Citrus Tree Growth

Site Requirements

• Citrus trees tolerate partial shade but need full sun for their best fruit production. Space the trees 15 feet apart so that they do not block sunlight. Citrus trees grow best in well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6. Poor drainage and mulches can make the trees susceptible to fungal diseases. If you use mulch, keep it at least 12 inches away from the trunk. In freeze-prone climates, the trees grow best on the protected south or southeast side of a house.

Water

• A newly planted citrus tree needs a 10- to 15-gallon watering ring built from the soil around the tree trunk. During the first month, water twice a week for 10 minutes or until the water fills the ring. Four to six months later, when the tree becomes established, water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry or when new growth wilts. A soaker hose can provide water for established trees when the soil feels dry. In fall and winter, citrus trees need about half as much water as they need in spring and summer.

Fertilizer

• Fertilizer requirements depend on the age of the citrus tree. A newly planted tree needs increasing amounts of dry 8-8-8 fertilizer every six weeks, advises University of Florida IFAS Extension. Beginning with 1/3 pound of fertilizer in the spring, gradually increase to 2/3 pound by the fall and reduce the number of applications during the next four years. By the fifth year, the tree needs three 4.6- to 5.8-pound applications of fertilizer every year, notes University of Florida IFAS Extension. Spread the fertilizer around the tree and up to 10 feet beyond the branch canopy without letting the fertilizer touch the tree trunk. Water thoroughly after applying fertilizer.

Time Frame

• Citrus trees generally reach maturity in 10 to 15 years, notes University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. They usually have three or four growth periods each year. Depending on the species, the trees may bear fruit once a year or several times a year. For example, you may be able to harvest lemons all year, while oranges and many other citrus have ripe fruits only in one short season. Budded or grafted citrus trees usually bear quality fruit in their third year. As the tree grows each year, it will produce more fruit.

Considerations

• Temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit can damage citrus trees. Protective measures include draping blankets over the trees and spraying water on the trees and fruits to form a protective ice layer. To avoid interfering with fruit production, prune only dead, damaged or crowded branches. Citrus diseases include the fatal virus tristeza, which causes twig dieback and undersized fruits, and foot rot or gummosis, which occurs in poorly drained soil and causes trunk lesions and tree death. Quarantines help prevent tristeza, and copper fungicide controls foot rot and other fungal diseases.