Thanks for this Q & A, I have the same problem and have been wondering what the cause was.

Sally

Do you dig sheep pellets in or leave them on top of soil.i have raised gardens and two little dogs which I know would love to roll in it.

Addie Gourley

I have 2 year old small meyer lemon tree in the garden. it had 10 beautiful bright yellow fruits this winter now half of the leaves have fallen out. I guess it may be too wet then? I also have a 10 year old Kafir lime tree in a big pot. it is 1.5m tall. It shed all leaves every winter and will be full of new leaves again in Spring. it has been doing this for a few years now and I find it hard to protect the new leaves from going yellow.

Muny

That's great! Thanks for your feedback Sally :) Jenna - Tui Team

jenna

Hi Muny, thank you for your question. Yes it possibly could be due to it being too wet, or stressed in another way - too cold, frost, too much fertiliser, or not enough fertiliser. In regards to your lime tree, if magnesium is deficient then the leaves will turn yellow. Your tree will benefit from a dose of Epsom salts which is magnesium. Use Tui Epsom Salts Magnesium Sulphate. Also make sure your tree is free from weeds which will compete for water and nutrients and mulch around it to help conserve soil moisture as well as keeping weeds down. Thanks - Jenna, Tui Team

jenna

I have 2 very young feijoa trees which are dropping their leaves and almost bare.I have fed them all winter with Tui blue and blood and bone so could they have been over fertilised? My neighbours tree is prolific and is neglected all year!

Ron

Hi Ron, yes, I would say the trees have been overfed. In winter plants are dormant and not actively growing and so do not take up fertiliser, excess fertiliser will create a build up of “salts” in the soil and can cause the tree to defoliate which plants do when they are stressed. The best time to feed feijoas is when they have finished fruiting and when they start flowering. Plants will also defoliate if there has been a frost or they are overwatered. Feijoas are frost tender, is it planted in a frost free position? All may not be lost - stop feeding the tree, mulch around it now using Tui Mulch & Feed which will help add organic matter to the soil and keep the soil moist over the summer months. Wait until the trees start developing leaves again and let them get established. Feijoas are pretty hardy and can thrive on a bit of neglect. If you are concerned about the amount of fertiliser you have put around the tree you can put the hose on them to flush out the fertiliser, give them a good soaking. That could also lead to problems if the soil is not free draining as it could lead to root rot. My best advice is to do nothing and wait and see and hopefully the trees will come away now as temperatures warm up. Thanks, Jenna - Tui Team

jenna

Hi Addie, thank you for your question. You can do either. When planting dig them into the planting hole but you can also top dress. If you have dogs and you are top dressing you are better to lightly fork the sheep pellets into the soil. Thanks - Jenna, Tui Team

jenna

Hi, I brought a lemon tree called mini me, it was said to be ideal for a tub. It was covered in buds and flowers which dropped slowly but surely. The leaves rolled and some dropped. How can I please this lovely looking lemon and make it happy. We have it in a container that has a reservoir, in full sun, against the house on deck to help against frost. Have given it citrus fertiliser and have also given it seasol.

Nicki Collins

Hi Nicki, thanks for your question. The first thing to do is to remove the lemon from the pot and find a container without a reservoir, citrus loath having wet feet, they need plenty of air movement in the soil to thrive. When you re-pot it, invest in some new potting mix, patio and out door container work brilliantly and lasts for a few seasons. Drenching with Seasol is a brilliant option, and the most likely reason this isn’t bringing the lemon back to life is that the soil has too much moisture in it and maybe a fungal problem. Prune off any dead and yellow looking foliage and there is every chance it will bounce back. Thanks, Tui Team

jenna

my lemon tree gave fruit for the first time last yr. It is 8yrs. old. now it is loaded w/fruit but the leaves are very sparse, am i loseing the tree?

Bobby-B

Hi Bobby-B, citrus are evergreen but do drop leaves, usually when they are stressed, too cold, have too much fertiliser, or not enough fertiliser, if there’s frost, or they are too wet. I would suggest regular doses of Seasol seaweed based plant tonic every seven days until the tree starts bursting into leaf. Give it regular feedings in spring and summer when temperatures warm up. Don't feed it in winter as the tree isn't actively growing. Try adding sheep pellets to nourish the soil and mulch around the tree so it doesn't dry out in summer. If it is in a pot and become pot bound it might need re-potting. Thanks, Jenna - Tui Team

jenna

Just returned to Florida and was shocked to see my lemon and orange trees with plenty of fruit but trees have no leaves. Will fruit continue to grow or are they lost

Veronica

Hi Veronica, citrus love food, good soil and plenty of sun. Loosing leaves usually indicates the plant is stressed/lacking in nutrients, moisture or sunlight. Therefore suggest you freshen up the soil and add some citrus fertiliser around the drip line of the plants. Apply Seasol seaweed based plant tonic for an overall boost. It is a complete garden health treatment. Results should start to appear in six months. All the best - Tui Team.

jenna

Hi. I have a defoliated and now debarked upper twigs of a small dwarf lemonade. I've added blood and bone and been careful with watering but it is very slow to recover. It's one year since buying. Help.

Andrea Gerbic

Hi Andrea, thanks for getting in touch. It sounds like your tree may have been affected by frost damage, the symptoms are typical of that. Avoid using any more blood and bone and switch to citrus fertiliser. Feed your plant with citrus food now, and apply Seasol plant tonic. Both these things will stimulate root growth,new leaves should appear in the autumn. Add a layer of mulch around the base too, this helps keep the roots cooler and helps the soil hold onto water throughout the summer months. All the best - Tui Team

jenna

I have a lemons tree in a large pot with plenty of small fruit showing but leaves curling and dropping. This is in Cyprus. Have fed and also have irrigation system. Any ideas?

Jenny

Hi Jenny, citrus leaves will curl when temperatures are cold, in extreme heat, with some insect infestations such as scale, mealy bug, mites or aphids, or with over-watering. Adjust watering depending upon the weather. Keep it well watered if it is heat. Suggest asking at your local garden centre. We are based in New Zealand, so aren't familiar with products to recommend in Cyprus. All the best, Tui Team.

jenna

Hello Jenna, I would like to plant a fig tree in a large pot on my sunny veranda. What is the best time to plant it and when will it start fruiting? Many thanks.

Dominique

Hi Dominique, figs are deciduous and now is the time that the best selection is in store with new seasons fruit trees. You will need a very large pot ? a wine barrel is perfect. It depends how old the tree is when you plant it but a grafted fig tree that is three to four years old should start to fruit. Brown Turkey is a good variety to grow in a pot. Enjoy, Tui Team

jenna

My lemon tree has aphids but suddenly started to bloom will removing leaves prevent fruit formation

Vanessa Reeve

Hi Vanessa, you can spray your aphids with a natural based product such as Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges, or use soapy water and no leaves will need to be removed. All the best, Tui Team

jenna

Hello, we moved into a house last November which has a lovely lemon tree (well established) but has moss all over the trunk and for an old tree it was not fruiting well at all. It had stones over the base 100mm in a circular shape and under that plastic matting. All since removed and replaced by our own compost mixed with soil. It is dropping some leaves (so I will try some of your advice mentioned above). I gave it a good feed of fertiliser and have put sheep pellets and epsom salts down at different points. It then produced well but the bark remains awful looking and is peculiar on top, areas look devoid of foliage (but not dead) whilst others okay. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Carole

Hi. I have a buddhas hand citrus that has been transplanted over winter. Unfortunately had a big storm and it lost all its leaves in the salt laden gales. Stems are still green, any hope for it. i have been giving it seasol and its just had some sheep pellets put round it. I also have a lemon tree that is in the same situation, it is just starting to grow new leaves. The garden now has windbreak around it.

Kathy Keddle

Hi I have an old lemon tree that is still producing lemons, but half of it has died, it has holes in it and lots of sawdust underneath, so assume it is lemon borer, way too many holes to plug so have resigned myself to the tree dying. Would love to plant a replacement. can I use the same spot or will I need to wait a period of time to ensure the borer have died or can I assist them on their way??

Liz

Hi Carole, your care is spot on. Have a close look at the bark and check there are no small holes in it, if you spot these it indicates you have lemon tree borer, it?s a real problem. If you find holes use a spray to try to control it. Lichen and moss are not major issues, both occur when there is lack of air movement around the plant, pruning to allow more light in will help. All the best, Tui Team

jenna

Hi Kathy, winds are hard on plants. You are on the right path by using Seasol, sheep pellets will help too. Suggest adding citrus fertiliser to the soil now, this will give the plant welcome nutrients which will aid recovery. Aim to keep the soil moist over summer as well - mulching around the base of the trees will help conserve moisture. Allow the plant 6 months to recover. All the best, Tui Team

jenna

Hi Liz, this is a great question. We're sad to hear your tree is on its way out. Ideally buy a new plant now and grow it on in a large tub for a full 12 months before planting it back in the same spot. This delay in planting should mean the borers will all be gone as there will be nothing for them to feed on in the area. All the best, Tui Team.

jenna

Question: We have 2 Pineapple Guavas. Are these the same species as a Feijoa tree? These trees are planted in a sunny spot, but seem to be bushing out and not up. The spot is well drained and we water them in the summer. They are perhaps now 3 years old and still only about 15 cm high. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Brian Hetzel

Hi Brian, pineapple guavas have a sprawling bushy habit as opposed to an upright habit like a feijoa. They will eventually get to about 1 metre in height and about the same or a big larger in width. Feed with Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser to encourage growth and flowering. Happy gardening from the Tui Team.

jenna

I have a small lemon tree in a pot which is a mass of healthy green foliage but not one lemon in sight! What have I done wrong?

Joan

Hi Joan, how old is your tree? Citrus will take 1-2 years to fruit from planting. It is a good sign you have healthy green foliage. Have you got a feeding and watering regime in place? All fruit trees benefit from a regular feeding regime to provide the right nutrients for maximum tree health and top crops. Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser is suitable for your fruit trees planted in the garden or in pots and containers. Feed in spring and summer to provide your lemon tree a balanced and even spread of all essential nutrients for maximum fruiting and flowering. Regular applications of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic will also help boost your tree. Hope this helps ^Tui Team

jenna

I find it interesting - advice that gardeners' may be possibly over-watering their lemon trees. I live in an area where we have quite regular high rainfall (West Coast, South Island, New Zealand) for past 18 years. Have grown lemon grow really well. I have grown lemon trees for a lot of years, neighbours and visitors have always admired the trees and fruit - always plenty. I would always be giving them away. That was until we had a splendid specimen in the ground and then we moved again - always seemed to pick a place that never had a tree, so decided a few years back, I'd keep one this time in a tub - well for a while until we moved to where we are now and put a tree in the ground. A warm sunny position, most importantly - we'll sheltered from wind. Apply regular feeding - once each season with citrus fertilizer, spraying of copper and conquered oil (if required) and lots and lots of water. They drink copious amounts in summer so don't let them dry out. I can always remember my mum saying about the water, when I was young. After all these years - I do believe it - they drink an amazing amount! I think most who buy lemons, tend to under feed or water them. Drying out and over fertilizing with not much regular watering does cause leaves to drop, leaf rolling but definately under watering. Moreso gardeners err on the side of caution. My advice - once they are growing well, dont be afraid to feed and water them plenty, adding fertilizer 4 times a year and to placing in position to the northern or sunny side of your property. Good shelter is most important too.

Katherine Hartwig

Hi Katherine, thank you for your feedback and advice. Just as underwatering can cause a tree stress, so can overwatering which is why we sometimes suggest this as a possible cause for particular problems. You are correct to not let them dry out, particularly over the summer months. It is a good idea to adjust watering depending upon the weather. ^Tui Team

jenna

HI, my 4 foot tall tree has dropped all its leaves and buds, why? Thanks.

chuck