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Mature SoCal Orange Tree Has Issues!

vintagegirl2901

9 years ago

Hello!

Eight months ago we moved into a house in the San Fernando Valley that was built in 1950. In the backyard is a huge, beautiful orange tree that we believe to be original to the Valley orange groves probably circa 1925-1930. Recently we noticed at the base of the trunk is a hole (it kind of looks like a gnome would live in there!) that is either rot or has been eaten away. I've scraped all of the soft residue out, and what left is hard and not soft or breakable. Above that, something is eating at the bark on the trunk. Beetles? Fungus? Ants? We love this tree and this history it represents. Other than the mentioned issues, it provides a ton of sweet fruit year round, and just went through a fragrant bloom for the spring! We'd love to solve these problems as organically as possible...please help us rid our tree of it's "baggage". Pics are below...Thanks in advance!

Colleen

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Comments (3)

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
9 years ago
Well, you have a lovely piece of history growing in your yard. I would say you've got gummosis going on, and the the hole in the rootstock area is probably leftover damage from this (also called Foot Rot). I would send your photos to UC Riverside, to the citrus folks. Since your tree is so old, and I think worth some extra special effort, they can best guide you on how to care for the tree, and treat the rather extensive gummosis going on. I would take more photos, including some close ups of the area that you think is being attacked by some sort of insect. If you can find beetles or insects on the tree, take good photos of those as well.

Patty S.
poncirusguy6b452xx
9 years ago
Your brick wall may hold in to much water/moisture.

Steve
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citrange2
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As Patty says, your tree is suffering from gummosis, or foot rot, caused by the phytophthera fungal pathogen. Certain citrus rootstocks are resistant to this infection, and it is one of the main reasons rootstocks are used. With such an old tree it is impossible to say which rootstock, if any, was used. The tree could be a seedling, or the original grafted rootstock could also be totally below ground level which allows infection into the top variety.

Anyway, there is very little that could be done now, as it appears the rot has spread quite high up the trunks. There are chemicals that could help - fosetyl-al or metalaxyl. But these are not readily available outside the agricultural industry, and they are certainly not organic.

The historic Parent Washington Navel was saved from foot-rot by 'inarching'. This involved planting several rootstocks around the tree and grafting them on to the trunk above any infection. See http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/riverside/parentwashingtonnavel.html

I have seen trees like yours which continue to grow and fruit for many years, but once the infection completely girdles the tree it is doomed. In the meantime keep the trunk area clean and dry. The retaining wall looks neat, but, as Steve says, it could trap water. But because the surrounding area is paved, I don't know how the tree gets moisture and nutrients which are best taken up from around the 'drip line' of the tree. Do you ever feed it? A well nourished tree fights infection better.

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