Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 05, 2009 1:05 pm I have a Meyer lemon tree in a pot (see photo below) that I'm hoping will last until my house is ready mid next year. I kind of 'inherited' this tree - it was given to me about 6 months ago, pretty much as you see it. I've been putting some of that seaweed soil fertilizer (mixed up as per the directions) on it (well, the soil) every 4-5 weeks and have occasionally sprayed the leaves with a herbal pesticide that smells like garlic that was recommended to me by a staff member at the big hardware store starting with B. Anyway, the tree seems to be going well. It has heaps of flowers it and I think I'll see some lemons this year. But it seems to be very 'top heavy' and I'm afraid to remove the stake - it also seems to be growing all it's branches/leaves, off to one side. I thought rotating the pot so that different parts were exposed to the sun would help, but apparently not. Anyway, I was wondering if I should remove the stake? Or if there's something I can do to strengthen up the very thin tree-trunk supporting it all?? Should I be pruning it somehow?? When I do move into my house, will I be able to transplant it into the ground, or will it be a pot plant for evermore? If anyone has any experience in this type of thing your help would be greatly appreciated. P. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Lemon Tree help needed... 2Nov 05, 2009 9:28 pm That thing is not cool I'll post up tomorrow with more for you Someone is having a lend with the garlic and chilli stuff I think I'll post the last of the articles by Toparious too and this last one might help you. Re: Lemon Tree help needed... 3Nov 07, 2009 10:26 pm Oh no, I forgot your lemon tree If that were mine your going to be horrified at what I would do it I'd chop it. To me that poor thing is near on knackered. You want to avoid having it staked. The plant becomes even weaker. That poor thing looks to be reaching for the light. Avoid fertilisers (rose and citrus) etc. What that will give you is an even thinner, leggier weak plant that looks very green. Stick with certified organic soils for it to grow in (like the naked farmer organic soil activator) Just straight in it is fine Seasol and powerfeed every 2-4weeks. a smidge of molasses every month or two. worm wee is fantastic keep it mulched on the top of the pot. The chilli and garlic spray (probalbly beat-a-bug) is fine I guess, as in not doing any harm But I am curious as to why they said use it on your citrus? If the leaves were getting eaten, snails and slugs would be the culprits and an iron based snail pellet would smash them. safe for dogs and cats too If it were mine, I'd be lopping it straight off! I'd cut it at about wear the base of the tag is. do it just above a node. That is the point on the stem where you can see a mark, that is where the shoots will appear from. It would take about 8 weeks for new growth to come through and it should become more robust than it is now. It would take a year or so to get a bit more "normal" looking. Fruit would be set right back but be a heap better than your chances right now. Maybe even ditch it and buy a new one, might be cheaper? The pot size is great Is that court yard always that shaded? If it is what you may want to have a go at doing is espaliering it on the wall in more sun. That way, even if it doesn't fruit in the shade, it's going to look bloody good. The shade thing is going to be your challenge Re: Lemon Tree help needed... 4Nov 08, 2009 6:33 am Fu Manchu Oh no, I forgot your lemon tree If that were mine your going to be horrified at what I would do it I'd chop it. To me that poor thing is near on knackered. You want to avoid having it staked. The plant becomes even weaker. That poor thing looks to be reaching for the light. Thanks Fu! I was a little horrified, but once I read the rest of your post - it sort of started to make sense. Fu Manchu ...Seasol and powerfeed every 2-4weeks. a smidge of molasses every month or two. worm wee is fantastic keep it mulched on the top of the pot. The chilli and garlic spray (probalbly beat-a-bug) is fine I guess, as in not doing any harm But I am curious as to why they said use it on your citrus? If the leaves were getting eaten, snails and slugs would be the culprits and an iron based snail pellet would smash them. safe for dogs and cats too Seasol... that's the seaweedy thing I've been using. Pretty much every 3 weeks as it says on the bottle. That's really great stuff! (even if it smells awful). In fact that's pretty much the only thing I use on any of my pot plants (all four of them). Not sure why the beat-a-bug was recommended to me. It doesn't seem to have done any harm, but I'm not sure if it's done any good either. Fu Manchu If it were mine, I'd be lopping it straight off! I'd cut it at about wear the base of the tag is. do it just above a node. That is the point on the stem where you can see a mark, that is where the shoots will appear from. It would take about 8 weeks for new growth to come through and it should become more robust than it is now. It would take a year or so to get a bit more "normal" looking. Fruit would be set right back but be a heap better than your chances right now. Maybe even ditch it and buy a new one, might be cheaper? Yikes! I'm not so much worried about the fruit, or even the flowers. I've developed a bit of a sentimental attachment to the tree though. (What can I say, it's a sad, girly thing!). Having said that, after reading what you wrote it's clear to me that this tree isn't going to last for very long as is. So I've done most of what you said... and I cut the big branch off, I think in the right place. It's just a small sad looking single branch in a pot of soil now. I guess I'll keep an eye on what's left and see what happens. Fu Manchu The pot size is great Is that court yard always that shaded? If it is what you may want to have a go at doing is espaliering it on the wall in more sun. That way, even if it doesn't fruit in the shade, it's going to look bloody good. The shade thing is going to be your challenge The courtyard is actually quite sunny from about midday onwards. I had to move the plant into the shade though in order to get far enough away from it to actually take a photograph (it's a really small courtyard). Thanks again Fu! P. Hello. I just bought a few acres in Habana, Mackay, and my horses seem to love hanging around under this tree. I would like to name the paddock after this tree. Can… 0 9529 Fellow Perth dweller. Looks like pruns nigra. It's a dark leaf flowering plum. Doesn't get massive and is easily trimmed deciduous tree. Very popular in small gardens in Perth 7 2764 |