A question about leaf drop

11 years ago

This is a Washington Navel full size tree that was planted a couple years ago just in the soil on the slope. I fertilized with an organic fertilizer in early February, then added a little non organic in March. It started flushing out, then dropping leaves, new and old and in between like crazy. Lately I've given it a deep soak every week or so since it warmed up and stopped raining. It also has these little bugs crawling on it...there are at least half on dozen on it right now. The rest of my citrus on the same slope are doing fine with the same treatment (so far anyway...) What do you think? Oh, I've been spraying once a week with fish emulsion too, and the rest of the trees seem to love it.
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And don't worry I didn't pay that much !

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Comments (8)

Beth Willett
Original Author
11 years ago
I just googled orange and black bug....so these bugs could be lady bug larva????? Good thing I didn't try to kill them!
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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
11 years ago
Yes, that is a lady bug larvae... good to have around!
When you add fertilizer, its just like your lawn... you must keep it well watered so as to not burn the roots. It is possible that it reacted to some damaged roots by dropping a commensurate amount of leaves.
I suggest that you water thoroughly and move any bits of fertilizer well away from the trunk - - - past the drip line.

good luck and keep us updated!
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I found something in my search to stop the leaf drop problems I was having with my ficus benjamina and it may help you as well. Ficus trees are NOT phototropic. Which means unlike many plants, they can't turn their leaves to face the light. Instead, they drop leaves and regrow new ones that are positioned correctly. This means that doing something as simple as moving your plant a few feet or rotating it to give it even lighting can cause leaf drop. For example, in my apartment I have my ficus on the wall opposite my eastward facing window. When I brought it home it started dropping leaves immediately (that was to be expected, shock, change of water amounts etc.) But when it continued to drop leaves I thought maybe it wasn't getting enough light so I moved it next to the window where it began shedding leaves even faster. I put it back on the wall opposite the window and have left it there and within 2 weeks it began to sprout new leaves. Many of the old leaves continue to drop off despite the fact that they seem otherwise healthy. Basically, when you get a ficus, decide where you're going to put it and LEAVE IT THERE. If you put it outside for the summer, expect it to be nude a month after you bring it in for the fall or winter. Try to avoid direct sunlight especially next to windows as windows tend to concentrate infrared light which creates an extremely dry environment. If you want it next to a window be prepared to mist it several times a week. Ficus need medium light. They can't tolerate either of the extremes. And when watering, you want to be sure to let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. Also, ficus are fairly susceptible to root rot so be sure they aren't sitting in a puddle of water.
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
11 years ago
Doing great, Beth. A slope is ideal for citrus. Don't spare the nitrogen right now, as all of our citrus are trying to recover from the terrible cold dip we had a few months ago (hence the leaf drop - not due to fertilization, you would see leaf burn, but you're watering and we've had a few rains, I doubt that is the cause of your leaf drop). And yes, those are lovely ladybug larvae, good for you. Be sure you control for ants, and the ladybugs and their larvae will get the rest of any aphids that might be taking advantage of the tender young citrus leaves.

Patty S.
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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
11 years ago
good points! What are the best way(s) to control the ants. I see them starting to climb all over my flushing citrus.
Tanglefoot? other?
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Beth Willett
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the replies! It is still losing leaves. What about the branches that are dying back? Does that usually happen with the leaf drop from changes in temperature as well? I'm afraid to water it more. The soil is still damp under the surface. Maybe I did damage some roots! I'm also wondering about what controls you suggest to use for ants, Patty. There are a few crawling around. For the added nitrogen, would you give it fish emulsion? I sure appreciate help from the experts. This is a new obsession of mine! I have a lemon that looks terrific and a satsuma mandarin that is just flushing out now but looks great. They are all on a slope, so hopefully they won't get overwatered as I tend to do!
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
11 years ago
Boric acid bait traps at the base of the tree and Tanglefoot painted on trunk wrap (never paint Tanglefoot directly onto the trunk, as in hot weather, it can heat up and "cook" the cambium layer). On a garden tour, one of our CRFG's fruit trees had the web tree wrap wrapped several times around the trunk, forming about a 4 to 6 inch wrap. It was wrapped so that there was about 3 thicknesses of wrap, then tied off in a neat knot. The, Tanglefoot painted on the wrap. All the trees looked a little like they were wrapped like a present - neat and tidy. The CRFG member happened to be an engineer, so everything was done very precisely and neatly - nice effect.

Beth, just keep watering regularly - don't over-water of course, check the soil, and if it is getting dried out 6 inches below the surface, you can water. Continue to give your trees a bit more fertilizer. You're probably just seeing the delayed reaction of our freeze we had. I would use a good, balanced fertilizer especially formulated for citrus. I like to use Gro Power's Citrus & Avocado Food. It has a very high amount of humus and humic acid, which is really great for our California soils. I would top that with some chicken or rabbit manure (or some additional fish emulsion) to boost the nitrogen, and then be sure to top with compost to retain soil moisture, which looks like you may have done on the slope, which is great. Prune out the dead wood to the green wood (try to prune to the last live node, preferably a node that faces outward). Your tree will recover nicely, not to worry.

Patty S.
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Beth Willett
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Patty and "Becauseican! " I love this forum! Perfect strangers helping each other! Awesome. I feel better already ! :)
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Beth Willett
Original Author
11 years ago
On a side note, Patty...I see you are from Vista. I'm heading down there this month to Garden Glories Nursery. I wondered if you have been there or know anything about it. Then on to our other favorite place, Buena Creek Gardens in San Marcos!
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A question about leaf drop

Comments (8)

Beth Willett
Original Author

uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

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A question about leaf drop

Comments (8)

Beth WillettOriginal Author

uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

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