[Arid_gardener] California Orange tree

[Olin Miller]

A citrus tree dying of old age tends to decline rather slowly instead of
dying rapidly.  It sounds more like some kind of fungal or viral infection.
Citrus trees problems in your  humid environment with ocean breezes may
have some of the same problems as our trees in our arid environment with hot
desert breezes.  But there are also many different.problems.  You may want
to research common citrus problems in California such as those described in
the UC Davis pub., "Questions and Answers to Citrus Management " at
http://ceriverside.ucdavis.edu/newsletterfiles/Questions_and_Answers_to_Citrus_Management2489.pdf
The is also a California Master Gardener hotline telephone number at the end
of the article.

For more information about citrus tree problems in other regions see:
U of A:
http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/pubs.htm#Citrus

and the list of links at
http://home.att.net/~millero/desert_gardening.htm#citrus

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stanlee" <stanleecee at verizon.net>To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:30 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] California Orange tree
>...
I was looking for some education about my apparently dying orange tree and
found you.  Perhaps you can help.
I have a huge multi-orange tree in my California Central Coast back yard.
It is currently the first of Sept.
This tree is about 30-50 years old (good guess)  and has both Valencia and
Naval oranges, traditionally in abundance nearly year round.  This tree has
produced tons of incredibly good oranges all but about 2 months out of the
year, nonstop for the entire 9 years I've lived here.  It is varacious!
Suddenly, last month - mid summer - after a wonderful juicy, sweet crop was
done and new baby oranges started appearing, it dropped all it's leaves and
seems to have turned black from about 2 feet above the ground all the way to
the tips.  I'm unsure about the color since it has always been so heavily
foliaged it definitely looks weird naked.  The baby fruits are black and
hard.  There is no sign of pests I can see and nothing has changed
significantly.  Can you tell me anything?  Do they just get old and die one
day?
Thanks very much,
Stanlee