You Should Winterize Your Citrus Trees Now
I grew up in Arizona where I didn’t appreciate the absurd amount of impressive citrus fruits I had access to, usually in my backyard. As an adult living away from the desert, I realize what I’m missing and spend trips back to Phoenix pestering friends to let me pick all their lemons and tangelos. If you grew up around citrus fruits, you know that fall is the time when you work to ensure a bountiful, quality harvest at the end of winter.
In most parts of the country, citrus fruits are not grown outdoors, so if you’re like me, you bring your citrus fruits inside for the winter (“Oh, that’s the lemon from my living room”). But in places like Florida and Arizona, where citrus fruits not only thrive but are a legitimate part of the state’s economy, September kicks off citrus season.
How much to water
You want to start slowing down your watering now, to once a week, except during extreme heat. When you water, it should not be a sprinkler or light watering, but a deep watering that allows slow drips to flow for 30 minutes or more.
Watch for leaf drop: A few leaves falling is a sign of not enough or too much water. Based on what changes you’ve made recently, you’ll be able to determine what the problem is.
Is it worth applying fertilizer?
September and October are the last time you want to fertilize this year, and you definitely want to make sure your trees are well fed. After this time, you do not want fertilizer to stimulate new growth as it will be sensitive to winter temperatures. Even in warm regions there is a period of rest.
You’ll especially want to look for citrus fertilizers that don’t have a lot of nitrogen to encourage new growth.
Beware of pests and diseases
Citrus trees have a variety of pests to look for—aphids, scale insects, and citrus leafminers—and fall is the time to spot them. For example, the citrus aphid is not white like other aphids you see in the garden, but is brown . If you notice a problem, fix it as soon as possible.
There are two treatment methods: natural predators and insecticides. Introducing beneficial insects is a great way to help maintain your trees, but if that doesn’t help, consult your local garden center about proper surface treatment.
Yellowing leaves are an excellent indicator of a diseased tree. Mold is different. If you see any of these, bring a sample to your local nursery for help diagnosing and treating your trees.
Don’t prune (but plant)
You should never prune citrus trees in the fall. Spring and summer after harvest are good times to do this. If you prune your citrus fruit now, you will leave exposed cuts that are vulnerable to winter cold.
On the other hand, October is a fantastic time to plant new citrus, giving your trees plenty of time to get established before winter begins.
Paint your trunks to avoid getting burned.
If you experience extreme heat, it is recommended to paint the trunk of your citrus tree with white tree paint to prevent sunburn.
Mulch now
Fall is a good time to add a new layer of mulch, which, if applied correctly, will provide insulation to tree roots. Insulation means less fluctuation in temperature and humidity. However, you want to avoid the rookie mistake that many people make by laying the mulch right up to the tree trunk. This is a good way to spread disease – be sure to move the mulch a foot away from the tree trunk.
Consider insulating your trees
If you live somewhere where the winters are harsher, which is even the case in the desert these days, extra insulation may be a good idea. You can wrap the trunk, use frost blankets , or consider the very old DIY solution of wrapping the trees in old non-LED incandescent holiday lights that provide a little warmth.