Frequently Asked Questions

Citrus like to be watered deeply for long periods of time and then allowed to dry out in between. Established citrus should be watered slowly for at least several hours every 10 days or so in the summer, 1-2x/month in the spring and fall, and often not at all in the winter if we get occasional rain. New citrus should be watered more often for the first year while getting established.

Don't! Citrus are genetically large shrubs. Their branches hang down naturally, and that protects their thin bark from the hot summer sun. Also, trimming will expose new, tender growth to extreme hot temperatures in the summer and possible frost in the winter.

Valentines Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day are rough estimates of proper times to fertilize. If you miss one of these dates, don't worry. Citrus are pretty forgiving and you can fertilize at the next appropriate date. Use an all-purpose fertilizer and water it in deeply.

The curling is from an insect called Thrip. They don't hurt the leaves or fruit. Don't spray anything to kill the thrips. The insecticide will do more damage by killing beneficial insects. The thrips will go away on their own.

No. A well causes water to stay around the base of the trunk. The cells of the trunk should not stay wet. There is a fungus in the Phoenix area that is prolific in warm, moist conditions. Citrus are susceptible to this fungus, so by keeping the area around the base of the tree dry, you protect your citrus from the fungus. Make sure when you water citrus the water reaches the drip line of the trees. This is the perimeter where the outer branches hang. Under the drip line is where most of the feeder roots are that absorbs water and nutrients.