Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Meyer Lemon Tree?

I purchased my tree in February of this year. It arrived with three seperate trunks coming up from the soil. I want my little tree to be strong and healthy, so I cut back the smallest trunk and now only two remain. Both look similar, although one is about 3 inches shorter than the other. Should I also cut back the second smaller one as well? Lots of pictures show only one trunk. I would like for the tree to get some flowers during the summer and bear fruit in the fall and winter of this year. The tree is between and year and two years old.

Meyer Lemon Tree?
Lemon trees are difficult to establish in some parts of Australia. You should not expect fruit for a couple of years. Even if it flowers it may not set the fruit until the roots are well established.


It needs free draining conditions that do not dry out but are not so wet that root rot sets in.


It is prone to scale so if your leaves dont look nice, check for scale. A lemon tree that is in a weakened condition is more prone to scale, and if there is scale on the plant you should spray with white oil. I also pick the scale off when the tree is still small. The leaves may also look yellow if you are overwatering.


Be very careful cutting the branches. You might like to prune the tree so that there is one strong leader, however make sure that the strongest straight branch comes from above the graft. Most citrus are grafted and you can sometimes see where the graft was made. If you cut the trunk beneath the graft you wont get the lemons you expect and you might not get any at all as the root stock is bred for making a strong tree, not for good lemons.


If you are cutting off all but one branch you have to be certain that the one that is to remain, is above the graft.


The banches above the graft are branches that are good for lemons.


You may also get branches sprouting from the beneath the graft. You will want to cut these off too.


Buy some citrus fertiliser and apply according to instructions at the proper time.
Reply:Carlina is right. Also, stay away from %26quot;acid-loving%26quot; fertilizers. Citrus thrive in areas that are somewhat alkaline, though I would recommend the pH be balanced because it releases more nutrients from the soil for the plant. Citrus fertilizer is best of course.



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