[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

I believe two years is too long. You can foliar feed any time in my opinion.

But that may not be the problem with your tree.

This is what I would do if it set in my yard.

Take a shovel handle and draw a line in the soil defining the outer reach of 
its foliage, on average.

Now, take an ordinary garden spade and make a shallow trench around the tree 
with the line in the soil being the center of the trench. The trench need be 
no deeper than 2 inches deep.

Put a hose in the trench and adjust the flow to maintain a shallow water 
level in the trench. It doesn't have to be much more than about 1/2 inch 
deep but it would be more effective if you can make it at least 12 inches 
wide.

I would keep the water level constant all day or all night or until you can 
sink a soil probe, a 30 inch long 1/4th inch brass rod from the hardware 
store or a barbeque spit to the hilt easily several places around the drip 
line.

When you have soaked the soil to that depth, don't water again until the 
soil in the trench is quite dry a couple inches deep.

When you rewater in the same fashion, add a half cup of Ammonium Sulfate 
21-0-0 to the trench and work it in to the top couple of inches  just to 
keep it in place until disolved.

I predict the tree will explode with new growth. Citrus is normally 
fertilized by dividing the annual requirements of Nitrogen into thirds and 
applying it in March, June and Sept.

For just watering, a deep soak weekly in hot weather to about monthly in 
winter months is usually adequate until the tree is in adulthood. Always 
deep water.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer 623-939-4570
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <princesapatti at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 3:54 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Pat
> 85042
> princesapatti at cox.net
>
> I have a Meyer Lemon I've had for about a year & 1/2.  It looks horrible! 
> Yellow leaves & branches.  I was told not to fertilize it till 2yrs.  What 
> should I do, I fear it may be too late.  Thanks, Pat
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>