How to Fertilize Citrus Trees

Fertilizing your orange, lemon and grapefruit trees will keep them healthy, green and productive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Garden Hoses
• High-nitrogen Fertilizers

1. Purchase a high-nitrogen liquid or granular fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers are easiest to use on citrus trees that grow in containers. Use granular fertilizer on trees planted in the ground.
2. Water the tree before applying the fertilizer.
3. Apply fertilizer evenly to the soil beneath the tree's canopy, at rates recommended on the label.
4. Water the tree after fertilizing to wash nutrients into soil.
5. Repeat the process every four to six weeks from February through August for trees growing in the ground. Repeat every two weeks for container trees.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply liquid fertilizers to foliage and roots. Leaves absorb nutrients quickly.
• Fertilizers applied later than August may force late, frost-sensitive growth.
• Hose-end sprayers simplify using liquid fertilizers.
• Applying too much fertilizer or fertilizing dry trees can burn foliage.
• Wear gloves when handling dry fertilizers.

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