[Arid_gardener] am I watering too much?

[Leo A. Martin]

Hello Catherine,

I echo Dick's suggestion to contact your local ag agent. I am positive
they will have a tremendous amount of information for you about citrus,
since it's such an important Florida crop.

Florida, geologically, is a flat limestone shelf with a few inches of
coral sand on top of it. There are almost no nutrients of any kind in
Florida soils. You will need to mulch your trees heavily to promote growth
of beneficial microorganisms in the soil around the tree's roots, plant
them high so you don't get rot of the trunk at ground level, and apply
plenty of fertilizer.

Also, if you have very shallow soils, you will need to water quite
frequently. In the Miami area the soil may only be 6" deep over solid
limestone. This dries out quickly! Plus people there often need to hire
mechanical equipment even to dig 1 gallon holes.

Leo Martin
Phoenix Arizona USA

> Catherine, there are a couple of rational reasons for applying Epson salts
> (magnesium sulfate)  to a soil but never heard of it used for routine
> feeding. If, in the outside chance you have a soil Mg deficiency, it might
> help but, having never applied it, I would speculate that small amounts
> would be in order.
>
> Your tree may have a nitrogen deficiency.  In your shoes, with sandy soil,
> I would purchase a branded citrus fertilizer and carefully follow the
> application directions on the container that probably says, "Apply 1/3rd
> of the annual requirements in March, June and September" assuming Florida
> is similar to Arizona and California. If the deficiency is nitrogen you
> should see a "greening" of new foliage but it probably will not affect the
> tone of existing foliage. In small container citrus, I add 1/4th teaspoon
> of Miracle grow per gallon every time I water them but any shelf brand of
> all purpose fertilizer would be okay. I don't know what "sunny land bloom"
> is but, if it's an all-purpose fertilizer, I might have to go back to the
> drawingboard.
>
> Remember that deep watering (3 feet) is important with citrus but sandy
> soil tends to leach nutrients out of the zone where feeder roots abound at
> and near the drip line. Frequent light soil applications or foliar feeding
> might be adsorbed more efficiently.
>
> Finally, the University of Florida has many web sites on citrus but the
> easiest access to valid material dealing with all things citrus would be
> the University Cooperative Extension nearest you. If you do not use their
> services, you are missing out on a public service paid for with your State
> taxes.
>
> If this creates more questions than it answers, Catherine, don't hesitate
> to respond. Civil contradictions to and edification of these analyses from
> others are invited to enhance and define your comprehension and the
> corporate intelligence of Master Gardener Volunteers.
>
> Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
> University of Arizona Maricopa County
> Cooperative Extension
> Bcc: VOSG; AzCRFG; For your information
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Catherine Garrity" <catg at cfl.rr.com>
> To: <Arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:26 AM
> Subject: [Arid_gardener] am I watering too much?
>
>
>> we have a small kumquat tree the inner leaves are yellowing and drop
>> off easily. it's been in the sandy soil for about 1.5 months. We have
>> fertilized with epsom salts and sunny land bloom 1 time so far. We
>> live in Ormond Beach florida. Any suggestions?
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