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