Lemon or Citrus Limon is a cold-hardy subtropical tree that is popular among commercial and home growers. The tree may be used as an accent to a beautifully landscaped lawn because of its evergreen foliage and ever-present blooms, while the Lemon fruits can be used for numerous food and beverage preparations. With its many uses wouldn’t it be great to have a true Lemon or a Lemon Lime hybrid tree in your backyard?
Which Lemon tree is best?
We commonly hear the question “which Lemon tree is best?” The answer to this question depends on what best suits your needs. If you want to grow a true lemon variety that produces acidic and sour fruits then you may choose between a Lisbon tree and a Eureka Lemon dwarf tree. On the other hand, if you want Lemons that are sweeter and have less acidity then you may want to grow a hybrid Lemon Lime tree like the Meyer Improved dwarf Lemon tree. For those who want to have a combination of both Lemon and Lime, two great options are the Bearss Lemon Lime tree hybrid or the 2-in-1 Lemon Lime Cocktail tree.
When to Transplant a Lemon tree?
Did your newly bought dwarf Eureka lemon tree for sale just arrive? Maybe you have a dwarf Lemon Lime tree hybrid that has outgrown its container or a Meyer Lemon Lime tree that is getting too little sunlight due to mature vegetation in the landscape? If your answer to any of the questions above is yes then you most definitely need to transplant or repot your Lemon Lime trees.
But when should we transplant or repot a lemon tree?
Dwarf and smaller potted Lemon Lime trees like the dwarf Eureka Lemon tree and the Cocktail Lemon tree should be transplanted every 12 to 24 months to revitalize the trees. If you live in a cold area or that with a cooler climate, it is recommended that you transplant your dwarf Lemon and Lime tree in late spring or summer to minimize the trauma on the tree and lessen the chances of the tree getting damaged by frost or cold temperature. If you live in an area with a warmer climate the best time to transplant your Lemon Lime tree is in early spring.
How do you repot?
- Choose a new container that is 2 sizes wider and deeper than the current pot you are using for your citrus tree to give the roots room to grow. The container must have sufficient drain holes at the bottom and should have smooth sides that taper down to the base.
- Prepare your tree by withholding water for 3 days to reduce the moisture in the soil. After 3 days, loosen the root ball of the tree by tipping the container on its side and rolling it around. Lay a tarp or old bed sheet on the ground and place the pot on it. Grab the tree by the trunk at the soil line and tip the container over while pulling on the tree until it slides out of the container onto the tarp or bed sheet. Gently loosen the roots at the side and bottom of the root ball using your fingers and cut any roots that are brown and slimy until you only have roots that are pale and firm.
- Set aside the tree and mix a potting soil made of one-third sterile potting soil, one-third peat moss, and one-third sand. Put enough potting mix into the new container to bring the top of the root ball to an inch below the rim of the pot. Gently lift the tree by the trunk and set it upright on the new container. Add more potting mix around the root ball while tamping down the soil to prevent any air pockets from forming and at the same time for the soil to support the root ball.
- Water the newly repotted tree until the soil becomes well moistened. Water the tree every other day then cut back the watering to twice a week for the next 2 months. After 2 months, you may water the tree according to its need by sticking your forefinger into the soil and checking if the soil is still moist or if it has gone dry.
Additional Tips
- If you transplanted your Lemon Lime tree into the ground you may want to mulch around the tree using organic mulch like wood chips of compost. These are the best mulch for Lemon trees and help in increasing the organic material in the soil by enhancing its structure and porosity.
- Use liquid copper fungicide as Lemon tree fungus treatment. It can be used as a preventive treatment for diseases like Citrus Canker, Melanose, and Sooty Mold.