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The fall of the twins and the rise of an edible garden.

Today saw the fall of the twin deciduous trees in our backyard.

It now means I don't have a shadowing tree in the back yard and more room for growing things (or at least that's the idea!)

I'm hoping for some gardening advice, at the moment I have a small veggie patch in the back right corner. I have planted beetroot, carrot, pea and an unknown (cause what the hell!) on the 1st June. I haven't seen the seedlings yet but it's too early.

I also have a lemon tree that is dying (it's what I do apparently) so I was hoping someone could tell me why the leaves have started to yellow at the top. I've lost 2 leaves so far. Since getting the tree, I have replanted it, added mushroom compost (on the advice of the gardening guru at the community garden) , and added a small amount of slow release fertilizer (when it was replanted). That's the extent of my lemon tree knowledge.

I will add photos once I figure out how lol

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Comments

Sporky

Jason

Hi @Sporky,

As per your table post, I've moved the photos you uploaded to the gallery and added them here so it makes it easier for other community members to see them.

I hope members can assist with your lemon tree. You might find these previous discussions about citrus trees helpful:

Our lemon tree has lost almost all its leaves

Sooty mould on lemon tree

Citrus bugs

Hope that helps.

Jason

greygardener

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/3106#Comment_3106

It looks like sooty mould on the lemon tree @Sporky. You need to act fast.

It's caused by scale insects which are sap suckers. They will kill the tree if untreated. You need to use a pyrethrim-based spray. It suffocates the insects.

Good luck.

Sporky

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/63828#Comment_63828

Hi @greygardener thanks for the tip!

I'm using eco-oil from bunnings (https://www.bunnings.com.au/eco-organic-garden-750ml-ready-to-use-eco-oil_p2961639) so I'm confused at what I've done wrong. Did I not put enough on the tree or does it require more often application than what it says on the bottle? Should I be using a different one? Because this is the stuff the garden person from bunnings told me to buy. 🙁

I am really good at killing things (often over watering and insects get me) so followed the directions of the person exactly. Buy this lemon tree, but this pot, buy this potting mix, buy this slow release fertilizer, buy this insecticide. Repot tree into pot with potting mix and a small amount of slow release. Wait 1 week, spray with eco oil, follow instructions on the bottle.

So did my tree get sold to me with sooty mould or is it something that's happened in the last 5 weeks? Is the oil I'm using no good? Should they have sold me a different spray?

I am going to go and read the threads on it, but I'm so disheartened that's things are going badly already 😢 I'm concerned that everything I buy from bunnings dies... maybe I'm the unofficial worst gardener in the world! Lol

Thanks again guys, I know it's frustrating for me to ask questions that have already been answered but I now know what sooty mold is.. and knowing is half the battle!!

Isobel

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94437#Comment_94437

@Sporky

Bunnings has a "Perfect Plant Promise" - you can return them for a refund if you are not happy anytime in the first 12 months.

Don't worry. It sounds like you have done everything right!

Sporky

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113612#Comment_113612

Yeah I know @Isobel but it feels like quite the failure that I can't keep it alive from when my MIL left to when she next gets here in July. Lol I had one job, keep the plant alive lol

Sporky

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/3106#Comment_3106

Hi guys, I feel I need to point out that the black stuff on the leaves is the soil from the potting mix. I picked up the two leaves from the base of the tree and held them against the yellowest leaf on the tree. I am planning on making up some white oil (recipe courtesy of gardening Australia) but I want to make sure I'm treating the right thing. It was clear the eco oil was not working .... I guess? I have checked each leaf and can't find anything black that resembles sooty mould pictures I have found but then again, I'm no expert!! Is it possible I'm not watering it enough? Or perhaps too much? Or is it definitely sooty mould?

greygardener

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/63835#Comment_63835

Oh sorry @Sporky. I should have read your post more carefully. I was mainly going off your picture. I can see now it is the potting mix on the leaf! That's good you don't have sooty mould.

Losing a couple of leaves is not a big problem. If you keep on losing them though it could be due to a number of different reasons.

First thing to check is the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Make sure they are not blocked as drainage crucial for lemon trees. And you shouldn't be watering much (if at all) at this time of year.

Another culprit could be wind. Is it in a very exposed position? It will be happier if it has a bit of shelter from strong wind.

And have you been feeding it? Make sure you don't feed it too much, especially at this time of year and nothing too strong. If you use something designed for trees planted in the ground, such as granules, then the tree can become stressed and drop its leaves.

Good luck.

Sporky

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94443#Comment_94443

Oh great!! I won't mix up some white oil yet. I will get my husband to help me check the drainage holes. I assume it will be obvious if they are blocked - if they are, do I just poke it with a stick?

I will stop watering it, as that's probably not helped. It is sitting beside the house, but along a wall. I will move it to a more sheltered position but it means it will be in full shade.... I don't think that's ideal either...

I have not been feeding however I did put some granule fertilizer in the putting mix when it was repotted as that was the advice I was given. Perhaps it's sent the tree into shock? Perhaps I should have been given a different fertilizer?

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