The Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer and When to Use It Donna Larson, January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 What’s the best citrus tree fertilizer for your fruit trees? Let’s find out what, when, and how you should apply fertilizer to your citrus. The Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer Jump down for our recommendation of the best citrus tree fertilizer, which is well-balanced, easy to use, and organic. Fertilizing Citrus Best Practice Here are some things to remember when fertilizing your citrus trees. For young trees, a good general citrus fertilizer will help promote overall growth of the whole plant. Undoubtedly, you want to allow faster growth for a healthy tree before worrying with setting fruit. Some growers choose to pluck the flower buds off of the youngest trees, which allows their roots to get better established in their first growing season or two. Likewise, for established citrus trees, feeding them will stimulate leaf and bud growth. When to Apply Citrus Fertilizer Give your citrus trees fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. In Florida, that’s usually February. It’s crucial that you feed them early, and then not again until after the flower buds have set small fruits. Fertilizing your citrus trees while they’re leafing out will result in an explosion of beautiful green foliage but not much for flowers. Consequently, you need flowers to get fruit. Fertilize citrus trees about 3-4 times a year, with the main applications in late winter or early spring, late spring, and early fall. Additionally, do not fertilize your citrus trees when the fruits are closer to ripening, as your fruit quality will be diminished. Should I Fertilize My Citrus Trees When I Prune Them? Generally, you should have already fertilized your citrus trees during the winter months, about 6-8 weeks before you prune them. Furthermore, make sure to wait until after your last frost date to prune your growing tree. How to Fertilize a Citrus Fruit Tree Firstly, apply the fertilizer evenly around the drip line of the tree, which is the outer edge of the tree’s canopy. Then, water the area thoroughly after applying the fertilizer to help it penetrate the soil. Follow the recommended dosage on the fertilizer package. Over-fertilizing can harm the tree, so it’s important not to exceed the recommended amounts Watering Adequate watering is imperative for the proper absorption of nutrients. Ensure that the soil is kept consistently moist, especially during dry seasons. Mulching Applying a layer of mulch around the base of the tree helps retain moisture, regulates soil temperature, and prevents weed growth. Check out our recommendations on using bark vs mulch. What Kind of Citrus Fertilizer Does My Tree Need? You can certainly head to your local nursery or big box store for all sorts of fertilizers. Your eyes are sure to glaze over in no time. However, we’ve seen some pretty exceptional growth out of one particular nursery who piles up a large amount of compost on top of the ground surface. They create a hole in the center for planting young trees, and they let the roots find their way down into the ground on their own. The compost breaks down over time, feeding the trees as they grow. They add more compost as needed. General Guidelines for Buying the Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer If you’re looking to buy the best citrus tree fertilizer, rather than using compost, then follow these tips for success. 1. Essential Nutrients Citrus trees are heavy feeders, needing plenty of nutrition to properly flower and fruit. Check the NPK ratio on your fertilizer packages. Make sure it’s balanced for 10-10-10, or 8-8-8, so that the same amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are included. (A slight deviation in ratio is okay too.) Citrus trees need an abundance of these primary nutrients. 2. Micronutrients Citrus trees require trace amounts of several micronutrients in addition to the primary nutrients to ensure their proper growth, development, and fruit production. The essential micronutrients for citrus trees include: a. Iron (Fe): Iron is needed for chlorophyll production and photosynthesis. Citrus trees are particularly prone to iron deficiency, leading to yellowing of leaves (chlorosis). Iron chelates or foliar sprays can be used to address iron deficiencies. b. Zinc (Zn): Zinc is essential for enzyme activity and plays a role in overall tree metabolism. A deficiency in zinc can lead to stunted growth and distorted leaves. Zinc sulfate or chelated zinc can be applied to correct deficiencies. c. Manganese (Mn): Manganese is involved in photosynthesis and enzyme activation. A deficiency in manganese can result in yellowing between leaf veins. d. Copper (Cu): Copper is important for various enzymatic reactions. A copper deficiency may cause dieback of shoot tips and distorted leaves. Copper-based fungicides or copper sulfate can be used to address deficiencies. e. Boron (B): Boron is necessary for flower and fruit development, cell wall formation, and sugar transport. A boron deficiency can lead to abnormal fruit development. Borax or boric acid can be applied to correct boron deficiencies. What Kind is the Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer? You can choose between: Slow-release or liquid fertilizer Organic or manufactured fertilizer Slow-release Fertilizer We like slow release fertilizers for their ease of use for any fruit trees. For citrus, these fertilizer spikes are super simple for anyone to use. Further, you can easily insert one or two of these spikes into the ground (or a pot) under your tree’s canopy. They work to feed the tree slowly over time so that you don’t accidentally over-feed your tree which will burn it. Liquid Fertilizer Another option is liquid fertilizer with a balanced blend for your citrus trees at home. It’s a great option if you’re willing to reapply it throughout the season. The problem with liquid fertilizers is that they wash away more quickly than granular fertilizer or those spikes I mentioned. Excess water through repeated downpours for example, (common weather conditions in Florida summers), will require citrus growers to feed their citrus trees more frequently when using liquid fertilizer. Organic or Manufactured There’s great debate about using organic citrus fertilizer or synthetic blends of nutrients. Both seem to have their merits for citrus plants. Organic fertilizer is better for the environment and better for your tree, in my opinion. However, synthetic fertilizer is often better for your wallet. Many growers of citrus fruits claim that the plant can’t tell the difference between organic or manufactured, so why spend the money? I say the closer to the nature, the better for my food crops in my home garden and orchard. But do what works for you (no judgment I promise). Do be aware of high salt content in synthetic fertilizers. Overusing them will easily burn your plants. To be fair, the same is true of organic fertilizers too, but it’s easier to do with the manufactured stuff. Ph Balance Citrus trees prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions. The ideal pH range for citrus trees is typically between 6.0 and 7.5. Within this range, the trees can efficiently take up essential nutrients from the soil, promoting healthy growth and fruit production. Choose a citrus fertilizer with a pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0. While the overall pH of the fertilizer is important, the specific nutrient content and formulation are equally important. Additionally, regular soil testing can provide valuable insights into your soil’s pH and nutrient status, helping you tailor your fertilization plan for optimal citrus tree health. Which Kind of Citrus? You usually won’t find specific formulations for lime trees vs lemon tree fertilizer, etc. Every type of tree in the citrus family will get the proper nutrition from the same fertilizer. Therefore, don’t try to seek out “tangerine” fertilizer or “lemon tree” fertilizer because it doesn’t really make a difference. Instead, such labels are merely marketing gimmicks. Using Citrus Fertilizer on Other Fruit Trees Similarly, avocados and many nut trees will benefit from the same fertilizers that are formulated for citrus trees. For best results, follow the manufacturer’s package instructions for application. Enough of the Details, Which One is the Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer? The best fertilizer that I can find which checks all the boxes is Jobe’s Organics 09226NA Granular Plant Food Fruit & Citrus. It fits my criteria for organic gardening, it’s easy to sprinkle with a measuring cup for the right amount of fertilizer, and it’s well-balanced. It’s also gentle enough to protect the new growth on your trees from fertilizer burn. Other Questions You May Have About Your Citrus Trees Other questions people are asking about citrus tree care are: How Should I Prune My Citrus Trees? Begin by cutting off any obviously dead limbs. Then, working from the top, reduce the length of each limb, one at a time. Last, trim back any limbs at the branch crotches that don’t allow light to the interior of the tree. The idea here is to keep your trees compact but open for optimal fruit production. However, you are the decision-maker for the shape of your tree. I highly recommend the book Grow a Little Fruit Tree for more helpful information of pruning for maximum fruiting. The author helps us keep small, manageable trees into maturity. Do I Need Multiple Trees For Fruit Production? Some kinds of fruits require multiple plants / trees in order to properly pollinate and produce fruit. Most citrus trees do not fall into this category. Except some tangerine varieties. If you’re purchasing tangerines, make sure that you aren’t getting one of these varieties. In the alternative, go ahead and make the purchase, but get the tree a friend too. I advocate for more fruit trees. You’re welcome. All other citrus trees will be just fine self-pollinating and fruiting for you as long as they’re healthy and well-cared for. How Much Sunlight Does Citrus Need? Full sun is best for growing citrus trees. If that’s impossible on your homestead, then make sure they have at least 50% sunlight during the day. Honestly, somewhere in between is not a bad idea to protect your citrus from frost during the cold season. A dappled light can be a good thing for your citrus. Summary of Choosing the Best Citrus Tree Fertilizer Correcting nutrient deficiencies and balancing soil pH are so important to any kind of fruit tree growth. Choosing the best citrus tree fertilizer will make these tasks effortless for you. I hope these tips for proper fertilization of your citrus trees help you in your home orchard so that you will be able to grow some delicious fruits. Happy Growing! Donna @ Hazel Belle Farm Donna and her family have been homesteading for most of their 20+ years together in some shape or fashion. She currently lives on their 20 acre farm where they grow as much food as possible. What started as a just a few laying hens, has grown into large gardens, pastured poultry, pork, and lamb. They are continuously evolving their small farm to not suit their family’s needs, but also providing to their local community. Donna’s favorite part of the family farm is her self-built micro-dairy, where she gets to love on dairy cows while serving her local community. Milking, cheesemaking, and processing dairy have become the soul of their homestead and the center of their farm. Gardening Homesteading