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New orange and Meyer lemon trees - planted wrong?

13 years ago

In recent weeks we planted a new orange and Meyer lemon tree in our rich clay soil. Both spots (and their surrounding areas) were previously planted and amended for other plants, so the soil was not raw clay to start with.

Not knowing any better (???) we amended each hole at planting time, tamped down, watered, then created a shallow water basin at the drip line.

Yesterday I noticed feeder roots on the soil surface of each tree, so I mixed some spare native soil with planting compost (approx. 1:1) and covered the feeder roots, then covered with mulch from the drip line to a few inches away from the trunk.

Are our new trees doomed? I know my husband will NOT want to re-plant them. Both trees are covered with blossoms, and the orange has tiny fruit.

Is there anything we need to correct without having to re-plant them?

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Comments (8)

houstontexas123
13 years ago
i did the same thing with mine last spring. they grew fine, the larger one had several oranges.

i planted them really close to the side of the house(south side) for winter protection, and we did have several hard freezes this past winter. after seeing other people's orange trees survive out in the open with no cover at all, i decided to transplant them to the backyard.

we have thick heavy clay. i just replanted them the same way. it really depends on the weather in your area. if you get lots of rain and your area is prone to flooding, then your trees might drown. if your area is fairly dry, just water lightly, and fertilize regularly.
jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you. We have an established Tangerine tree (in the ground) that was planted about 40 years ago. We lost a dwarf lemon a couple of years ago that was also about 40 years old --- we have no idea what happened. It was happy, produced lots of lemons, then began to decline. I wish I'd taken pictures and asked for help so we might have saved it...
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Well, you have made the classic potted Meyer error. Meyers are quite sensitive to significant light change and will drop its leaves to replace them with new leaves better suited to the new light. In the future move the plant from full sun to partial sun; after 2 weeks move it to full shade; and 2 more weeks to inside. Reverse that in the Spring when you put it out, and you should avoid the leaf drop. Yes, I would cut the fruit, as the tree needs to put all its energy into making new leaves. Continue to treat your plant well, and it will make a full recovery.
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Lemon Plants have a mind of their own. They can be very frustrating and with the exception of the bad leaves ect you are experiencing exactly what a lemon plant will do. They will only cary to fruitation what the plant is programmed to bear. It may have a thousand blooms in clusters and all the blooms will drop all but maybe 10 and then only probably three will mature as growing lemons. The insect problem needs to be taken care of.You seem to be watering and feeding correctly.Its just the weird life of a Lemon tree. Some years they will bear profusley the next year they will drop all fruit. Just keep trying, you'll eventually succeed. Get rid of the bugs and give your plants a lot of sun...Good Luck ,you'll never taste a better lemon than a MEYER.
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wow, those are tiny, i agree with John, they do look like rooted cuttings. since you're up north in the cold, i'd also recommend Al's gritty mix. since cold temps and too much moisture in the soil will cause root rot. citrus do not like wet feet. FYI before it gets cold, once your night temps drop below 40'F you'll want to bring your citrus indoors, provide ample lighting, decrease the amount of water they get. you can look in the 'growing under lights' forum to get some ideas. possible setups: 4' shoplight with fluorescent tubes, metal halyde lamp, high pressure sodium lamp, high wattage CFL's (spiral bulbs).
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Well, I see a few things that might be causing this. It looks like you've got a situation where you have a LOT of grass competing with both water and nutrients . You really do need to create a much large cleared area from underneath your little trees. Grass is a huge nitrogen hog. It will simply gobble up all that nice fertilizer you're putting down for your citrus. Not familiar with that particular fertilizer, but you'll want a fertilizer formulated for citrus, that is higher in nitrogen and also contains a good amount of micronutrients as well as your NPK macronutrients. And if your trees are being sprinkled by your lawn sprinklers, this is NOT good for the trees. This actually can eventually kill a small young tree. They don't like their trunks sprinkled. You'll want to put your trees on a drip system, and give them a long, deep drink one or twice a week (depending up on how hot it gets.) Doesn't look like sunburn, and yes, young citrus trees can get sunburned if you live in very hot, dry, sunny areas (like AZ, interior S. California). I agree with John's recommentations, fertilize at least 3 times a year - I fertilize 4 times a year - February through September/October. And, I use a foliar fertilizer especially if we've had a cold, wet winter and spring, which for me tends to make micronutrients unavailable since my soil is mostly DG. Grow More Citrus Growers Blend is a great product, and can be applied both to the roots or as a foliar spray. Spray in the evening. Patty S.
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jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Can anyone else comment? If we mulch with composted manure and give fish fertilizer now, will they be fine?
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
13 years ago
Do they appear to be suffering? The roots at the soil are not an issue most likely just soil erosion.
jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Not yet, but the weather was very cool on the day I checked, and now it is hot.

Even if the surface-root exposure was due to soil erosion (and I don't doubt that it was), shouldn't I cover those roots? I've already done that, and yesterday added some composted manure mulch and gave it a feeding of fish fertilizer.
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
13 years ago
they should be just fine.
jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you.
jakkom
13 years ago
OK, you're feeding it a lot, so let that rest for a while. You don't mention citrus fertilizer and iron, both of which are needed for citrus in the ground. Like roses, they're hungry all the time and will exhaust the soil during their extremely long lives.

I feed once every month or two with citrus fertilizer, liquid iron at least twice a year. I save the liquid fish/kelp dousing for no more than once or twice a year, but always after the main harvest ends - right around the end of this month or so.

The new growth will always tell you how well the citrus is doing. If it's dark green, it's getting enough food. If it's unfolding a paler green, the plant is hungry.

I mulch with either mini-bark or cocoa hull mulch, which seems to work better for me in conserving moisture than compost.

I can't find any info on meyers specifically, but according to one web source, 40 yrs is about the average lifespan of a lemon tree, with production dropping off as it ages although it may live longer.

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