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Summer Citrus
citrus tree
Summer Citrus!
Citrus are among the most versatile of the trees and shrubs that grow in our valley. They can be grown as a single specimen, in hedges, as a trellised espalier or in containers. Citrus offer beautiful foliage, decorative fruit and fragrant flowers. August with all its warmth is a perfect time to plant citrus. Establishing a citrus plant before cool weather can help it weather the winter. Citrus collection

Citrus prefer a hot south or west facing location with good draining soil. A reflective wall or fence is helpful and planting a citrus under the south or west facing eve of the house will provide some important protection from winter cold temperatures. Citrus should not be planted in a low or soggy spot that has poor drainage or in a lawn. In fact, if possible, Place the citrus in a raised bed for improved drainage.

 

Dig a planting hole three times as wide as the root ball and just as deep as the root ball. The edges of the planting hole should then be dug out deeper than the center to accommodate additional soil amendments.

 

Test how well the planting hole drains by filling the 1' deep x 3' wide hole 1/2 way with water. Make sure it drains completely overnight. If the water does not drain it may be necessary to raise the overall soil level by creating a mound or building a planting box or look for an alternate planting location. An open-bottom-box measuring 3'x3' wide and 12" deep makes a great raised bed. Improve the existing soil from the planting hole with Master Nursery Acid Planting Mix at a ratio of 75% Planting mix to 25% existing soil. To this improved soil, add the appropriate amount of Master Nursery Master Start or Sure Start and Iron Sulfate of Iron Plus, mix thoroughly.

 

Plant by carefully removing tree from its container. Gently rough the outer edges of the root ball and place it in the hole so that the top of the root ball rests slightly higher than the existing ground level (never place any soil above the root ball, covering the stem). Back fill around the root ball with the improved soil mixture. Tamp to compress the soil as you go. Use some of the extra soil to build a circular dam around the new plant to hold a generous quantity of irrigation water.

 

Water the plant thoroughly after you have finished planting it. Let the water soak in, and then water again. Citrus foodCitrus plants need less frequent watering than most garden plants. Give it a deep soak once or, at most twice week. Frequent watering is the most common cause of failure with citrus. Of course if the weather is excessively hot, water as needed.

 

Begin to feed your new plant after a month with Master Citrus Food. Citrus plants appreciate a steady, light feeding so divide a year's supply of fertilizer into 12 equal parts and give your new plant a monthly feeding, year 'round.

 

We do guarantee our plants to grow, and we also recognize that we are partners with you in caring for your new plant. If you have any concerns about the health or vigor of your plant, please let us know right away. Often, we can suggest a corrective measure to keep plants thriving and healthy.