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Citrus Fruit & Orchards garden

Can I RePot my Tree Now?

4 years ago

I'm thinking about repotting my lemon tree. It's been in the same pot for about 2 years and is growing on a steep angle.
Is there a best time to report, or can I do it whenever? Ideally I'd like to repot after I harvest all of the lemons but that would be in January or February and it would be too cold outside.
Do you guys think repotting the tree now would hurt the fruit or tree? I'd hate to lose an entire years harvest.

Featured Answer

Silica

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

It is going to be somewhat difficult for your tree's root system during transplanting, because the middle of the container is wider than the top of the container. This will make it harder to slip the tree from the container with care. Most people will tell you to transplant in spring. Spring is a good time to transplant. I have transplanted citrus in every month of the year without difficulty. It is much more important HOW a tree is transplanted, then WHEN a tree is transplanted.

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Comments (12)

Jeff
Original Author
4 years ago
Pics
poncirusguy6b452xx
4 years ago
Wait till spring or at least after you harvest the fruit, Dont't do it now. The lean is harmless and meaninless to the plant and its well being.

Steve
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Did you remove the scale or the tree? Can you post a picture of the tree with a close up of the scale? What kind of trees did you loose and how old were they? If you have multiple trees with the same issue I would want to id the problem before replanting with more fruit trees since it sounds like whatever it is is spreading. The good news is that once the weather starts to cool in the next few weeks a lot of nurseries will be having fall sales. Watch out for potbound roots. If possible look at the roots before you buy and stay away from any tree with long roots circling around the bottom of the pot. Good luck!
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Best time to repot almost all maples is at first signs of budswell, and you can repot up until about the time that leaves just start emerging from buds. Repot larch before buds open. Pines (other than mugo) + yews + junipers are best repotted 2-3 weeks after your deciduous trees are repotted - they warmer temps at repotting time. I repot conifers in May. I'd guess, for you, early to mid-April would be about right. Pot up (as opposed to repotting) almost any time, but you're less likely to be bedeviled by over-potting if you pot up when your plant is actively growing. If potting up is part of your care regimen, you would do better to pot up BEFORE the root/soil mass gets congested to the point where it can be lifted from the pot intact. Once that occurs at any stage in the plant's development, you'll need to physically get into the root mass and correct root issues to avoid limitations associated with root congestion. Al
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TheyCallMeDave
4 years ago
I would also wait until Spring. If done properly, you should have no fruit drop when re-potting but, in case something goes wrong, the tree will respond better in Spring/Summer conditions than indoors in the Winter, thus re-potting in Spring would be the best option.
Monyet
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I go along with Jodi, she has a lot of experience. Speed is essential so that feeder roots don’t dry out. Good luck.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
4 years ago
Hope you don't have to break the pot in order to get it out. If not you are going to damage the roots. because of the shape of the pot. If root damage is going to occur, then repot in spring.
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
For me spring doesn't mean April or May, but the beginning of June after they have been out for a while and have acclimated to the outdoors, and have been actively growing do that a transplant is nothing to them. If I was to transplant mines as soon as I put them outside after a long stressful winter, they take longer to recoup. But as others have said, I have done mine pretty much anytime of the year as needed, and I have not lost one yet for that)
Monyet
4 years ago
Soak and than use a hard spray to loosen the soil.
Jeff
Original Author
4 years ago
I really appreciate everyone's feedback.

Dave, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to break the pot in order to replant. I made a mistake when I bought an urn shapped pot, not thinking about how difficult it would be to replant.

I'll hold off until Spring as everyone recommends. Thank you, Jeff
Silica
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Spring is eight months away. If your tree's root system has already filled out all the available growing space in the present container, eight months could be a long and difficult wait for this tree. The best to you and this tree.
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
Jeff. Jodi said it perfectly. I wouldn’t wait either if it were my tree. )
poncirusguy6b452xx
4 years ago
compairing root and tree size.
Cuban Shaddock from cuttings · More Info

Cuban Shaddock from cuttings · More Info

Cuban Shaddock from cuttings · More Info

trimed and in ground

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