Spring season

At this time you can fertilize your tree with any citrus fertilizer (my favorites are Down to earth Citrus Mix ratio 6-3-3 or E.B. Stone Organic citrus and fruit tree food ratio 7-3-3). Add the amount recommended on the package. Try to fertilize in small doses during the 3 months of spring.

Summer season

All citrus trees are fruitting at this time of the year. When fruit trees are in full fruit production, we do not want to fertilize with manure of any kind. Manure changes the flavor of the fruit. If we are fertilizing the citrus tree when they are in full fruit production, we want to use fertilizers with micronutrients and small numbers, such as 3-1-2. If your tree is happy (growing well), healthy, and flowering or fruiting well, this will be the season you can skip in the fertilizing schedule.

Fall season (Sept, Oct, Nov)

This is one of the most important moments to fertilize your citrus trees. This will prepare trees for the winter ahead and for next year's growth and production. At this time, use two things alternately: an organic fertilizer (I use E. B. Stone Azalea Camellia and Gardenia fertilizer ratio 5-5-3) and epsom salt.

Start in September with epsom salt. If you have a mature citrus tree, 5 feet tall, use 2 cups. If you have plants 10+ feet tall, you can do 4 cups a month for the season. For small citrus trees, or in container trees, use ¼ cup of epsom salt every month. If your tree grows great but it is not producing, add some epsom salt for the full winter season. Best practice is to dissolve the epsom salt in a 5-gallon bucket and water the plant with it.

In October add fertilizer following the recommended amount on the package. ( If you are using the E. B. Stone Azalea Camellia and Gardenia fertilizer apply ¼ cup for 1 to 2-foot-tall plants, ½ cup for 3-foot-tall plants, 2 cups for 5-foot-tall plants, or 3 cups for plants over 5 feet tall.)

In November, add again epsom salt using the suggestions above.

Blogs

Fertilizing Schedule for Citrus Trees

Fertilizing Schedule for Deciduous Fruit Trees