Can grapefruit and lemon treese be sprayed for pests with fruit on the tree? Whatever pest is on the trees makes the leaves turn brown and curl with a scale-like look to it. Both have young fruit on the tree. Will this spray oil by SUMMIT hurt the fruit?
Horticultural sprays are normally safe for the plants and the fruit. Another option you might want to consider is neem oil. It is very effective against a variety of pests and is also a fungicide. Neem oil is perfectly safe to use as well. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
My grapefruit leaves are yellowing, what do I do? San Antonio, Tx area
I would have your soil tested. Yellowing of the leaves is typically either an iron or nitrogen deficiency. When was the last time you fertilized the tree? It may need nutrients. If you have not been fertilizing, start doing so and, regardless, have the soil tested to see if you have any nutrient deficiencies that need to be corrected. Here is more information on fertilizing citrus trees: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/fertilizing-citrus-trees-best-practices-for-citrus-fertilizing.htm
In addition, it could be a watering issue, possibly not enough. Citrus plants require lots of water. This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/tip-on-water-requirements-for-citrus-trees.htm
This article will have some other reasons for yellowing leaves: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/plant-leaves-turn-yellow.htm
I plant my young 15 gal. Pomponello grapefruit tree two months ago. It started well for first month and now it is struggling to survive. Big leaves become yellow and dry. Tops are very weak and losing vigor. Whole tree looks like it is living on the last will. Is it infected by cancer or did I water too much? I watered every day in dry climate of Phoenix, AZ.
I would water more. Newly planted trees need a significant amount of water to establish. Try watering for longer periods and perhaps even twice a day if your soil is on the sandy side. Make sure to water deeply when you water to make sure the water gets deep in the soil to all the roots.
Thanks Heather,
Now I think that water and hot weather in Glendale AZ is the issue.
I think that the tree has enough water but it was still too hot air so I build some shadowing net cover over the this young crown. It is doing much better since.
Also I gave some citrus fertilizer to boost it. Well I have two factors now, but I think that the shadowing net is the best solution.
I water three times a week with deep watering of some 10 gal. with the drip.
I have bought small grapefruit plants from a nursery, four months before, and planted them in my home garden. I am trying to do gardening for the first time in my life. Therefore, I need full information about how to fertilize and which fertilizer I can give them, as well as how much sunlight they need in winter and how much in summer, or how much shade. Also, how many days in a week should I water them?
These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/grapefruit/growing-grapefruit.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/fertilizing-citrus-trees-best-practices-for-citrus-fertilizing.htm
We have a grapefruit tree that produced about 100 fruit two years ago, only about 25-40 last year, and this year has no blooms and a lot of limbs with no leaves. There are some places on the trunk with algae-looking spots.
The algae looking spots are lichen. They are more a symptom of what is wrong with the tree, rather than the cause. Lichen tends to be attracted to trees that are unhealthy.
As for what could be causing your tree to be unhealthy, there are many, many reasons. It is very hard to diagnose trees without being able to examine them. I would strongly recommend that you bring a tree specialist in to look at it or contact your local extension service and see if they can look at the tree.
If this is not possible, then you can try to treat the tree with a fungicide and a pesticide. These will take care of a significant amount of the problems the tree may have. I recommend neem oil, as it is both a fungucide and a pesticide and is systemic, so will get into the tree itself to fight off what may be attacking it. Reapply it every 1-2 weeks.
I have 2 citrus trees, grapefruit and orange. They have been in the ground for five years. For the last 4 years, I have watered them every 5 days for 3 hours. I have them on a drip system, 4 emitters at 2 gal/hr. That equates to 24 gals every 5 days. That schedule worked great until this summer. Now after that 4th day, the leaves start to wilt. So changed the cycle to twice a week for a total of 48 gal. Now the leaves are turning yellow and I am going crazy. Trees height are 6 ft with a drip line diameter of 6 ft. Soil is a mixture of some clay, sandy loam and mulch. Will appreciate any valid info that you can provide.
While citrus trees need lots of water, you may be overdoing it a bit. This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/citrus/tip-on-water-requirements-for-citrus-trees.htm
My grapefruit is about 1. 5 inches in diameter and they starting to fall from tree so early.
The trees will shed some fruit if it feels it is unable to support all the fruit that it has, so some loss is normal. But, if you feel the tree is dropping a lot of fruit, you could either have a pollination issue or the tree may be lacking water or nutrients and is shedding fruit to try to preserve itself. Make sure you are attracting pollinators and increase water to the tree when it first starts developing fruit.