Citrus tree

Brendan says...
Hi Reece,
Try applying a lot of 'gypsum' around the trees, like 4 or 5 handfuls per sq metre, and scarify it into the soil. That might pull 'em through.
How long ago did you plant them?
I'd also give them some liquid gypsum, to speed thing up.

Brendan says...
Hi Reece,
Silly question, where's Harvey?
Gypsum is the answer, don't forget to mulch them as well, but keep the mulch ~ 200mm away from the trunk(s), to stop rot setting in.

Charles cant spell says...
Reece what soil is and and where is the water level. Some area of harvey are clay and water lodged.

Harvey is SW WA. 150 km south of Perth between Darling Range and coast. High intensity Dairy and Citrus area.

Citrus are surface feeders though so you can encourage the roots up with organic food and mulch around the root area (just not the against the bark)

Rhys says...
Any time i hear about a citrus struggling in clay, i get a big wave of deja vu. I planted a couple of citrus into clay based soil, having done a drainage test which seemed "OK", and thought i'd done a reasonable job preparing the site as well. But there was absolutely no new growth over spring, summer, and autumn, with the leaves slowly turning yellow, and the odd one being attacked by caterpillers as well. After looking around the internet a bit, asking a few questions, and contacting the nursery that supplied them, i decided to dig them up and put them in pots for the time being...it might have been coincidence, but within a week of transplanting them, there was new growth on both of them. The leaves actually started to yellow more quickly after the transplant and many have now dropped, but i'm putting this down to transplant shock and the fact that the new growth might be sucking some nutrients out of the old leaves (if you're keen, you can follow their progress here: http://myfolia.com/gardens/17306-citrus-splitzer-garden).

If there are new buds coming up (and make sure they are above any graft union), then maybe they are going OK and you don't have to dig them up...but i'd certainly wait until you were sure there was new growth before giving any more fertiliser. Not sure when you planted them, but if it was only recently, then i'd wait to see what they do over the warmer months before doing anything too drastic.

Improving the soil is much harder after planting, but i would agree with the gypsum and mulching comments. If you plant any more, or do decide to transplant these ones, make a big mound to plant them in, or even build a raised bed...this will help with the wet feet from the clay soil.

Also, citrus like full sun, so if they aren't getting enough, this could also cause problems.

Also, not sure what "graghed" was meant to be?

Good luck and let us know how you go!

Diana says...
Hi Reece,

I have very heavy clay soil too. I initially planted my Lisbon lemon in the ground and it didn't do well. After a couple of months I decided to dig it up, put a couple of large bags of compost, and one of soil mix mixed in with the clay and some gypsum under it, and put it back on the mound (about 20cm high), and it has never looked back. It is two years old now. It was definitely worth doing that. I think even a moderate sized mound lifts enough feeder roots off the clay, even if other roots are in the clay.

Diana.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1

Diego says...
Looks like you are doing everything right Rosalind.

Julie says...
A total of 45 minutes watering per day sounds excessive. I'm in hot, dry Western Australia, and my citrus are watered an hour twice a week, which is all we are allowed.

This winter they are loaded with fruit after a long, hot summer.