Lemon Tree Dying

Question

Dry and small leaves started growing from fresh branches after I cut away the top dead ones. The leaves are really hard and small and they start yellowing in places, curling and falling off.

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Answer 1

It would seem that your grafted citrus has failed. What I see growing, now, is a commonly used rootstock. It is given the name, "Flying Dragon" and does not produce tasty fruit. They will be quite sour and bitter.

This can happen if the top dies, or gets pruned back below the graft point. Once the scion (the grafted top) is lost, it cannot be recovered.

Usually, in container, this can be caused by infection. This appears bacterial. It can happen from remaining too moist for too long, or not having drainage to allow extra moisture out of the container.

Though this will not produce a sweet, or even palatable, fruit it still can be used. If you want to keep it, you will need to treat with a fungicide, first. This article will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm

This article will help you to understand why trees revert back to rootstock:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/can-grafted-trees-revert-to-their-root-stock.htm

Here is an article to give you more information on "Flying Dragon" rootstock:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/trifoliate-orange-tree/trifoliate-dragon-orange-tree.htm