What is the best fertilizer to use for citrus fruit trees in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Soil has high water table and soil pH is between 6. 0 and 7. 0.
A fertilizer with 16-5-16 or 16-5-20 should be effective for fertilizing citrus trees in your area. This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/fertilizing-citrus-trees-best-practices-for-citrus-fertilizing.htm
This year really big grasshoppers have been eating all the tips of this year's growth from my citrus trees. Males are probably three inches, females two inches long. Maybe they're locusts, I don't know. What can be done to discourage these beasts?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/grasshopper-control.htm
Do citrus trees need to be harvested regularly to prevent bitter fruit?
Fruit on most fruit trees will have an off flavor if the tree is stressed. Lack of water or nutrients is the most common reason for stress, so make sure that you are providing enough of these two things. This article will help with feeding your fruit trees: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/fertilizing-citrus-trees-best-practices-for-citrus-fertilizing.htm
How often you harvest really depends on the type of fruit tree you have.
What causes my citrus tree's new leaves to curl up?
Leaf curl in citrus can be caused by several cultural and pest and disease problems. Under-watering AND over-watering can bring about ‘leaf curl’, so you need to check soil conditions first. Is it too wet or too dry? Wind injury can cause crinkling and curling. Is your plant situated in a location exposed to strong winds? If so,move it to a sheltered location.
Leaf miner is a very common citrus insec tproblem, causing the leaves to distort and curl. It is easily identified - edges curled and a pale green track or whitish lines running over the surface of the leaf. If the leaf miner is your problem, cut off the affected areas. Aphids,thrips and scale can cause leaf curl as well. Do you see an infestation of tiny little insects on the young leaves, or funny looking ‘bumps’ on the mature leaves? If so, one of these could be the culprit and should be treated accordingly. Fungal problems cause leaves to curl, particularly powdery mildew and scab. Powdery mildew can be identified by a white powdery substance on the surface of the leaves. Scab can be identified by the presence of patches of raised ‘rough tissue’ on both the leaves and the fruit. Neem oil can help with both insect and fungal problems. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
I live in Los Banos. Moved here from San Jose 3 yrs ago. Weather and sun get very hot, over 100, a lot of days in summer. My trees are getting burned by the sun. Thinking of getting a sun shade cloth for over my metal gazebo (20ft x 20ft) and planting my citrus trees under it. Good idea or bad? If good, what strength - 40%, 50%, 60%, or 70%. Direct sun fruit dropping, new growth burning. Need suggestions. Thanks.
I think that a shade cloth is a good idea and would work well to help alleviate the problem. How much shade I would not be very helpful with as I am not familiar with your exact area. I would recommend giving your local extension service a call and asking them what they would recommend. They would know what would be best for your exact area and will be thrilled to help.
I have 40 acre citrus garden and have problem of sooty mold. Please help.
Sooty mold is a fungus and can be treated with suitable fungicides, including neem oil. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htm
He used "Ground Clear" on the weeds around my citrus trees and now three are almost dead and several more severely sick. Is there anything I can do at this point?
At this point in time, the only thing you can do is to make sure the trees are getting plenty of water and are well fertilized. They need to recover from the damage and making sure they have everything they need is the best bet for helping them recover.