How To Tutorials

The Formula to Successful Citrus Farming

Dooryard Citrus and Cold Weather

During the cold season, we want to be ready for frost and freezing. Have frost covers and blankets ready, and be sure to keep an eye on the weather if you are growing citrus. NPK Feeding should be complete for the year. We do not want to encourage any new growth since it is the most sensitive to cold. Watering will be your primary focus to make sure the soil will not dry out.

In Case of Frost or Freeze Warnings

Plants can be covered with a winter frost blanket, found at your local garden center, or regular blankets.
Soil can be banked up to bottom limbs before winter in December and removed on the first of March.
Plants in containers will need to be indoors.

Plants Affected by a Freeze

You may expect some of the leaves to drop. It should be temporary.
Never prune trees until new growth starts back in late spring (April). At that time, all cuts should be at least 1/2" below damaged wood.

If a Grafted Plant

Any sprouts below the graft are rootstock sprouts and should be removed. Severely cut back plants will produce following the next bloom cycle.

Plants on Their Own Root

Even if plants are frozen back to soil level, any growth will be of the same variety and produce after the next bloom cycle.

Planting a Citrus Tree

For Planting in Containers

You can plan containerized citrus trees throughout the year because you will only need to transfer them, and there is minimal shock involved. When replanting, you will want to select a well‑draining soil as citrus trees do not like to have drowning roots for an extended amount of time. Wet roots can create issues of disease and leaf yellowing. Furthermore, container citrus trees can benefit from adding rocks or styrofoam peanuts to the bottom of the pot. This way, there is room for the water to retain and eventually leave the container for the roots to stay dry. Always select a plant container with holes and a caster that sits underneath it.

For Planting in Ground

Pick a spot with 50% or more sun on well‑drained soil or soil mix. Preferably where it will have protection in winter from cold north and west winds. Avoid septic tanks and drain lines. Clear away any weeds and grass because you don't want applied fertilizer and nutrients to compete with each other.

Have water available and dig a hole larger to the container where you plant your citrus tree. Remove your tree from the pot, then shave away fiber roots from the side of the root ball - this is very important. Keep an eye on the growing roots in a circular direction around the edge of the root ball where the pot was. If you loosen and trim these roots, you allow them to grow out into the new soil environment that you are placing the tree.

Place your citrus tree in the hole that you have, keeping the top of the root ball at the same level as the existing ground level, not deeper (important note). Planting trees too low in the new hole will cause issues where the tree may not survive. You can fill the hole with 1/2 full of water once you place the tree on it, and the crown of the root ball is at ground level. It will remove any air pockets and help the tree settle in where you want it to be.

Finally, fill the rest of the hole with the remaining soil to ground level, pack soil to remove air pockets. You can water again if you wish. It will help remove any other air pockets that may have happened when finishing the soil fill in.

Fertilizing a Citrus Tree

Use a fertilizer specifically for citrus plants, fruit, or nut‑producing plants. These fertilizers have elements required for fruit production. We also recommended using foliar‑applied micronutrient supplements that citrus trees crave—they provide additional "vitamins" your trees will love. GrowScripts has great nutritional products that have been proven effective in the citrus industry.

Newly Transferred and Mature Citrus Trees

For the first three years of newly planted trees, it is recommended to fertilize from late February thru the first of October about every 6 weeks to establish a large and a full canopy on your citrus tree. (Note: slow‑release fertilizers will be less often, follow label directions.) Spread fertilizers evenly under the canopy. Granular fertilizers can burn tree roots and cause issues if used too heavily.

We recommend using a slow‑release fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium as that is what newly transplanted and established trees look for most. Citrus trees are heavy feeders and can benefit from 3‑4 slow‑release feedings throughout the suggested fertilizing months above. Consider applying additional supplements of Essential Micronutrient Nutritionals when you use fertilizer products such as 18‑5‑10 Slow Release as their label directions suggest.

Trim/Top a Citrus Tree

It is always a suggested habit to keep citrus trees at a height for easy harvesting. Overall size is up to you. Container trees will be smaller, and pruning is necessary to shape and keep the tree in a visually presentable form.

For Container Citrus Trees

Pruning tree branches from container trees is a visual approach. Tree branches sometimes have a mind of their own and can run wild if you don't help guide them where you might want them to be. A suggestion is to prune in a fashion that keeps the canopy in a consistent shape. Don't worry if you need to remove larger branches. Just remove one and let growth fill in before you do it again. Over time, you will be able to shape your tree just like you want.

Remove sprouts at the base of the tree. It also includes sprigs or suckers from the trunk of the tree. These generally happen below the union, where a specific variety of citrus is placed on a rootstock at the nursery. Removing these sprigs assures that your tree stays the variety it was budded to be. Besides, there is no need to grow something you don't want. Most suckers are of a sour variety and not desirable. In some cases, rooted cuttings are of the same kind, and sprouts from the base are desirable when bushing citrus plants.

For Large Dooryard Trees

You can trim and prune trees any time of the year. Heavy cutting back is best done in February before the spring flush and bloom. When you do heavy trimming at this time of year, look to remove damaged and broken branches as they will not hold fruit over the extended amount of time for ripening. You are better off to remove the branch and help the tree focus on sizing fruit that will hold and ripen on the tree.

Another thing to look for is crossing branches on the inside of the canopy. Remove these crossing branches to allow for fruiting limbs to get the amount of ventilation and light needed for vigorous growth. Sparingly is the suggestion if you are concerned with removing too many branches. One here and there is the best bet.

Trim diseased branches, as they can spread to other parts of the tree if not removed. A good way to look at removing diseased branches is that you are taking a preventative approach to helping your tree live healthy.

Skirting a tree is common. It means you are trimming the bottom branches to create a specific height from the ground. It also removes branches that may break due to weakness under heavy load and keeps your fruit off the ground and away from critters.

Water a Citrus Tree

Watering citrus trees can sometimes be tricky. However, keeping a feel for the moisture level in the soil is one of the best ways you can gauge whether or not to water. You just have to scratch under the surface of the soil. If it is moist, you should be good to go. In most cases, too much water surrounding the trees for an extended time makes the roots weak. Water effects in either direction, too much or too little, are never seen right away. What you will see is an after effect that creates chlorotic and dropping leaves. Keeping a consistent watering schedule is best if you can.

Symptoms of water needs are curling leaves, muted color, and leaf drop. Think of the leaf drop as a way for the tree to sustain itself through drought. If it drops leaves, there is nothing to care for, and it can put its hydration to where it is needed. Staying alive and holding out for the next watering.

Too much water means muddy soil, and citrus trees hate wet feet. They desire the moist/damp setting. That is why it is always recommended to use a well‑draining soil in citrus containers with holes in the bottom.

Flowering and Fruit Set on a Citrus Tree

Flowering and fruit set is why we grow our beloved citrus trees. Neither the sweet aroma of citrus blossom or that great taste of fresh citrus is hard to beat. When it comes to flowering and fruit set, a healthy citrus tree is going to produce more. Optimization of the tree is done through fertilizing and care. Here are a few tips that may aid in the ultimate results of flowering and fruit set.

Citrus trees flower and produce fruit in response to environmental stresses. Generally, stress is considered bad. But in this case, stress is natural and good. It means that a tree coming out of dormancy in the Spring is a good stress as the tree is doing what Mother Nature intended. Getting ready for a new year of growth and fruit production. Outside trees will be easy to produce flowering and fruit set as they work in conjunction with the weather and seasons. Indoor citrus trees may need a little help. That is why it is always suggested to keep container citrus in a bright sunny place. The days and warmth are good indicators to the citrus trees on what they should be doing.

It is always recommended to fertilize in the Spring. It is the right time when the tree is coming out of dormancy and going into the growth and production stage. If your tree doesn't have the food it needs, it will likely have a hard time producing. Another thing to consider for increasing bloom (which in the long run is fruit set) is added nutritional elements that citrus trees crave. Nutritional treatments like Calcium and Boron aid the trees in getting what it needs right before bud set. The tree needs different micro‑elements for different things. Calcium and Boron are elements proven to help the tree in flowering and fruit set.

Contact Us

Let our team help you with tips and tricks on how to grow your citrus farm.
For questions and concerns, reach out to us.

Get in Touch Now

Contact Us

Let our team help you with tips and tricks on how to grow your citrus farm.
For questions and concerns, reach out to us.

Get in Touch Now