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| Readers grapefruit tree trunk with crystals coming out |
Q. My grapefruit tree is about 25 years old and has
always produced an abundance of fruit. A
few months ago, I noticed a crystallized substance coming out of various spots
on its lower trunk. Also, some of the
leaves had developed tiny black spots, had turned yellow and had fallen from
the branches. I attached photos.
always produced an abundance of fruit. A
few months ago, I noticed a crystallized substance coming out of various spots
on its lower trunk. Also, some of the
leaves had developed tiny black spots, had turned yellow and had fallen from
the branches. I attached photos.
I would
appreciate any help you can give me about this and what to do to stop the flow
and save the tree. There are about a dozen or so grapefruit on the tree now.
Are they OK to eat?
appreciate any help you can give me about this and what to do to stop the flow
and save the tree. There are about a dozen or so grapefruit on the tree now.
Are they OK to eat?
A. I posted your photos on my blog for others to see. Probably
my biggest concern for your tree is it getting enough water and applied at the
right times and deep enough. Frequently this type of damage is associated more
with stress than anything else.
my biggest concern for your tree is it getting enough water and applied at the
right times and deep enough. Frequently this type of damage is associated more
with stress than anything else.
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| Readers grapefruit tree with crystals coming from limb |
It is
also possible that this could be the result of some cold/freezing damage from a
previous cold winter. In other words, I do not believe it is due to insects or
an active disease. It is possible it is due to some “disease” caused from
environmental stress. This type of damage can revert to an active disease
problem if you do not keep the tree healthy.
also possible that this could be the result of some cold/freezing damage from a
previous cold winter. In other words, I do not believe it is due to insects or
an active disease. It is possible it is due to some “disease” caused from
environmental stress. This type of damage can revert to an active disease
problem if you do not keep the tree healthy.
So my
recommendation is to not put down any chemicals for insects or disease but to
concentrate on plant health by fertilizing in the spring with a citrus
fertilizer. This would be done around or prior to flowering.
recommendation is to not put down any chemicals for insects or disease but to
concentrate on plant health by fertilizing in the spring with a citrus
fertilizer. This would be done around or prior to flowering.
Put the
fertilizer near the drip emitters or source of water so the fertilizer is
pushed into the rootzone of the plant. You might want to take a look at tree
fertilizer stakes but keep them at least a couple of feet from the trunk. If
the source or water for irrigation is close to the trunk, move it away the same
distance.
fertilizer near the drip emitters or source of water so the fertilizer is
pushed into the rootzone of the plant. You might want to take a look at tree
fertilizer stakes but keep them at least a couple of feet from the trunk. If
the source or water for irrigation is close to the trunk, move it away the same
distance.
It is
okay to start with two drip emitters for new trees but in a few years you
should be adding more emitters which will allow you to spread the water more
evenly under the trunk and add more water at the same time which it needs as it
gets bigger. Bigger trees need more water than smaller trees regardless of the
type of tree it is.
okay to start with two drip emitters for new trees but in a few years you
should be adding more emitters which will allow you to spread the water more
evenly under the trunk and add more water at the same time which it needs as it
gets bigger. Bigger trees need more water than smaller trees regardless of the
type of tree it is.
This
spring water the area under the canopy deeply and thoroughly. Add an iron
chelate fertilizer when you are adding your other fertilizer as either
granular, liquid or tree stakes. Like any fertilizer, it needs water to move
these fertilizer salts into the rootzone.
spring water the area under the canopy deeply and thoroughly. Add an iron
chelate fertilizer when you are adding your other fertilizer as either
granular, liquid or tree stakes. Like any fertilizer, it needs water to move
these fertilizer salts into the rootzone.
Prune
out any dead or dying branches, crossed branches, branches growing straight up
or straight down. These are unproductive and just shade the interior of the
tree.
out any dead or dying branches, crossed branches, branches growing straight up
or straight down. These are unproductive and just shade the interior of the
tree.
The
fruit is fine to eat as long as you have not applied any pesticides recently.
fruit is fine to eat as long as you have not applied any pesticides recently.