Q.Can Someone Tell Me If I’m Overwatering Or Underwatering Out Citrus Trees?
We live in Mesa AZ. We have an Orange tree and a Tangerine tree. We planted them back in 2015 or 2016. They have been doing great, but I tried to make their watering better. I was using a 1/4″ line run out to each tree. It was turned on for about 5 or 10 minutes every 2 days. The problem was that I had no idea how much water I was giving the trees. I had a sprinkler company redo our backyard sprinkler system so that it was only watering the trees. I am now giving them about 20 gallons of water every 2 days. The temeperatures have been 100+ for about a month now, and for the last few days it’s been 110+. The only rain we’ve had in the last few months was a little sprinkle a few nights ago. I’ve uploaded 3 photos of the orange tree (with the larger leaves) and 2 photos of the tangerine tree (with the smaller leaves). The orange tree, honestly, seems to be in worse shape than the tangerine tree. If someone can look at the photos and give me an idea if I’m over or under watering, I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance for any and all help.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Overwatering and underwatering will look pretty similar. That drooping more resembles overwatering, even though some of the leaves are curling. This is usually from overwatering. Too much heat can play a role, as well. I would either wait to water when the top several inches of soil feel completely dry, or use a soil moisture meter probe to help you know when to water.
