How to Manage Pests

Planting citrus

Planting citrus properly is critical for the success of citrus in the home garden. Containerized citrus can be planted almost any time of year. The best time is after the last frost in spring.

Trees should be planted at the same depth as they were in the container. If planted too deep, soil and water tend to stand against the trunk, which promotes root and crown rots such as Phytophthora or oak root fungus. If planted too high, the roots will dry out too quickly.

Dig the planting hole, so that the root ball sits about 1 inch above the soil line. The width of the hole should be about twice the diameter of the root ball. Make sure the bottom of the planting hole is firm to prevent the root ball from sinking. Cleanly remove broken or decayed roots. Backfill the planting hole with native soil and water in thoroughly after planting. Construct a watering basin that is about a foot away from the trunk of the tree. Keep the trunk dry as much as possible while irrigating.

Tree planted too high resulting in dry roots