Tangerine Tree - Chlorosis? (forum)

grassmutt starts with ...
Hi, I am desperate for some help/advice to save an orange tree than has been in my yard for a long time, maybe 50 years or more. We bought the house 3 years ago and it always gave off tons of oranges (I think they are tangerines, I'm not quite sure). But this past year, no oranges, and the tree's leaves are yellowing and falling. Someone told me I had been attacked by aphids, so I sprayed the leaves with a water/dish detergent solution (I'm afraid of chemicals due to young baby and pregnant wife). I also fertilized it. This didn't seem to stop the yellow leaves, and I have trouble telling if it helped much with the aphid problem - I've never been able to identify them very well. The tree also has a green looking mold or fungus on it, which you can see in the pictures. The tree is usually watered by a sprinkler system, but this winter I've done that manually to conserve water. I live in Los Angeles California, so typically it doesn't get too cold.
I posted a few pictures and would love some advice on how to diagnose my problem/s and come up with a solution to save this tree. I'm afraid we might lose it. Someone looked at the photos and told me it looks like we have chlorosis? Do you agree and can you make care recommendations? Do you think we can save it? Thanks so much!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5

Time: 10th February 2011 1:14pm

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About the Author grassmutt
Los Angeles, California
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kert says...
It does not look like chlorosis .Are you able to show photos of the base of the trunk? Nutrient deficiency mainly occurs on alkaline soils . What pH is yours.
My guess is that you have collar rot or perhaps ring barked it with a mower.

Time: 10th February 2011 4:08pm

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sydney
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Xiem says...
It looks to me like its dying (of old age?) and almost dead. There doesn't appear to be any new growth at all. Have conditions around it changed recently? Has your water conservation been a bit too rigid? If it was mine and I wanted to keep it, say, for sentimental reasons I would try to take some cuttings and plant the offspring nearby, but that may be difficult to do if there is no new growth.

Time: 10th February 2011 5:32pm

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amanda says...
Hi grassmutt, I agree with kert - you must pH test the soil under the tree. It is not looking good but hard to tell from the pics. It is starving but it could be due to multiple elements.

What type of fertiliser did you give it and how often and how much? How much water is it getting?

If you have grass growing around the base of the tree - then you should clear it away to at least a 1m radius (I would go out to the drip line) - then you can re-work the soil under the tree with the right goodies.

What type of soil do you have? (eg: sandy loam, clay based etc). A copper wash would help with any algae or fungal issues and is organic also.

Maybe do that pH test and check the trunk as kert suggested - and then get back to the forum for more specific help?

I don't know how old these guys live for though..?

Time: 10th February 2011 5:45pm

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About the Author amanda19
Gerladton. Mid West WA
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Charles cant spell says...
We all thing and say much the same dont we. Citrus are surface feeders which means they do not like grass around there roots zone. As Amanda says if you can pull out grass to dripline (the edge of the leaves drop down vertical), and feed it and mulch.

Your grass does not look happy, sometimes people dont realise how much water the retic was putting on. If you are just watering the tree and the grass roots are in there its likely robbing all the water.

I would say you have a serious soil issue, pH, nuetrients, or just dry (dig down into the soil is it wet (before and after watering - i.e. water as you would normally then dig 10 cm into the soil and see if it wet there). The underlying issues where likely masked by excessive watering previously. The tree does look in a bad way so unlikely a this year issue its been dieing back for some years by the looks

Just a guess, 3rd' ing get a pH test. Most problems make citrus go yellow in some way.

Time: 10th February 2011 7:19pm

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Original Post was last edited: 10th February 2011 7:20pm

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
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grassmutt says...
Here's a shot where you can see the trunk, hopefully that's close enough, otherwise I can take another picture in the morning. I have not checked the PH, I need to learn to do that. Thanks for your help!

Is it possible the tree is just underfed and underwatered? Do you think I have a chance of saving it? Thanks!

Time: 11th February 2011 4:47am

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About the Author grassmutt
Los Angeles, California
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grassmutt says...
Here's the picture.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 11th February 2011 4:50am

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About the Author grassmutt
Los Angeles, California
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kert says...
Try the cloudforest.com site . There are some professionals there with qualifications in plant pathology. We tend to do the easier things -like curing cancer.

Time: 11th February 2011 9:10am

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Brendan says...
Hi grassmutt,
I'd give it a good dose of Zinc & Manganese, as per the instructions on the pack, and I'd spray the whole tree as well.

Time: 13th February 2011 8:20am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Xiem says...
I'd give it a good dose of the axe. The sooner you plant another tree with some good fertile soil and water it in well, the sooner you'll have fruit. Time marches on.

Time: 13th February 2011 9:11am

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