Tips For Growing Citrus

Citrus fruit is relatively easy to grow and maintain once you have met the basic requirements. But, as with all plants, they are not immune to everything. Listed below are some of the more common citrus problems, with some remedies to help you diagnose and fix as required.

Problem Symptoms Remedy

Waterlogged plants Growth stopped. If new shoots grow, these often drop off. Dig out the tree, mound the soil in the area, add compost and peat to aid drainage, and replant. Alternatively look for a better draining site or plant in a large container

Requires fertilising Yellow leaves with the veins remaining green. Water thoroughly, feed with a specific Citrus fertiliser around the drip line, water thoroughly again. With a plant grown in a container feed with a slow release citrus fertiliser.

Aphids Small black/green insects clustering and distorting new growth. Spray with Orthene or Target. Consider planting Tansy, Marigolds or Lavender nearby to deter the insects.

Mealy Bug White cotton wool-like insects that cluster on leaf axils and stems. Spray with Conqueror Oil/Orthene

Scale Brown insects with a glossy shell. Spray with Conqueror Oil

Lemon Tree Borer Holes and'sponginess' of the trunk and branches. Borer 'dust' is often visible on the ground under trees, especially in bad cases Spray with Orthene/Borer Killer. This is very difficult to control. Prune back to clean wood and burn infected parts.

Verrucosis Brown scabs or blisters on the fruit. Spray with Copper Oxychloride

A regular spray programme works effectively to prevent any of these problems occurring in the first place. A successful preventative spray programme is shown below:

Citrus Spray Programme

Even if you're like me and prefer not to spray fruit trees, the following chart can help you to know what / when you should spray, in order to help prevent problems before they occur. Although we may all stride to keep our plants healthy, sometimes knowing how to prevent, can be better than trying to 'cure' a sick plant.

Remember to always follow the recommendations on the packet.

Spraying Time Material Pest / Disease

June Copper Oxychloride Verrucosis

October Copper Oxychloride Verrucosis

November Orthene (or Target) Aphids

December(after flowering) Copper Oxychloride, Orthene & Conqueror Oil Verrucosis, Aphids, Scale Mealy Bug

February Copper Oxychloride Orthene & Conqueror Oil Verrucosis, Aphids, Scale Mealy Bug

April - May Copper Oxychloride, Orthene (or Target) Verrucosis, Aphids Mealy Bug