Meyer Lemon Tree leaves

Discussion in 'Citrus' started by Bolte, Dec 22, 2009.

  1. Bolte

    Bolte Member

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    Location:
    Melbourne
    Good afternoon All

    I live in Melbourne Australia and about 8 weeks ago I purchased a Meyer Lemon tree in a pot. It was about 2 metres tall with full growth of leaves and some small lemon (buds).

    I have been preparing a hole in the backyard of my home for 4 weeks and during this time I have dug up the soil and mixed in Gypson to break down the soil, then I mixed in one bag of blood and boin to provide the soil with ample nutrition, then I mixed in a half a bag of sheep manure... I then removed the lemon tree from the pot andf planed it. I then placed red bark mulch around the tree and left a gap around the tree to allow water to filter through.

    I have been placing grey water (shower water) on the tree nearly every day but in total less than one bucket of water.

    It's been 3 weeks since I planted the tree and every leaf has fallen off of the tree.

    I have read some of your responses to this problem on this web page but I would still appreciate your thoughts as to why the leaves have fallen off?

    cheers
     
  2. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
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    Deleted by Millet
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2010
  3. Bolte

    Bolte Member

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    Thanks Millett.

    So is there anyway I can save the tree?
     
  4. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    You need to extract the tree and examine the roots. If the roots are not completely dead, you can replant the tree correctly, and hope the tree recovers. Otherwise you will need to purchase another tree. Best of luck to you and this tree. - Millet (1,119-)
     
  5. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    There are some Ag extension services around
    the globe that still do recommend others use
    amended backfill in their planting holes. A lot
    depends on the soil type and how good or bad
    the drainage is in that soil.

    Not all of the time is leaf drop due to the
    roots being underwatered or overwatered.
    We can get leaf loss from relative sustained
    heat with transpirational water loss to the
    leaves, in which it does not really matter
    how much or how little water we apply
    that we may see some leaf desiccation
    and subsequent leaf drop.

    Too much applied Nitrgoen as an example
    such as a Urea form of Nitrogen can cause
    leaf drop even from an aerial spray or from
    an overhead broadcast boom sprayer. Too
    much or an inordinate amount of microbial
    activity in the container and in the ground
    can cause some leaf drop. Also, a pathogen
    or two in the plant can cause leaf drop as
    well. One bacterial pathogen in particular
    in Citrus can cause the entire tree to shed
    its leaves - has nothing to do with roots in
    this case. So, in effect no matter what
    may have caused the leaf loss, it is due
    to a stress to the tree and does not have
    to be a stress to the roots only.

    Backfill for new plantings are usually
    not amended but in some areas it may
    be necessary in areas that have known
    salinity problems or have drainage issues.
    A lake does not always form at the bottom
    of the planting hole if we spend a little
    care in the digging of that hole. I agree
    raising the planting to better accommodate
    for drainage issues is a good thing but
    in areas that have good drainage and
    known soil nutrient imbalances or
    lack of organic matter in the soil
    that perhaps some amended humus
    mixed in with the rest of soil after
    the plant has been placed back in
    the hole and filled in with natural
    soil is not out of bounds. I've done
    it with Citrus in heavy clay loams
    before. What we do is dig out the
    soil for the hole. Place half the
    soil back in the hole, place the
    tree back in the hole and then
    use our humus and soil mixed
    amendment to use as filler to
    fill the rest of the hole. Gypsum
    should not be used as a mixture
    in soil but is better used as a
    top dress after the tree has been
    planted and has time to settle in.
    Animal manure takes time and
    fundamental de-nitrification to be
    readily available to the plant.
    We do not recommend animal
    manures be applied to Citrus for
    at least a year after the trees
    have been planted and then
    not applied any closer than
    two feet from the base of the
    tree. In row plantings animal
    manures can be applied in
    the middle of the rows and
    tilled in just like green manure
    crops are.

    Jim
     

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