What Soil Is Good for Lemon Trees

If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, you can grow lemon trees (Citrus limon) in your yard. These easy-to-grow citrus trees add interest with their glossy green leaves, bright yellow fruit and fragrant, white blossoms. Although lemon trees tolerate poor soils better than other citrus, they still have some soil preferences.

Soil Composition

Although lemon trees can grow in nearly any soil with good drainage, they grow best in loamy or sandy loam soils. Trees planted in salty, heavy clay and high caliche soils suffer problematic and declined growth. Lemons also prefer soil pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5. Apply lime to increase the pH or sulfur to decrease it.

Planting Location

Mature lemon trees planted in well-draining areas typically have spreads ranging from 10 to 15 feet, while those planted in heavy soils don't grow quite as large. Space your tree at least 12 feet away from buildings and other trees so it can get plenty of sun. Lemons need full sun for optimal growth and fruit production. Citrus trees are quite sensitive to cold, so plant lemons on the south of southeast side of your home in a spot that also offers some protection from the wind.

Soil Moisture

Lemons grow best in soils that are moist but not soggy. Water your tree every seven to 10 days during the summer, providing it with 4 to 6 inches of water each month. Allow the soil around mature trees to partially dry between waterings. Overwatered lemon trees may suffer from crown and root rots, while those not watered enough frequently shed blossoms and don't produce as much fruit.

Fertilizer

Lemon trees need applications of nitrogenous fertilizer throughout the growing season to promote fruit production. Give trees two to three years old about 2 tablespoons of actual nitrogen just before watering two to four times a year. Fertilize mature trees with 2 to 3 pounds of nitrogen each year, scattering the fertilizer over the root area and then watering the soil. In addition, giving your tree a balanced citrus food may correct mineral deficiencies in the soil and promote growth.

Weeds and Mulch

Keep the soil weed- and grass-free at least 4 feet away from your lemon tree to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients. Using landscape fabric around the tree can help prevent weeds, as can applying a mulch, such as wood chips. Mulch has the added benefits of retaining soil moisture and improving soil composition. Keep the mulching material at least 12 inches away from the trunk. Avoid using herbicides to remove grass and weeds because lemons are particularly sensitive to chemicals.

 Lemons in Containers

Whether you grow your lemon in a container outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter or indoors year-round, the plant needs the same well-draining soil as a plant in the ground, and the container needs numerous drainage holes. Potting soil works fine for container plants, inside or out. Raise the container off the ground with bricks of blocks for good air circulation around the soil, and give the plant more water than you would an in-ground plant and regular feeding with a slow-release fertilizer, following package instruction for use with container plants. As with in-ground plants, keep the soil partially dried out between watering.

Tip

Smaller lemon trees, such as Meyers lemon (Citrus meyeri) work best in containers. One of the most hardy varieties, Meyers lemons grow in USDA Zones 8B through 10.

What Soil Is Good for Lemon Trees

Source: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/soil-lemon-tree-plant-60135.html

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