Weekly Garden Tip

February 19, 2006

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

If you’re fortunate enough to have a citrus tree in your landscape, probably you’re noticing flower buds and new leaves beginning to appear now and trees will be in full bloom very shortly hopefully setting a good crop for this season. If you haven’t already done so, fertilize citrus and any other fruit trees you have with a good quality fruit tree type fertilizer. Many types of fertilizers are available for fruit trees and all should do a good job if manufacturer’s directions are followed.

When fertilizing the most efficient way of fertilizing is surface or broadcast applications. This way as the fertilizer dissolves it comes in contact with a larger percentage of the tree’s feeder roots and is absorbed more efficiently. Placing fertilizer in holes limits the availability of fertilizers since you’re only feeding the roots in the areas where you dig the holes and the roots in between the holes basically get nothing.

If you have mulches around trees, there’s no reason to disturb the mulches. Fertilizer goes through mulch very easily, just simply sprinkle it over the top and irrigate afterwards to help wash it through.

With citrus sometimes during the early spring dormant buds low down on the tree will break and begin to grow. If you don’t want branches on the lower parts of the tree close to the ground, cut those sprouts off immediately when they are just a few inches long. Also if you have deadwood in the tree that needs removing you can safely prune that out now without disturbing the flowering cycle.

If you have a crop of fruit still on the tree which is true with oranges and grapefruit, it’s OK to leave that crop on while the tree is putting bloom out for this season. Usually the amount of fruit you get for this season is not going to be influenced by any number of fruit that is remaining on the tree from last year.
Check new growth as it emerges for signs of certain sucking pests such as aphids, whitefly, or scale and if these become numerous enough to warrant treatment, sprays are available for citrus pests at all retail local garden centers.

If you have questions about care of your dooryard citrus, you can contact the Palm Beach County Extension office for free advice. Dial 233-1750 in the north and central county area or 276-1260 in the south county area.