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How to treat lemon tree in a large pot losing leaves?

John57

Hi there team!

Merry Christmas 🎅

My Lisbon lemon has lost a lot of leaves despite plenty of osmocote citrus feed. It has loads of buds too.

But the leaves seem to jumping off.

Does it appear to be root bound? Does it need a trim back?

Much appreciate your advice, thanks

John

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Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @John57

It could be just the blasts of heat we have being getting. As you lemom looks ok other wise in the pictictures shown, As you said new shoots coming through the lemon will lose leaves to reduce water lose in the short term.

Try some shade cloth or are there some similar height or bigger trees you can semi shade it fro a while (not full shade) you can trial move it to, or light shade cloth over the top super hot peoiods,

It is small enough not to be super root bound so thats ok

Did see some yellowing on leaves have a closer look at leaf damage just in case it if fungal if it is looks minor pull off effected leaves and pick up ground leaves as a precation.

To much fertiliser can burn roots but I didnt see too much in the pot to say that is not the cause.

Clearly you like your lemon and are treating it well @John57 I only meation fertiliser and other pitfalls etc as a warning to others reading

Water into the pot at evening so the water can be use slowly over night.

John57

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46203#Comment_46203

G’day Jewelleryrescue

Thanks for your suggestions. I guess it was 2-3 weeks ago when they all fell of seemingly all at once. I noticed but didn’t do anything like check soil moisture etc immediately. Later on watered and fertilized. Seems stable now.
Im thinking of pruning the canopy to keep it manageable. Any suggestions about the right time to do that? Ultimately I’d like a standard style canopy configuration for the tree.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85181#Comment_85181

Hi @John57

My Grand dad was an apple grower so you most likly know your lemon tree better than myself. And I am not an apple expert it didnt rub off on me .

But generally speaking pruning is best done after the friuting season late winter spring when flowers are starting to form.

There is an art to pruning a friut or lemon tree to is best health probably wouldnt hurt to to revisit that information.

But it looks like your tree is open airy and free of dead twig s etc so I think you must know what you are doing here,

John57

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107740#Comment_107740

We are lucky to have now two big red Fuji apple trees that have been producing the best apples we’ve ever tasted. Crisp flavorful and sweet.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121131#Comment_121131

Hi @John57

Nice apples I can taste them now. 🙂

Sure beats store bought often stored in cool rooms for out of season sales.

John57

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/129472#Comment_129472

Absolutely right!

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134756#Comment_134756

Hi @John57,

It's brilliant to see @Jewelleryrescue has already jumped in with some advice.

Allow me to tag some of our knowledgeable gardeners such as @Noelle and @mich1972 to see if they have anything to add.

Let me know if there is anything else we can assist with.

Jacob

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85181#Comment_85181

Hi @John57

If a heap of leaves dropped suddenly and in a short space of time, then lack of water is probably the cause. Over summer make sure the potting mix is kept evenly moist to prevent further leaf drop. Otherwise it all looks OK. A light trimming of the tall leading shoots late next winter will encourage side shoots and more bushiness, which would give the tree better proportions.

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