[Arid_gardener] Pink Grapefruit Tree

[Olin Miller]

According to John Begeman's article at
http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news/articles/18.24.html  q.v.
"The recent cold [Feb. 2004] has frozen the outer growth of many citrus 
trees here in Tucson. In most cases only the leaves were killed, but some 
stems might also have frozen. But this damage is temporary and will not 
effect the overall health of the trees. However, a general die-back of 
citrus stems and branches is a serious problem and indicates a problem with 
either the trunk of the tree or the root system."  It follows that the leaf 
loss of your young tree is probably due to freezing.  Hard to say if it will 
recover but I would not give up on it yet.  Wait for new growth in March.

You would get better information for conditions in Tucson from the Pima 
County Cooperative in Tucson, 520-626-5161.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Sarra" <7t2z at comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 1:14 PM
> I'm new to the Az. scene and have a small pink grapefruit tree that I 
> bought in June of this year and planted in my back yard  (full southern 
> exposure).  I have been watering it per the instructions of the nursery 
> where I got it but these were presumeably for the summer months.
I have two questions about the tree and its ongoing care.
First is should I expect to see the leaves of the tree fall off for the 
winter?  I live in North western Pima county  at the foot of the Catalina 
mountains and we have already had several nights with temps in the upper 
20's.  I notice that many of the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. 
Is this to be expected?  Assuming this is normal about when would I expect 
the tree to start showing new leaves and or growth?  The tree looks OK but I 
have seen little to no new growth in the 5 plus months that I have had it 
planted.
Second is what should I be doing for winter watering for this tree?   Right 
now I have been hand watering very slowly ( two to three hours)  when ever 
the soil is dry to about 2 inches or so below ground level.