How to Feed Orange Trees
Feeding, or fertilizing, your orange tree will increase fruit production, promote healthier growth and help your tree withstand attacks by pest and disease. If soil nutrients are not replenished by fertilizer, your tree will suffer and eventually die prematurely. Orange trees grown outside should be fertilized every three months. Container grown trees should be fertilized spring through Fall. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soil test
- 4-6-8 or a 12-4-8 commercial citrus fertilizer or Compost
- Rake
- 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts
- 1 gallon of water
- Mulch
Instructions
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How to feed orange trees
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1
Take several soil samples under the canopy of your orange tree and do a soil test. The soil test will tell you what nutrients the soil lacks and the soil's pH. This should be done every spring for orange trees grown outdoors and every time you re-pot container grown trees.
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2
Remove mulch from around your orange tree. Pile it outside of the drip line. To get the full benefit of compost or commercial fertilizer it must be applied directly onto the soil.
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3
Choose a slow-release commercial fertilizer that includes micro-nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. The slow-release formulation provides nutrients over a longer period and may prevent damage from excess nitrogen absorption. Compost is a slow-release fertilizer.
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4
Choose a liquid citrus fertilizer for container grown trees. Apply every three months starting in early spring when the orange tree starts to bloom and continue on schedule through the fall. You can use compost with container trees: Replace the top 2 to 3 inches of soil in the pot with compost.
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5
For trees grown outside, apply fertilizer every three months at the rate recommended by the manufacturer. If you choose to use compost, apply to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Spread both the commercial fertilizer and the compost under the canopy starting 5 inches from the trunk and extending to the drip line.
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6
Using a rake, gently work the fertilizer or the compost into the top 1 to 2 inches of soil.
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7
Add magnesium to the soil by mixing one teaspoon of Epsom salts into a gallon of water. Pour around the tree at the drip line.
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8
Return the mulch to under the tree to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Be sure the mulch is no closer than 2 inches from the tree trunk. Spread the mulch to the drip line of the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
Fertilize container orange trees during their growing season (from spring to late summer). Choose commercial fertilizers that are slow- or controlled-released.
Signs of too much nitrogen include weak, excessive green growth, diminished blooms and premature fruit drop. Switch to a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer until your tree recovers.
