Hi Saintpfla Since you probably heard all the possible answers on your citrus problems, I am going to tell you what I know and saw at Echo last time that I was there in the tour for the fruit trees and people asked the same questions like you did. The expert planted the tree for demonstration in a mound, he said so the rains don't flood the tree. Made a hole without amending and put the tree in, situated so it looked the best and then added compost only on the sides. The older citrus trees had a big mulch on the sides but without touching the trunk (important) a lot of people asked about this and he said is okay. After that he went on to the bugs that affect the citrus like thrips and he said this year with the cold they had not much problem but otherwise they spray some sort of oil, somebody asked neem? and he said no, he did not give the name because I don't think is available for us. Now I have my private story to tell you, just remember I am no expert. I had wonderful citrus in Arizona, never had a problem or bugs or disease, did not even look at them and they had a crop that I had to give it away. They had small rocks underneath because I xeriscape in my yard. Now when I came to this house I bought some citrus, few of the same varieties like my neighbor, I only found that out when I went to visit her place because she asked for help with the citrus. I went again recently and 2 of her trees are dead and the same 2 of mine are still alive. I went over what they do and what I do, and this is what we did differently, she fertilize with some sort of spikes, I use the Sunniland brand for citrus. When we got hit with the winter, I cover just the trunks of the trees, she only covered the tops. Sometimes when I spray the tomatoes, I will use the leftover spray on the citrus, she does not use anything because she said some expert told her the damage of thrips is only cosmetic. If you try to foliar feed when is not hot just early morning or evening there is a chelated citrus nutritional spray by Southern Ag that you can get I think at HD. I hope that you get your citrus back to health and producing for you. Silvia

I am hoping some one out there can help me. I have an Orange Tree that is 30 years old. It was planted by my brother from Orange pips when he was little. I am desperate because I have had the tree for 10 years and it has shed all of its leaves and looks very dead. I have nutured it for so long, I just carnt understand why it looks so bear. I have done nothing different. In spends the summer months outside and is wrapped up in bubble wrap over the winter and brought into my conservatory when the temperatures drop. Please, please can someone help me, my brother died trajically 10 years ago and this tree means the world to me and my children. I would never forgive myself if I let it die!! Fran UK Northumberland

I just read an article about this. It is due to all the rain. The fruit swells with water and bursts. There is nothing you can do. Hopefully, it doesn't affect all your fruit. Jane

The caterpillar is the larva of a Giant Swallowtail butterfly. The absolute best way to get rid of them on your tiny tree is to pick them off and dispose of them. There is absolutely zero reason to grab a pestide of any kind for this situation. That will take an inspection every once in awhile, can you do that? They don't bite or sting and can be handled without worry. Have you sprayed anything on or near your tree? And have your examined the curled leaves to see if there are signs of aphids or other tiny insects living in there?