2 year Old Lemon Tree Dropped All Leaves, Branches Dried and Brown

Question

I thought the tree to be dead, but it has now sprouted a shoot off the bottom of the trunk. What do I do now? How do I care for the tree with the dry, dead branches?

Answer 1

Many citrus are grafted onto a hardy rootstock. If the new shoot has come from the graft, you have a "root sucker". The new shoot might have a vigorous growth habit with an abundance of thorns and limited fruit production. As far as the old, dry, dead branches; if they snap when bent, there is no life in the branch. Simply remove with sharp pruners.