Hi, can you help with my Meyer lemon tree, I have had it in the garden for about 3 years but it has not gone very well, and now it has been eaten by something. Can you give me some advice with what is eating the leaves and how to give it a boost please.

Hi David, the damage on the leaves is from beetles, either grass grub or bronze beetle and they are very hard to control. The damage looks like old damage, the beetles will be dormant at the moment, but will be on the move in another month or so when temperatures warm up. Beetles are hard to control because of their hard shell, so are best controlled at the grub stage when they emerge from the soil. For a natural solution try applying neem granules or diatomaceous earth which is a silica based natural product that is like walking over cut glass for grubs and beetles. There are other soil insect control products such as bifenthrin, a synthetic pyrethrum available from garden centres and hardware stores. A synthetic pyrethrum contact spray may also be effective on the larval stage but not so much the beetle stage. Cultivate the soil around your plants to disturb the soil, beetles lay their eggs into firm soil, place mulch around your plant as a deterrent. Treat your lawn for grass grub in late winter, early spring as this will capture emerging grubs that have overwintered in  the soil.

Citrus need a frost free sheltered sunny spot protected from prevailing winds, consider moving it if the current position is too exposed. Apply Tui Sheep pellets around the tree to add organic matter and help improve the soil structure, sheep pellets can be applied every 6-8 weeks. Use a specialty citrus fertiliser such as Tui Citrus Food in early spring (now) and reapply every 8 weeks in the growing season (spring, summer and autumn). Alternatively, apply Tui Novatec slow release fertiliser which feeds for up to 12 weeks in spring, summer and autumn. Make sure the tree is well watered, for newly planted trees water every 2-3 days depending upon the weather, and for established trees weekly, once again, depending upon the weather. Lianne.