How to Green Up a Lemon Tree
Once foliage on a lemon tree loses its deep green color and old leaves turn yellow-green, timely action is needed to prevent further deterioration. A dousing of a chelated, or immediately absorbable, liquid fertilizer is applied. The year-round fertilizer regimen must be modified as well to prevent future yellowing of foliage resulting from nutrient-poor soils.
Immediate Fertilization
Purchase a chelated liquid fertilizer from your garden center. Ask if there is a special formula available for citrus plants. The chelated fertilizer is a concentrate with easily absorbed micronutrients, such as iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) or manganese (Mn), that is diluted into water and sprayed onto yellowing leaves. If no special "citrus mix" is available, any chelated iron fertilizer in liquid form will suffice.
- Once foliage on a lemon tree loses its deep green color and old leaves turn yellow-green, timely action is needed to prevent further deterioration.
- If no special "citrus mix" is available, any chelated iron fertilizer in liquid form will suffice.
Read the product label directions and dosages. Gather the appropriate materials, such as a bucket, sprinkling can, spray bottle or small pump or backpack sprayer. These items allow you to mix the appropriate dosage and amount of solution to apply to your lemon tree, based on its size.
Place water in a bucket with designated pint or gallon increments to an amount directed on the product label. Add the proper amount of liquid chelated fertilizer into the water-filled bucket and stir.
Pour the chelated fertilizer solution into the spray bottle or spray canister. Reapply the lid to the spray applicator and take it to the lemon tree.
- Read the product label directions and dosages.
- Pour the chelated fertilizer solution into the spray bottle or spray canister.
Douse the foliage across the entire tree with the solution until you seed beads of liquid beginning to drip off the leaves. Focus on both new and old leaves, even wetting leaf undersides and green stems. Avoid spraying the foliage when direct sun reaches the leaves or when rain is expected within 12 hours. Spray the lemon tree at dawn.
Pour out leftover chelated fertilizer solution onto the soil under the lemon tree so that tree roots absorb nutrients, too. This is a sound way to dispose of excess solution from the mixing bucket.
Preventative Fertilization
Create an annual fertilization regimen and schedule for the lemon tree to prevent leaf yellowing in the future.
- Douse the foliage across the entire tree with the solution until you seed beads of liquid beginning to drip off the leaves.
- Pour out leftover chelated fertilizer solution onto the soil under the lemon tree so that tree roots absorb nutrients, too.
Apply a granular, slow-release fertilizer to the soil around the base of the lemon tree outward to 2 feet beyond the reach of the branches in early spring. Follow product label directions for specific timing and dosages of the application. Look for either a "citrus special" blend of granular fertilizer or an all-purpose landscape formula (such as 10-10-10) with micronutrients.
Scatter magnesium sulfate around the tree base in a similar manner at least twice a year, once in spring and again in late summer. Magnesium sulfate is commonly known as Epsom salts. Apply 1 to 2 cups Epsom salts under the tree, spreading it out like you are sprinkling sugar on cookies. Don't worry, you can't over-fertilize or harm plants with Epsom salts. Just place the crystals at least 6 inches away from the trunk and outward.
- Apply a granular, slow-release fertilizer to the soil around the base of the lemon tree outward to 2 feet beyond the reach of the branches in early spring.
- Apply 1 to 2 cups Epsom salts under the tree, spreading it out like you are sprinkling sugar on cookies.
Broadcast cured manure or other organic matter to a depth of 1 to 2 inches on the soil under the lemon tree at least once annually, such as in late spring. Keep the manure or mulch at least 2 feet away from trunk of the lemon tree.
Tip
Test your soil pH. Soils that are neutral to alkaline (pH above 6.8) tend to inhibit uptake of certain nutrients that keep leaves green in citrus. Ideally the soil around the lemon should be slightly acidic.
Do not spray chelated liquid on citrus leaves when temperatures are hot or the sun is intense. Pour the liquid solution onto the soil near the tree trunk out to the leaf canopy's drip line so that the roots absorb the nutrients and move them to the foliage.
An annual preventative spraying of chelated minerals onto the lemon tree's foliage in late winter, such as late January, ensures greenness as spring arrives. Also following citrus fertilizer recommendations for applications and formulas as listed by your local Cooperative Extension agency keeps your outdoor plants healthy year-round.
Indoor houseplant lemon trees need fertilizer applications in spring and summer. Don't fertilize from late fall to midwinter.
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References
Tips
- Test your soil pH. Soils that are neutral to alkaline (pH above 6.8) tend to inhibit uptake of certain nutrients that keep leaves green in citrus. Ideally the soil around the lemon should be slightly acidic.
- Do not spray chelated liquid on citrus leaves when temperatures are hot or the sun is intense. Pour the liquid solution onto the soil near the tree trunk out to the leaf canopy's drip line so that the roots absorb the nutrients and move them to the foliage.
- An annual preventative spraying of chelated minerals onto the lemon tree's foliage in late winter, such as late January, ensures greenness as spring arrives. Also following citrus fertilizer recommendations for applications and formulas as listed by your local Cooperative Extension agency keeps your outdoor plants healthy year-round.
- Indoor houseplant lemon trees need fertilizer applications in spring and summer. Don't fertilize from late fall to midwinter.
Writer Bio
Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware.
