How to Revive a Dying Citrus Tree

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By mvparcels
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (6 Ratings)

You bought a citrus tree, and are looking forward to eating the delicious fruit. Something went awry though and now your tree is dying. Branches are turning brown, and leaves are falling off. How do you revive a tree you spent a lot of money on?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Soil test kit
Water
Fertilizer
Time
Patience

Step 1

First check if you have any green branches left on your tree. If you do, that is a good thing. Your tree is still able to be revived. If however all your branches are brown and when you break off a small piece is brown and dry all the way through, sorry to say, your tree is dead.
Step 2

Check your soil. Citrus trees are picky on the soil they grown in. The soil has to be ideal and to their liking. Soil test kits can be found in many chain home and garden stores, as well as nurseries. Read and follow the directions. Some tests require you use purified water for the test or the results will be invalid.
Step 3

If your soil is deficient in something, find a way to replenish that nutrient. Home and garden stores, as well as nurseries will carry most of what your soil will be deficient in.
Step 4

Depending on where you live, find the right fertilizer for your tree. In some parts of Florida, since that soil is so sandy, a fertilizer of 6-6-6 is recommended. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer on how often to fertilize and the best times.
Step 5

Depending on the type of soil you have, read up on a water regimen for your tree. If your soil is sandy, water will pass through very quickly and your tree may need to be watered every day or every other day.

If your soil is mostly clay, you may need to only water your tree every three to four days to revive it. Clay soils tend to hold moisture, so be careful how much you water your citrus tree. Too much water can cause root rot and kill your tree.
Step 6

Once you start seeing buds and leaves on your tree, congratulate yourself. You just revived your tree. Keep up with your routine until you see that all the leaves are mature and the branches are not turning brown. When you have done this, and the leaves are mature, you can prune back the dead branches to where the brown meets the green.
Step 7

Enjoy the fruit your tree bears.