Quick Guide: Citrus

Citrus trees are easy to grow. They are low maintenance, and you won’t believe all the benefits you’ll receive.

We love citrus trees, and we believe every garden should have one.

Quick Tips

• They love sunlight. Find a spot that will provide at least 6 hours a day.
• They like water, but quick drainage is essential.
• Occasional, deep watering is best.

Soil and Drainage

Plant your citrus tree in a rich compost soil. Adding organic matter to aerate the soil is important, it will improve drainage and keep roots healthy. They prefer a slightly acidic soil type. Some preparation may be required with other soil types. When planting in the ground we recommend mixing in a bag of humus compost. If you are potting your lemon tree black gold’s pot the lot will do the trick.

Citrus plants like water and don’t like to be drowned. If you have a pool of water around the base of the the plant for more than 30 minutes, drainage needs to be fixed. You can do this by adding soil in a mound or choosing another spot with sufficient runoff.

The Magic Temperature 

When planting Citrus, there is a magic temperature above which you can keep on planting. According to Ian Tolley, Australia’s leading expert on Citrus the magic number is 14 degrees centigrade. Anything above this, you have root development.

For Melbourne, we recommend planting by the beginning of winter. The temperature will tend to be too cool and root growth will stop. You will need to plant the tree before. In cold soil, the roots can rot.

Pruning

Think of it as trimming rather than pruning, you need to consider space and how the tree will fit in your backyard/courtyard. Citrus plants don’t need pruning to fruit and they can often yield a surprising amount. If your tree is older between 5-10 years old , consider a big trim. Remove dead wood, rubbing branches and inward-facing branches. Doing this will give the tree more light, and air reducing the risk of disease.

Sources

• www.homelife.com.au/gardening/gardening-tips/citrus-trees
• www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s4310556.htm
• commonsensecitrus.com