Lemon trees are fun and easy trees to grow. Not only do they bear edible fruits with numerous uses, but they can also be planted as ornamental trees to beautify the landscape, provide shade during hot weather, and act as a natural air freshener to your entire garden.
Maintaining the good health and wonderful shape of your lemon tree is surely one of your goals. For you to do so you must consider the maturity and size of the tree, and if it is potted or planted directly into the ground. We also should determine when the tree needs to be watered and how to avoid overwatering the tree. Here are some tips for you to have quality crops of lemons and to prevent the tree from contracting fungus and other citrus diseases caused by overwatering.
How can you know if your lemon tree needs water?
- Checking the soil before watering your tree is necessary. Try to put your finger to the depth of 3 to 6 inches from the surface of the soil and check if the area is dry. If it is, then that’s the time you need to water it. If it is still moist then wait for a few more days before watering the tree.
- Potted lemon trees such as Eureka dwarf lemon tree and other dwarf lemon-lime tree needs to be watered twice a week. Frequent watering may be needed depending on the humidity, climate and the size of the plant.
- Watering your container-grown lemon tree thoroughly until the water is draining out of the holes at the bottom part of the pot is recommended. This is better than merely sprinkling it with water.
- Ground planted lemon trees like Meyer or Meyer Improved Lemon tree and Bearss Lime tree can be watered once a week either by using a hose or from rainwater.
- Regularly checking the soil moisture will allow you to know how to adjust the schedule of watering your lemon tree.
What will happen if you overwater or underwater the lemon tree?
Excessive or insufficient water could kill your lemon tree. Assuming you have poor draining soil, when the tree gets water-soaked for a long time, the soil gets damp and stays wet which may cause the tree to acquire fungus or disease. This may result in yellow curled leaves, decayed roots, and the tree may not recover. However, if you follow the watering tips we have provided and apply copper fungicide spray to protect your lemon tree from fungus and diseases, then you are off to a good start in keeping your tree healthy.
Now that you have the confidence and enough knowledge to take good care of a lemon tree you can start planting different kinds of lemon trees or hybrid lemon lime trees such as Eureka dwarf lemons which are all available for purchase at citrus nurseries. There’s a huge range of lemon trees you can choose from that will suit your needs. You can plant them indoors or outdoors depending on your location and the space available.