Calendar for Citrus Care

January

  • Rainfall is usually sufficient this month, water only if necessary
  • Monitor the weather; protect trees if necessary - tent the trees, do not "wrap" frost cloth to the trunk
  • Harvest fruit as it ripens
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment once this month and between freezes

February

  • Rainfall is usually sufficient this month, water only if necessary
  • Monitor the weather; protect trees if necessary - tent the trees, do not "wrap" frost cloth to the trunk
  • Harvest fruit as it ripens
  • Spray with dormant oil to kill overwintering insects
  • Apply slow release organic fertilizer mid-month at (2) cups per inch of trunk diameter
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment once this month and between freezes

March

  • Water deeply if it does not rain
  • Plant new varieties mid-month
  • Prune freeze damage
  • Harvest any fruit you left on the trees after winter (except grapefruit and Mexican/Key limes)
  • Top dress with compost and replenish mulch
  • Watch for signs of aphids or citrus leaf miner; spray with Neem or Spinosad after each flush of succulent new growth
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

April

  • Increase watering as weather warms
  • Freshen mulch if not done in March
  • Spray insecticidal soap (1-tsp per gal H20) to treat scale (crawling stage)
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Apply slow release organic fertilizer mid-month at (2) cups per inch of trunk diameter
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

May

  • Water deeply once a week
  • Leaf curl may be sign of drought stress
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Caterpillars may be beneficial variety, do not spray until identified
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

June

  • Water deeply once a week
  • Apply slow release organic fertilizer - (2) cups per inch of trunk diameter
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

July

  • Water deeply once a week
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Watch for signs of sunburn; white-wash exposed trunks
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

August

  • Water deeply once a week
  • Leaf curl may be sign of drought stress
  • Apply slow release organic fertilizer - (2) cups per inch of trunk diameter
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

September

  • Water deeply once a week
  • Leaf curl may be sign of drought stress
  • Apply kelp meal at 1# - 2# per 100 sq ft to increase cold tolerance
  • Continue to monitor leaf miner
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

October

  • Decrease watering
  • Check often for ripeness
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

November

  • Decrease watering
  • Harvest as needed
  • Prepare for early freeze; buy frost cloth
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment

December

  • Monitor the weather; protect trees if necessary - tent the trees, do not "wrap" frost cloth to the trunk
  • Rainfall is usually sufficient this month, water only if necessary
  • Harvest as needed
  • Fruit on the outside of the tree is more susceptible to freezing; harvest this fruit first
  • Apply seaweed extract foliar treatment