Thinking of Planting a Citrus Tree? Now's the Time.

Citrus trees can be planted any time after the danger of frost has passed, which in our area is usually around mid-to-late March. It's a good idea to plant citrus early – try to have your trees in the ground by May – because a sudden hot spell may damage trees that are not well established. Citrus trees planted during the cool spring months will be better able to withstand the cold weather of their first winter than trees planted later in the year. Your favorite nursery or garden center should have a good supply of new citrus trees right about now.

Citrus trees grow best in loam or sandy loam soil, but you can grow them in most soils that have good drainage. If your soil drains poorly, you might try planting in a raised bed or on a mound. Plant your trees in an area that receives full sun, and allow enough room for the tree's mature size.  I don't recommend planting in a lawn area because it's difficult to irrigate both the citrus and the lawn correctly. Also, the grass tends to absorb many of the nutrients needed by the tree.

In the nursery, citrus varieties are budded onto suitable rootstocks and grown for one or two years. Trees are sold in containers. Choose a one or two year old tree, but avoid older trees that have been held in containers so long that they're root bound.

Dig the planting hole just deep enough to plant the tree at the same level that it was in the nursery. The diameter of the hole should be about 6 inches larger than the root ball. If the hole is too deep, the tree will settle too much after planting.  Trees that settle too deep are likely to be killed by crown rot, a fungus disease that frequently develops where the soil covers the bark of the tree.

You can place balled and burlap-wrapped trees in the planting holes without removing the cloth sacking that covers the roots. Plant them a little higher than they were in the nursery, allowing about 3 inches for settling. Try to have the uppermost roots branch out at about ground level after the trees have settled.

You should handle trees in containers in much the same way. Carefully remove the container and place the tree in the hole at the correct depth. Be careful not to break the ball of soil surrounding the root system. After you have the tree properly placed, fill the hole three-fourths full of soil and tamp the soil around the root ball. Then finish filling the hole. Be sure to form a basin around the tree and irrigate thoroughly.

Do not put any fertilizer in the hole when planting your tree because it may damage the roots. It's safer to apply fertilizer to the surface of the soil after you've planted. If you use manure, use it lightly because roots may be damaged by salts which manures contain.

Citrus trees do very poorly in dry soil, so be sure to pay close attention to irrigation, especially during the first summer.

Ed Perry is the emeritus Environmental Horticultural Advisor for University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Stanislaus County where he worked for over 30 years.