Lemon tree: what to do if it loses its leaves?

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The lemon tree

A favorite of regions bordering the Mediterranean, the lemon tree is a mild climate shrub that does not tolerate temperatures below -6°C. As it is not very hardy, if you live in an area with harsher winters and still want to enjoy it, then you must Grow it in a pot so it can be sheltered in winter. Elsewhere, it can be grown in the ground, which the inhabitants of the regions around the Mediterranean do not hesitate to do.

It comes in different varieties that offer a wide range of flavors. One of our favorites is the 4 season lemon tree which, in addition to benefiting from rapid growth, can bear fruit throughout the year. For a container culture, you can opt for the Meyer lemon tree.

Cultivation conditions

For a lemon tree in good health, it will be necessary to offer it suitable growing conditions.

Cultivation in the ground

It is important to install it in a warm, sunny locationas well as sheltered from the wind, and to offer it a light, fairly rich and well-drained soil.

Once installed, your lemon tree will need cleaning at the end of winter and, possibly, fertilization. In some regions, it is preferable to cover it with a wintering veil in the bad season, in order to protect it from the cold.

Pot culture

For a culture in pot, make sure that it is adapted to the size of your lemon tree, i.e. it should be a width equal to the height of your tree. To promote its development, it is best to use special citrus soil by mixing it with garden soil at a rate of 20% and sand at a rate of 10%. You will then have to remember to repot it regularly, generally every 2 or 3 years.

Good to know : Between repottings, you can perform a surfacing, once a year, to provide the necessary nutrients to your tree.

Your lemon tree is losing its leaves

When you notice that your lemon tree is losing its leaves, this could be due to several things. We suggest you explore them to help you solve this problem.

watering

Wet Lemon Tree, Just Watered
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As contradictory as it may seem for a Mediterranean tree, good watering is essential to maintain a healthy lemon tree. It is, in fact, not able to withstand periods of drought. So you owe him ensure generous and regular wateringwhich is all the more necessary if you grow it in a pot.

Attention : It is equally important not to not let water stagnate or fall in excessive watering.

If the leaves of your lemon tree turn yellow and fall off, it may be because you made one of the two mistakes we just discussed. Conversely, if the foliage becomes dry and withered before falling, it is because the watering is insufficient.

To find the right balance between too much and not enough, Watering should be done as soon as the soil is dry.. You must then remember to empty the water that stagnates in the saucer if it is grown in a pot.

Good to know : For a tree grown in the ground, you can also bet on a mulch at the foot of the tree to preserve humidity in case of hot weather.

The heat

With the increasingly frequent heat waves, if your lemon tree loses its green leaves, it may be because it is suffering from the heat. Several scenarios are possible depending on the season:

  • In summer : if your lemon tree is planted in the ground, you won’t be able to do much to help it. On the other hand, if it is in a pot, pull it into the shade when the sun is too ardent.
  • In winter : If you’ve brought your lemon tree indoors to protect it from frost and it’s losing its leaves, it could be a sign that the room you put it in is too warm. If possible, it is best to find a place for it in a cool room, in a cold greenhouse or in an unheated veranda. Proceed with moderate watering without excess.

Contributions

The good health of a lemon tree also depends on the intake, which must be balanced. To do this, you can fertilize rich in nitrogen and potassium.

On the other hand, if following these inputs, you notice that your lemon tree loses its leaves, this means that you have applied too much fertilizer or that it is not suitable. To fix this problem, the best solution is to perform a surfacingthat is to say to renew the substrate on the top 4 or 5 cm.

Repotting

In the case of a lemon tree grown in a pot, repotting is an important step and it may happen that following this operation, your tree loses its leaves. It will then be necessary to give him time to allow him to acclimatize and continue his cycle.

If after a while the leaves continue to drop, check that you haven’t over-watered or over-fertilized it. In these two cases, to solve the problem, you can carry out a surfacing as explained above.

diseases and parasites

Pests On A Lemon Tree
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The last causes that can explain the loss of leaves of your lemon tree are diseases or parasites. In effect, citrus fruits are sensitive to it.

Parasites

To try to detect the possible presence of aphids, scale insects, spider mites or fruit flies, it is necessary tocarefully examine the leavesboth above and below.

Another sign that may betray an infestation of aphids or scale insects is honeydewa substance secreted by these parasites, which makes the leaves sticky.

Finally, the leaves may appear to be covered in soot, this is then from the sooty molda fungus that grows on honeydew.

In any case, whether it is a question of honeydew or sooty mold, your tree suffers, because photosynthesis is no longer possible. Whether it is for one or the other of these problems, it is possible to treat the tree by spraying on its leaves a mixture of water and black soap, to which you can even add a few drops of olive oil.

Diseases

If your lemon tree loses its leaves, it can be affected badly seccoa cryptogamic disease, that is to say caused by a fungus, which destroys branches and leaves. Unfortunately, this disease is fatal for the treebecause the affected fungus grows in the tissues and blocks the flow of sap.

The only recourse you have against this disease is quickly cut off the infected parts and get rid of them effectively by burning them, for example.

Important : Then be sure to disinfect the shears used for this cut with alcohol.


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