How to Make Organic Citrus Fertilizer

Citrus trees are notorious for being heavy feeders. Their glossy dark leaves and heavy fruit production will suck the nutrients out of the soil, which tends to be more on the sandy side and therefore less loaded with fertilizer for the trees. Citrus trees need to be fertilized about every 6 weeks, and more if they are container grown. Here are a few ways to get the organic fertilizer into the soil to feed your citrus tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lawn clippings
• Compost
• Manure
• Bone meal
• Phosphorus rock
• Sprayer
• Shovel
• Rake

1. Supply a good source of nitrogen because it is the biggest requirement of citrus trees. Nitrogen is not hard to find as a soil amendment, and keeping it organic is as simple as applying grass clippings from a lawn grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides. If you keep animals, the composted manure is an excellent nitrogen source.

2. Apply a good source of phosphorus for good flower and fruit production. Bone meal tends to be the best source, but because you cannot guarantee that it is organic, another recommended source is phosphate rock. It will also add calcium to the soil, and you don't have to worry about it burning the roots of your citrus tree.

3. Add a good all-purpose composted humus to make sure all the other nutrients are present for the citrus tree's growth. If you make your own humus, you can guarantee that it is organic. Use your own ground leaves and lawn clippings, and give them enough time to turn into rich dark humus.

4. Work all of the above fertilizers into the soil around the tree. Citrus trees do not like mulch, as it encourages mold growth, and do like to have good drainage to keep their roots dry. Do not dig so deep as to disturb the roots.

5. Apply a compost tea to the leaves of the tree by spraying it during your fertilizing routine. This will supply all the nutrients necessary for quick absorption through the leaves. You might have to use a pressurized system to spray the foliar fertilizer to the top of larger trees.