Positioning Your New
Citrus Tree
To get the most from your Citrus tree there are a few things to consider when looking for the perfect spot to plant it. Citrus can live upto 20-30 years in the ground, so choosing the right spot in your garden to plant your new tree is paramount, so you can enjoy future bounties of delicious, nutritious fruit.
- They perform best in a North-Eastern position preferring morning to midday sun.
- Protection from the afternoon western sun at altitude is recommended.
- Protection from wind is a must.
- In nature they exist as an understory tree, so plant together with larger trees(like wattles) for best production and protection.
- Plant on the northern side of larger trees so the lower arcing winter sun shines on the tree.
- Only the new/young growth is sensitive to frost. The oil in the older leaves makes it more difficult to freeze. Citrus is generally good to around -6C especially if it is planted with neighbours.
Citrus from Bombay Seed Traders in the smaller 4L pots will grow happily in the pot for up to 1 year. Plants in the larger 14L pots will be happy in the pot provided for up to 2 years. If you plan to leave it in the pot provided, remember to place your plant in a northeast facing area, protected from wind, heavy heat and frost, as plants in pots are more susceptible to extreme weather changes.
Root Competition
Citrus have fibrous roots that occupy a shallow patch of earth. This shallow root system is easily smothered by grass. The grass competes for the same layer in the soil structure. Ensuring that grass is kept outside the drip line will help your new tree thrive and produce. Resist the urge to cultivate under the tree.
A thick layer of woody mulch applied on top of the soil, under the drip line, will reduce the grass vigour and provide the building blocks for the soil food web that quietly feeds all the plants in nature. Once citrus is established, prune neighbouring trees to provide your citrus with good light.
What is the deal Soil Type?
Bombay Seed Traders have chosen rootstock suitable for your local soil types, giving you the best chance of success on your patch of earth. Clay for most of us, and loam for the lucky ones. Clay rootstock will grow in loam, but the loam doesn’t transfer well into clay soil. They will both do well in pots.
We consider established gardens on clay to become more loamy over time. If your clay hole holds water like a bucket, the popular remedy is to pour gypsum salt into the hole to dry it out and break the clay.
We recommend, in these instances, to mound your soil before planting your citrus. All the way to the anticipated drip line will accommodate the shallow root system.
They do not like wet feet. Not much does. It still helps to dig a hole larger than the pot to break up the soil. The additional mounding provides a way of avoiding wet feet without salting your land.
For loam, we recommend digging a hole twice the size of the pot, making sure the hole is messy rather than neat with sharp corners and flat edges. This way, the roots will find a way through more easily.