Caring for Citrus
So you’re looking to plant and care for citrus trees. Well, depending on the condition of the trees you already have and where you live, this should be a pretty simple task. First off, if you’re just beginning your citrus garden, you will need to pick out the type of citrus fruit you’d like to plant. Citrus trees are definitely great picks because they are subtropical, fruitful and evergreen. One thing you should look for in a citrus tree is its hardiness to cold weather – that’s if you live in a state where there is frost and snow. You want to make sure that the citrus trees in your garden won’t drop its leaves and die. Limes are known to die in temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Then most lemons aren’t able to survive in weather that has temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When you’ve picked out your citrus tree, you will want to plant it during the spring after all signs of frost have gone. If you’re in a state like Florida or southern California, you can plant your citrus trees any time of the year; you will find that caring for citrus in these states and climates is a breeze. Citrus is best planted in soil that isn’t too hot, which would be any temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s usually too hot during the summertime. The best places to plant your citrus is in an area that will have sun and a little bit of shade. A deep hole will need to be dug to plant the citrus tree. Now, once your tree sets its roots and begins to grow, you will need to learn some maintenance techniques for caring for citrus. First off, make sure you don’t overwater it. If you’re going to use drip emitters, make sure that you adjust them according to the weather. Don’t use spray emitters because they will continuously spray the trunk, which will cause decay and disease to grow. Make sure to provide enough fertilizer for your citrus because they are known to be heavy feeders. Once their leaves begin to turn yellow, this is a sign that they are malnourished. You want to feed them fertilizer that is balanced with nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and micronutrients. You won’t need to do too much pruning, but make sure to keep an eye out on branches that aren’t budding; these can overwhelm the tree and cause it to starve – these branches are often called suckers for a reason! At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating. 
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves