I want to keep this new growth pristine! So what do I do?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I know I posted a pic a few days ago on a different post... but I have decided I absolutely LOVE the new growth on this Eureka lemon tree.

In CA we are pretty lucky. If we want to go all organic and "no spray" (aka lazy), we can. We have pests, but they're not really terrible. Leaf miners can be pretty bad here, but my attitude has always been that they're just making the leaves ugly, not really doing more than that, so who cares.

Well this year I have upped my gardening game and gone a little berserk. I remodeled, planted a gazillion new things and now I'm paying attention much more to little things I didn't before. I have had citrus trees many times before, although years ago, and never even paid any attention to the beautiful new growth of a Eureka lemon.

I love the new growth on this Eureka lemon. Really love it. My Meyer lemons, meh. Oranges, grapefruits, limes... shrug. The leaf miners and other pests could have those. But this one... I want to protect and cherish! It's a gorgeous, deep maroon and I love it.

So...now I'm down to spray, protect, whatever I need to do. Since I want to protect this one I may as well protect my others too.

Guide me. Oh citrus gurus. Guide me. How do I keep this new growth protected from all the little pests out there? What do I spray? When do I spray? How often? This time of year do I even need to worry about it? Can I continue to be an organic, no spray (lazy) gardener and be just fine until spring? Break it down for me. :)

Featured Answer

johnmerr

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

The one tool that you absolutely must have is a 10X loupe. If you check the leaves every day (especially the undersides), you can put the proper treatment to control the pests. For me the simplest remedy for so many things is a bi-annual soil drench of Imidacloprid; it goes into the plant as a systemic and kills whatever sucks on or chews the leaf, without harming the beneficials. CLM can be manually controlled (just squish the little worm inside the leaf when you see it). It is not the damage they do, so much as, if you leave them alone, next year you will have a larger population. The imidacloprid kills them inside the leaf, so they don't reproduce and the populations stay quite manageable. Mites are an entirely different problem, as they will damage the fruit before the systemic kills them; they must be treated as soon as they arrive; which is almost always when you have tender new growth as you do.

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Comments (13)

jinnylea
6 years ago
Cori Ann, I feel your enthusiasm. I love the color on the new growth of your Eureka. It truly is pretty. I have a few lemons that had that pretty shade of maroon red showing up on their new growth. Unfortunately the color does not last long and as the leaf and stems grow, the color will revert to green.. Just enjoy it and appreciate it now, even, ever so briefly.. :) I think certain lemon varieties, along with other citrus, have such a beautiful stature about them. Especially in bloom, fully leafed out, and when bearing fruit... If well taken care of, (John gave you some great pointers), your trees can be a thing of beauty to enjoy and not be so meh.... lol :)
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked jinnylea
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Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
Original Author
6 years ago
Well I used a magnifying glass and don't see anything of note on the new growth currently. We are actually getting some rain this weekend (what's that???)... but then next week it will be in the 70s again and sunny.

For prevention.... Should I spray with a canola oil / baking powder mixture? I read the recipe of 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of fine canola oil and 1 gallon of water.

If so...Should I also add botanical oils to it like rosemary, cinnamon or others?

Should i just let it be since no pests seem to be interested in it currently?

Thank you!
johnmerr
6 years ago
While you have new tender growth, keep watching it every day; if you have no pests, it is not necessary to spray with anything.
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked johnmerr
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
Original Author
6 years ago
Cool! The lemon laziness gods are still smiling on me! ;)
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
Original Author
6 years ago
Just an update... I still haven't done anything and the new growth looks better and better! Still no buggies.

I don't even think I have watered it since the first post since we have gotten some much needed rain. The lemon laziness gods are still smiling on me. :)
Laura LaRosa (7b)
6 years ago
Looking great!!!
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked Laura LaRosa (7b)
jemmalix
6 years ago
Beautiful colour!
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked jemmalix
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ahhh Cori Ann, I share your enthusiasm; the late fall flush is so nice to observe especially after a late summer hammering by CLM! I use a combination of sprays, powders, shovels, guns, and an assortment cloths, lamps and screens (for freezes). - that is - when I can get to it. Some of it works only some of the time so I may just shut the windows and not look until February.

BTW: if your Meyers are not pushing new growth of a pretty, dark reddish-tint color (during the main growing sessions), they are not getting enough food.
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
myermike_1micha
6 years ago
I gotta tell you that because of these pics, that is my next tree next summer..Thank you and such a beautiful tree to boot.
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked myermike_1micha
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
6 years ago
I just went outside and grabbed a few photos. The foolish behavior of those lemons! I hope the forecasts are wrong and the freezes never materialize. But most likely this new growth will be killed soon.

My V. Pink Eureka
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy thanked uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
Original Author
6 years ago
Gorgeous! Thanks for the tip about the Meyer lemons. They're new growth isn't as dark red for me...more purple and then quickly turns green...so I will look into feeding them more! They're potted so they probabaly need nutrients more often than I have been giving them.
parker25mv
6 years ago
Spray the leaves while they are young, the leaf miners specifically target young leaves. If a young leaf survives to a bigger size without being attacked or developing a deformed shape, it will probably be okay and is unlikely to be attacked by leaf miner.

I want to keep this new growth pristine! So what do I do?

johnmerr

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jinnylea

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I want to keep this new growth pristine! So what do I do?

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