mine sorta did something similar. Looks to me like some kind of chlorosis with the green veins and yellowing leaves. I'd give it some chelated iron and maybe some epsom salts, might even need some zinc, but I'd say definitely give it some iron. I tried Ironite last year and it didn't work, just made matters worse. if it's an iron problem, chelated iron is the way to go. It took a while for mine to come back, but it looks much better now. An I trimmed off some of the spindly sick branches and let it fill in.

Check the Ph before you apply any fertilizer and then once that is all set, fertilize away with a great all around readily available fertilizer...

All the nutrients will stay locked up in the soil if the Ph is off..

Mike

that's a good suggestion about the PH. Definitely check the PH before adding anything. Of course here we pretty much know the soil (even the water) is insanely alkaline which is why I automatically add sulphur and gypsum.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll get a PH meter and test my soil first.

I tested the soil PH using a PH Soil tester. I tried it twice and PH turned out to be 7.0. Is that good for the lemon tree or should I reduce the PH? If I have to reduce the PH, what should I add to the soil?

Thanks.

Looks to me as if it's starving. After 4 years in the ground, looks like a Charlie Brown tree.

Where do you live -- city & state, please.
What is the general condition of soils there? Sandy? Clayey? Wet? Dry?

Used any fertilizer? If so, what, when & how much?
What are the irrigation practices? When, how often and how long?
Then do you check moisture content afterward? If so, how deep is it moist?

Jean001, Thanks for the response
I live in the SF Bay area - Fremont, CA. The soil type is clay here.

Fertilizer.
I have been using only Organic Citrus fertilizer for this tree. I used E.B. Stones Oragnic citrus fertilizer - 7-3-3 last year. This year I have been using Jobe's Organic Citrus fertilizer - 3-5-5. I typically fertilize once a month during spring and summer. I don't fertilize from Oct-Mar. Not sure if that is ok. I follow the directions on the package and I have been adding 1.5 cups each month for this tree. Two weeks back I added 1/2 cup of Iron supplement - Dr.Iron. I don't think it is Chelated Iron. Other than this I have not added any other supplements.The leaves are deformed and I thought I might have a spider mite infestation. So I'm spraying Insecticide soap to this tree once a week for three weeks now.

Irrigation
If we do not have rains which we have been having a lot lately, I typically water once a week for 5 minutes spring and summer. Also I stop after 5 minutes because the water starts to stagnates around the tree after 5 minutes. But it drains after a minute or two.Not sure if this means the drainage is bad. I'm not sure about the moisture content, How do I check it?

I don't think that's enough water, not by a long shot.

If the water fills up, then drains - I would repeat that process at least four times.

I would use a soaker hose, buried under mulch. This will slowly saturate the area.
It is much more efficient in our California clime, as well.

Josh

Josh is right...Way to little water..

Can you use sulfur as suggested by green desert and gypsum? She has success with hers...Of course this is after you answer Jeans questions and make sure the Ph is lowered to allow nutrient up take at it's full potential..

Mike

Mike, Currently the ph is around 7. How much should I lower it to?
And adding Sulfur and gypsum will lower the PH? I can sure try that, since it seemed to have worked for green desert. Also green desert has suggested adding chelated iron. I had already added iron (not chelated kind) to the soil a few weeks back. Would it be okay to add chelated iron in addition to what I had already added.

I would not add Iron....Wait and see if once you lower your Ph into the 5.5 - 6.5 range, this allows the iron locked up in your soil to be absorbed by your tree..It just might...

The sulfur will lower Ph..The gypsum will provide the Ca you need....

Epsom salts will provide Mg if your water is not already doing so..

Hope it all works out for you...

Mike

If you have that black plastic landscape weed barrier in the soil around your lemon tree, that could be your biggest problem. I had a citrus that is stunted and dwarfed because it was in such a situation. Our summers just kill the roots under the plastic and the soil is not rich and healthy but dry and hard. I removed the black plastic about a year ago and my plant is looking better. Also, try some chemical citrus fertilizer for a short time to see if there is an instant change to the pant. You can also try mixing one teaspoon of vinegar to a gallon of water and applying to your plant for a few weeks to temporarily improve the acidity of the soil/water to see improvements.

Thanks Mike. I added sulfur and gypsum as you had suggested. I even added some peat moss, Keeping my fingers crossed now.

Ashleysf, That is a good pint I do have the black plastic landscape fabric around my tree with mulch on top. Not very close to the tree, but may be 2 feet around it. Infact yesterday while working on the tree I thought the soil was too dry under the fabric. Let me try removing that and see if it helps.

Thank you all for the suggestions.