Q.lemon trees in containers
can i transplant the tree while it is flowering?
Yes you can. There is a chance of losing a percentage of the flowers and therefore reducing the fruit count, but a lot depends on your skill in transplanting and avoiding root-ball disturbance as much as possible.
TRANSPLANTING
The key points are to dig the root ball with as much soil as you can handle, and keep the soil intact around the roots, so the root ball doesn't break up and expose the roots to drying air. If it's heavy, get the help you need in order to avoid rough handling and breakage of the root ball.
Move by lifting the soil root ball and not by lifting from the stem of the tree.
Have the new container ready and make the move as swiftly and efficiently as you can, and get it watered in the new pot as soon as possible. Don't let it sit and dry out. If you have a time lag between digging and planting, be sure to keep it in the shade and a burlap wrap moist so the root ball doesn't dry out.
Set the root ball in the new pot with the soil grade at the same level or slightly above the surrounding soil grade, not too low in the pot.
When you backfill the hole around the root ball, I prefer to water settle it, instead of tamping the soil firm. As you backfill, poke a running hose end down into the loose backfill to make sure the soil is settled with all the air pockets out.
Pick up some Superthirive and put a dash in the water as you backfill. After a lifetime career that includes thousands of transplants, I swear by this stuff for helping to avoid transplant shock:
https://www.domyown.com/superthrive-the-original-vitamin-solution-enhanced-with-kelp-p-9474.html
Here's an article with more tips:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/transplanting-trees.htm
