By Julie Christensen
If you’re lucky enough to live in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, you should add lemon trees (Citron limon) to your list of landscaping plants. These trees are valued not only for their tart, flavorful fruit, but their shrub-like form and large glossy leaves. ‘Lisbon’ is the most commonly grown traditional lemon. It reliably produces heavy yields of large, tart fruit. ‘Lisbon’ tolerates adverse conditions, such as heat, drought and frost, better than most true lemon varieties.
‘Meyer’ lemon is believed to be a cross between a lemon and an orange. ‘Meyer’ lemon trees are smaller than most lemon trees and their fruit is sweet, flavorful and thin-skinned. The original ‘Meyer’ lemons carried the tresteza virus. They were banned for many years in most citrus-growing states. New improved varieties don’t harbor the virus and are safe to grow anywhere. ‘Meyer’ lemons are the most cold hardy of the lemon varieties, and have growing requirements similar to oranges.
Lemons need full sun and well-draining soil. Plant them in an area protected from hot, dry winds or frost pockets, such as on the south side of the house. Water them once or twice each week during the growing season. Proper cultural care can prevent most diseases and pests, but watch out for the following problems:
Tristeza
Tristeza is a fungal disease that causes a variety of symptoms, ranging from leaf yellowing or dropping, stunted growth to poor fruit production. The tree quickly declines and often dies due to root rot. Symptoms are most obvious during the summer because the weakened root system can’t take up water. Tristeza is spread by aphids feeding on the leaves. To control the disease, spray trees infested with aphids with insecticidal oil or soap, coating both the tops and undersides of the leaves. Buy certified disease-free trees from a reputable nursery, rather than home stores.
Botrytis
Botrytis is more common in lemons than other citrus fruits, especially in locations with cool, moist weather. The disease causes brown or gray, velvety growths on twigs and blossoms. As the disease progresses, the twigs may die back and fruit may be affected. Trees sometimes lose leaves and fruit drops prematurely. To prevent botrytis, plant lemon trees in full sun. Space the trees so air circulates freely and prune them to open up the canopy to light. Prune out infected branches and discard them.
Lemon Tree Root Rots and Trunk Cankers
The Phytophthora fungus causes several problems, including gummosis and root rots. Early symptoms include poor growth, lesions and oozing from the trunk. As the disease progresses, it can girdle the tree, killing it. The disease advances most rapidly during moist, cool weather. To control fungal diseases, plant lemon trees in well-draining, light or sandy soil. Make sure the top of the root ball is planted 1 inch above the soil surface. If you have heavy soil, consider planting lemon trees in raised beds to improve drainage. Spray the trees with a copper-based fungicide before the rainy season arrives and prune out infected branches. Treat your pruning tools with a solution of one part chlorine bleach to ten parts water between cuts.
Lemon Fruit Problems
Lemons are subject to several problems of the fruit. Brown rot causes tan to brown spots near the top of the fruit. As the disease progresses, the spots become enlarged and the fruit rots. To prevent this problem, harvest lemons in the afternoon during dry, warm weather. Septoria spot causes brown to reddish brown lesions on the fruit. Control Septoria spot by spraying trees with a copper-based fungicide. Use soaker hoses instead of overhead sprinklers and avoid handling trees when the leaves are wet.
Want to learn more about lemon trees?
For more information, visit the following links:
How to Manage Citrus Pests from the University of California IPM Online.
Citrus Disease Management from Texas A & M University.
Julie Christensen learned about gardening on her grandfather’s farm and mother’s vegetable garden in southern Idaho. Today, she lives and gardens on the high plains of Colorado. When she’s not digging in the dirt, Julie writes about food, education, parenting and gardening.
Citrus that are being grown in pots are susceptible to disease, but its one of the best ways to grow cirtus trees. They just require a little more maintenance! http://bit.ly/1BcbCBN
I want to plant lemon
Be careful not to plant too deep. I always tell customers to have 1/8 th of the main tap root above dirt. Very important. Use planting mix 50/50 dirt to planting mix and 1/4 cup of bone meal to give it a good start. If you live in cold climates in winter plant it when you get full morning winter sun keeps the tree from freezing up. I live in zone 9 and it does get bit of frost damage but nothing major and I trim a little off in spring.
I see these same issues on lemons growing here in Uganda East Africa
My leamon tree is dead so I want to know why it is dead
My lemons are huge(grapefruit) dry inside thick skin and they stay green. A wedding gift we received 28 years ago.
What causes a Meyer lemon tree to not bear fruit ? It had lemons on it 3 – 4 years ago when we first got it but none sense then….. help
do you fertilize it?
Yes fertilize it. Give it bone meal. It’s high in phosphorus and calcium. It’s flower power. Also you may have planted it too deep causing the tree to stress leaving the trunk moist. Do your self a favor compost around the tree. It may drain too fast not leaving your tree enough time to take in the nutrients.a little ironite also helps to keep the blossoms from premature droppings to support the immature fruits. Also give it a spray of number 7 insecticide. It may be you have insects that feast on leaves before it has time to develope. I work for a nursery also I have 20 producing citrus trees. If you have mutated leaves it may have fungal disease. I always tell customers start from 1 to 3. This should help your tree
My baby lemon trees are loosing leaves. They curl up and drop off.
I wish I could add a photo of the leaves on my lemon tree. I got it for Mother’s Day and the leaves look like something is eating it. I keep it inside in a sunny window. The leaves have holes and in some spots appear torn at the ends. Any ideas what this could be?
Is there squiggly worm like appearance on leafs. If so you have leaf miners. Need to spray insecticide on tree and around tree.
Is there squiggly worm like appearance on leafs. If so you have leaf miners. Need to spray with insecticide.
Tristeza is fungal or viral disease??
It’s the variety of the lemon. I think you may have a Lisbon lemon which has thick rind. Need to give it more water. May be harvesting it at wrong time. Usually January is the time to pick.
how my lemon plants well growth,pls to be inform me their care and diseases?
Hello!, Glad you’re here I need help with my lemons. Its harvesting time for my lemons and some of them have these dark spots on them. And some have have a difference feel then the lemon itself. Whats more disturbing is when you open it the sideside is dry. Please tell me what to do?.
Hi, I have lemon with red spots appearing on them, these spots not necessarily do stick on the fruit and may disappear if wiped out when scratching them with my fingers. Any idea about the name of this disease & ways to cure it? Thank you.
When I cut open some of my lemons they have a black patch inside. Nothing is showing on the outside of the lemon.
Could it be guava moth?. Thanks
My lemon Tree leaves are covered with a black powdery substance and has stopped producing fruit. The branches and the leaves are covered with small pustular lumps that appear to attract small Ants