How to Fertilize Citrus Trees

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
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.
Step2
Water the tree before applying the fertilizer.
Step3
Apply fertilizer evenly to the soil beneath the tree's canopy, at rates recommended on the label.
Step4
Water the tree after fertilizing to wash nutrients into soil.
Step5
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.

Comments

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TLuna

TLuna said

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on 2/25/2008 I planted lemon and citrus trees and want to know what fertilizer formula I should use, each brand has a different formula (4-6-8, 13-7-13, 10-2-14, etc) but they all state they are for citrus trees...? I'm confused...can someone help me?

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eHow Article: How to Fertilize Citrus Trees

eHow Home & Garden Editor

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