I know I have talked a lot about planting and growing citrus in this column but I have had many people coming into the nursery with citrus problems lately, so I thought I would touch on it again.
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Citrus trees are great in the garden and can be planted pretty much any time. They look good and provide easily-grown fruit for the whole family.
You can even grow the dwarf varieties in pots.
If you choose to plant citrus trees in your garden (and they grow very well in our climate) it is important that you supply them with adequate nutrition throughout their lifetime to get the very best out of them.
Citrus are very heavy feeders and require feeding in July, November and again in February/March.
They should be fed with a good quality Fruit and Citrus Plant Food to ensure they are getting the correct nutrients.
Fertiliser should be spread around the drip zone and watered in well. If you have never fertilised your trees don't wait until November.
Even with regular feeding citrus trees can often show signs of nutrient deficiency.
This will be evident when leaves turn pale yellow and the leaf veins stand out a darker green.
Correct this problem by watering a trace element mixture around the base of the tree. Purchase trace elements from your local nursery and follow the directions on the pack. If in doubt always ask for advice.
There are several pests that can and will attack your citrus; Keep an eye out for Citrus Leaf Miner which will create silvery trails in the leaves that will cause some distortion.
It is not life threatening for the tree but it looks terrible and will reduce your yield. Spray with pest oil to control.
Black sooty mould can often be found on citrus. This can also be controlled by spraying with pest oil.
It is usually the result of scale or aphids and is often spread by ants.
Citrus Gall Wasp is a pest that seems to thrive in our climate. Gall wasps lay their eggs in the branches and this is evident by a distinctive swelling along the branch.
Galls must be pruned out completely before September when the adult hatches and disposed of by immediate incineration or put in a plastic bag tied tightly and taken to the tip.
If you follow a few simple rules when looking after your citrus they will reward you with lots of great fruit for many years.
Look out for Washington Navel and Valencia Oranges, Eureka and Meyer Lemons, Tahitian Limes, Emperor and Imperial Mandarin, Lemonade Tree, Blood Orange and Ruby Grapefruit - all grow exceptionally well in our climate. Why not plant a citrus tree today?
