Lemon woes and an experiment in espalier
Nov 17th, 2008 by Dani
For some reason, since we have lived in our current home, I have had absolutely no luck with lemons. I brought a potted tree with me from our previous home. It had been doing quite well. Until we arrived here. I thought maybe it was time to move it from the pot into the ground. It didn’t help. In fact it died a slow and painful death. I reasoned that perhaps the transplant had been it’s death warrant. We bought a new tree and planted it carefully in the same spot. It died. Our next theory was that it was the position. Extremely sunny and prone to hot, sweeping northerlies. At this point I gave up for a while.
A little further down the fenceline that was the scene of citric death, we planted three lime trees. Happy, healthy, heavily fruiting, thriving lime trees. Sadly, there is no room in that bed for another tree. Last Christmas, when a brother and SIL gave me a new lemon tree, I decided to abandon the south fence and plant it along the north fence line near my happy, healthy, thriving olive tree that I planted when we first moved here. While it is not quite dead, it’s certainly one very unhappy tree.
Meanwhile, in the large pot that the original lemon moved here in, is a feijoa. A feijoa that could be happier in the ground and with less full sun. This weekend, I decided, nothing ventured, nothing gained. My record with these gardening decisions is not amazing but I continue to justify myself as excercises in self-education.
The feijoa has moved to the north fenceline where the lemon tree was. The root ball was massive and I did my best not to damage it. I’ve dug it in well and gave it a good water and some potash. The lemon has moved to a small bed alongside our incredibly ugly tin garage. If all goes well, I will finally have a happy, espaliered lemon tree (it’s a Meyer in case you are wondering). Yes, I do realise I need to replace that yellow sticky stick thing. They’re great for preventing citrus gall wasp infection.
Any tips? I clearly need all the help I can get!
[...] Vote Lemon woes and an experiment in espalier [...]
I’m no help to you Dani – I’ve killed a few citrus for no apparent reason. but in my travels for information I found this lovely site : http://www.australiancitrusgrowers.com/aspdev/resources/lemon_manual.asp
Great info and pics for diagnosis.
Good luck with this one! xxx
Ems last blog post..Cherry Almond Cake
If nothing else at least I’m not the only citrus murderer. Thanks for the link Em, I’ll give it a good once over and see what I can do to save my latest victim.
I too have had very bad luck with lemons. What is the yellow stick you’re using? I’ve not heard of it.
Docwitchs last blog post..The Week that Has Been.
I can’t remember what it’s called Docwitch but it’s a sticky thing from the massive evil hardware chain. The insects stick to it and leave the tree alone.
Great Post Thanx.