How to Fertilize Citrus Fruit

A healthy citrus tree produces edible fruit.

Citrus fruit trees usually need fertilization -- but not just any fertilizer will do. Citrus fruits need nitrogen-rich fertilizer to thrive. Healthy citrus plants can fight disease, blossom and produce large amounts of fruits right on schedule. The size and age of the citrus tree dictate the amount of fertilizer it needs. Citrus trees should be fertilized immediately after the last frost of the year, and monthly thereafter until they become dormant in the fall.

Instructions

1. Purchase a nitrogen-rich fertilizer designed specifically for citrus fruits. Read the manufacturer's label thoroughly to ensure the fertilizer will work for the type of citrus you are growing. Determine the fertilizer's nitrogen content before you purchase it, because its content will dictate how much you need to use.

2. Sprinkle the fertilizer in a circle around your citrus tree. Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine how much fertilizer to use. Keep the ring of fertilizer one to two feet away from the tree trunk.

3. Water the fertilizer thoroughly. Soak the entire ring so it can seep into the ground and fertilize your citrus tree.

Tips & Warnings

• If the nitrogen content of your fertilizer is below 13 percent and your tree is less than a year old, use 1 cup of fertilizer. A 2-year-old tree needs 2 cups of fertilizer, and trees 3 years old and older need 4 cups. Use only half those amounts if your fertilizer is more than 13 percent nitrogen.

References

• Texas A&M University: Home Fruit Production -- Citrus; Julian W. Sauls
• "Western Farm Press"; Spring Best Time to Fertilize Citrus; Craig Kallsen; April 2003