yes you should... are you watering DEEPLY and thoroughly thru the entire root zone?? .. and then letting it NEARLY dry??? NEVER feed an already STRESSED PLANT ... wish i knew where you were .. it might make a difference ... they are invasive in many parts of the county ... i am surprised you would take them with you ... but whatever makes you happy ... ken

If the leaves in that area, and the ones falling off look faded it would be spider mites. With a heavy infestation, the leaves eventually fall off. Spider mites love hot dry weather. I don't know how old your burning bush is. A young shrub would be more suseptible to too much or too little water. Since you say that the lower leaves are falling off, it could be over-watering (if it's not spider mites.) Typically a plant not getting enough water will show stress - wilting, leaf drop at the top or outer branches of the shrub. If the leaves seem to turn brown or soft before dropping and are dropping from the lower or lower inside part of the shrub, it could be overwatering.

I find it invasive. There was a ton of burning bush coming up in a local natural area I was cleaning to be wildlife habitat. It was everywhere. The nearest bush I know of is 1/2 mile away - it's not all over man's yard who has it...but the birds roost in the natural area so therefore poop seeds all night. They don't roost near the Mother shrub. Killing burning bush was a new one on me this year. Also found a lot of Mahonia bealei and liriope coming up. Uggh. Please consider an alternative - red twig dogwood (artic fire - LOUD in winter), ariona (autumn magic is lovely), even the ninebarks. All the color choice (diablo, summer wine, copertina, darts gold) have the same basic shape and beautiful color, winter interest. Moonshine Designs Nursery carries all of these. The ninebark is grown by Monrovia I think so may be easy to find. Tea viburnum (Viburnum setigerum) is a non-native which is not invasive that I know of, vase shape stunning plant and wildlife, woodland friendly. Fairweather Gardens and Lazy S'S Farm Nursery carry this. Check Fairweather Gardens for the Prince William Serviceberry, too, that's a great shrub. Color, berries, good shape, attractive foliage...and coralberry (Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii Amethyst), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), planted together those two are outstanding. And unique. Don't forget unique! This is just one opinion after seeing it carpeting the woods...and rain would be great right about now!! Why copy your neighbor?? Be different! :)

Amanda, it looks to me like that tree is a gonner. You’ve put too much stress on an already stressed, under watered, under fed tree. I’m afraid it will see its demise indoors. If it were me, I would take the winter and do some research on root stocks and how they effect the growth habits of the citrus tree you want to grow. Then I’d go to my local nursery like Armstrong’s or wherever you normally go in LA and find a new tree that is grafted to said rootstock that you researched in January and plant said tree in Late January early February into the ground. Late winter early spring is the perfect time of year to plant citrus trees In ground. Then I’d water it consistently and deeply the first year and fertilize it lightly monthly. That’s it. The more care and worry you give to your trees the worse off they end up being from over care. You see, in ground trees are very different than potted trees. They need a lot LESS care, you have to let them do what they’re going to do and address issues only if they arise. Not every tree is going to look perfect or have deep green leaves or bear fruit the first 1-2 years, it takes patience. Rest assured though, you live in LA, it’s basically the perfect climate to grow citrus in so if you have patience and keep an eye on your tree it will reward you with a bounty eventually. Evan