are probably just older leaves that are dropping and it is of little concern. If the petiole remains attached to the tree, it is an indicator of stress--probably from root damage from overwatering. Skeet
You don't say, but I'm guessing that your Meyer Lemon is planted in the ground. However, no matter where it is planted, I think Skeet is probably correct stating the problem is due to over watering. I would also add, that unless you have fertilized the tree more than the one time you mentioned, the tree is also probably deficient in nitrogen and potassium, thus causing the yellowing of the leaves. Nitrogen, which is the element required for growth, and also makes the trees foliage green, and potassium are both VERY water soluble nutrients, and are readily leached out of the trees' root system by the irrigation water. For young trees, apply fertilizer uniformly in a 3 ft. diameter circle around the tree. As a rule of thumb, fertilize an area twice the diameter of the tree canopy. I would recommend a citrus fertilizer with a formula of 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 if the tree is indeed planted in the ground. Do not use a fertilizer that contains a higher amount of nitrogen (the first number in the formula), because only lower analysis fertilizers should be used on trees that are three years old and younger, to avoid damaging the young citrus trees with fertilizer burn. A young California in ground tree that is 1 to 3 years of age should be fertilized 3-4 times a year -at least early Spring, early Summer, mid Summer. Young trees in Florida, are normally fertilized 6 times a year. - Millet
Thank you both for your advice. The tree is planted in the ground next to roses so it gets watered every other day with them. I checked my fertilizer and it's 12-8-4, I'll pick up some 8-8-8 and see if that makes a differnce. It's been about a week since I noticed and there are no new yellow leaves so maybe it was a fluke or the tree got shocked somehow. I'll blame it on all of the rotten stray cats that have been keeping me up lately :). Thanks again, Lisa
It is not that a 8-8-8 fertilizer will make a difference that a 12-8-4 can't, they both will have pretty much the same affect. However, it is customary never to use a fertilizer that contains a nitrogen concentration greater than 8 percent on young trees less than 3 years old for the safety of the young tree's roots. Higher nitrogen fertilizers present a danger of burning the root system on young trees. What ever you do, if you desire a high quality citrus tree, that produces a nice crop of fruit, you need to fertilize it a minimum of 3 times a year. Good luck. - Millet
Letting your sprinkler water the tree every other day can lead to problems--root rot for one. If possible I would suggest changing the sprinkler head so that the citrus tree does not get watered. Then water the citrus tree only when you are in a drought-- even if this means you will have to water your rose manually. Skeet
