Best Timing and Method for Fertilizing Citrus Trees, Per Advice from a Citrus Cultivation Professional
Dial Up a Bountiful Citrus Harvest with the Right Fertilizer
If you're aiming for a lush bounty of citrus fruit, you've got to feed those trees! Citrus trees are hungry beasts that need more nutrients than what they can scrounge from the soil to produce those juicy orbs we crave. Here's a rundown on how and when to feed your citrus trees, whether they're growing in the ground or containers.
Pro Tip: Dr. Michael Polozola, assistant professor of horticulture and fruit and nut specialist for the Louisiana State University AgCenter, dishes on citrus fertilization.
When to Dish Out the Goods
Got questions on when to fertilize and how often? Here are the deets for in-ground trees.
Post-Harvest Feast in Late Winter
Once the fruit is gone, it's time to re-stock the pantry for the plant. As Dr. Polozola puts it, "[your citrus tree] wants to grab up some nutrients to get it ready for spring growth." Shoot for a fertilizer feast sometime between January and March, depending on your location. Go for a balanced fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 13-13-13.
Early Summer Dinner
Give your citrus a second serving between May and June—this time opting for a more nitrogen-rich option to encourage fruit setting. As Dr. Polozola advises, "use a lighter touch," so your tree focuses on producing fruit instead of growing rampant vegetation.
Avoid fertilizing post-June; you'll sap the plant's cold hardiness and delay fruit ripening.
How to Serve It Up Right
Citrus trees fashionably grow their nutrient-hungry size each year, so amp up the amount of fertilizer proportionately. Here's how:
- Late Winter Feeding: Adapt your application amount as follows:
- Year 1: Dig in half a pound of fertilizer after planting.
- Year 2: Increase by a pound to 1.5 lbs.
- Year 12 and beyond: Stick to 12 to 18 pounds of a balanced fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 12-12-12.
- Early Summer Serving:
- Year 1: Sprinkle a pound of nitrogen fertilizer for the first fruit-bearing season.
- Year 2: Add an additional quarter pound—and keep bumping it up by a quarter pound yearly, capping at the 12-year mark.
Sprinkle the fertilizer under the canopy and scratch it into the soil, avoiding the area near the trunk. Go for a band that's 12 to 18 inches wide, circling the tree and ending at the edge of the canopy. Tidy it up with a leaf rake, then drench it all with water.
The Lowdown on Container-Bound Citrus
Potted citrus trees crave nutrition and aren't as patient when it comes to waiting for nutrients to trickle down from the soil. You'll want to feed them more frequently.
"For citrus in a container, I fertilize more often and with weaker fertilizer," says Dr. Polozola. Opt for a slow-release granular fertilizer that provides a steady release of nutrients. Replenish this fertilizer three to four times a year—always following package directions to prevent over-fertilization.
Pick the Right Rootstock
When purchasing a potted citrus tree, look for those grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock. It keeps the tree size manageable, so you won't have to do as much pruning and repotting.
Bonus Tip: Don't neglect micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and iron. Add these trace elements to your citrus's menu at least every other year or opt for fertilizers blended for citrus that already include these essential nutrients.
Mulch It Up
Organic mulches like bark chips or pine straw contribute valuable nutrients as they decompose. They also improve nutrient retention and soil health, so apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch in the spring, stretching out to the edge of the tree's canopy—but keep it all waaaay from the trunk!
Now get out there and arm that citrus tree with the nourishment it needs to blow your taste buds away!
- For a bountiful citrus harvest, you should feed your trees as they require more nutrients than the soil can provide for them.
- To fertilize your in-ground citrus trees, do so post-harvest in late winter with a balanced fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 13-13-13.
- In early summer, provide a second serving of fertilizer, opting for a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage fruit setting.
- Adjust the amount of fertilizer proportionately as your citrus trees grow, especially during the late winter feeding.
- For container-bound citrus trees, feed them more frequently with a slow-release granular fertilizer and replenish it three to four times a year.
- When purchasing a potted citrus tree, look for ones grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock to keep the tree size manageable.
- Don't neglect micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and iron; add these trace elements to your citrus's menu at least every other year or opt for fertilizers blended for citrus that already include these essential nutrients.