[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Kevin McOmber]

Hi Sally;

 

I had this same problem last year and posted the same question and I never
got an answer.  I have done some research since then and I think I can help.
I have two grapefruit trees in my yard.  One is about 6 years old and was
there when we bought the house and the other one is 2 years old.  Starting
in June here in Tucson the leaves start turning a golden color and will soon
turn brown and die and fall of the tree.  This happens on both trees but on
the bigger tree only the outside leaves are affected.  The smaller tree last
year lost almost all its leaves and I thought it was going to die.  This is
because of the heat that we have here and mine is worse because I planted it
next to a brick wall which retains and radiates heat.  The best thing you
can do is buy some shade cloth that you can find at nurseries or at home
depot or Lowes that has holes in it so the tree will get as much air
circulation to keep it cool.  I also recommend the lightest color shade
cloth you can buy so it will stay cooler.  Sometimes yellow leaves means
that there is an iron deficiency but iron did not help my trees at all.

 

Citrus trees will not produce for at least a couple of years until the root
system has time to develop no matter how big of tree you plant so don't
worry about not getting any fruit for now.

 

I would only water your tree when the top soil around the tree is dry down a
few inches at least.  I flood mine once every 10 days or so.  I use a
moisture meter that I stick in the ground and see if the soil is dry before
I water.  You could also dig down with your hand a few inches and see if the
soil is dry.  Always let the soil dry out before watering again. 

 

Hope this helps.  It has helped mine this year!

 

Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 08:48:17 -0700 (MST)

From: sallyhy at qwest.net

Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>

Message-ID: <200607181548.k6IFmHKg003271 at Ag.arizona.edu>

 

Sally Hynes

85302

sallyhy at qwest.net

 

I planted a grapefruit tree two years ago and it hasn't done well.  No fruit
has developed beyond a small ball that drops off.  There are not many new
leaves.  The top branches are almost bare.  

Now that we are in the very hot weather the leaves do not look good.  Many
are yellow,including the veins.  I water it according to the
recommendations. I worry about overwatering it.  I did give it some
fertilizer last month,I didn't see any change for the better or worse.

I would appreciate any advice you could give me.

 

Thank you,

Sally Hynes

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