Q. I have a Kumquat citrus in the ground for 8 years. During
the last 2 years a lot of leaves fell off in the Fall leaving some branches
leafless. Yet some branches stayed green with new shoots coming out. What might
be the cause of the problem?
A. Its very helpful when pictures are included with the comments. Sometimes pictures change everything!
The tree, from the pictures you sent, looks dense and
full, with a few “blind” shoots here and there. The tree might be too dense. Leaves
need sunlight and produce a net energy for the tree to stay productive and
healthy. Rather than leaves producing energy for the tree, leaves growing in
total shade will be dropped from tree limbs because the tree must exp
full, with a few “blind” shoots here and there. The tree might be too dense. Leaves
need sunlight and produce a net energy for the tree to stay productive and
healthy. Rather than leaves producing energy for the tree, leaves growing in
total shade will be dropped from tree limbs because the tree must exp
end energy
to keep them.
Open the Canopy by Pruning
I would open
the tree canopy to admit light to the inside. This will encourage fruit to
develop throughout the canopy rather than just at its edges where there is
light. Do this by total limb removal; “thinning” cuts. Prune so that limbs are
four to six inches apart, not growing on top of each other.
the tree canopy to admit light to the inside. This will encourage fruit to
develop throughout the canopy rather than just at its edges where there is
light. Do this by total limb removal; “thinning” cuts. Prune so that limbs are
four to six inches apart, not growing on top of each other.
Look at the Ground
A trick
to know if there is enough light penetrating the canopy is to look at the
tree’s shadow on the ground at noon during midsummer. The shadow created by the
canopy should have speckled light throughout it. If an area of the shadow is
totally dark, then this is the area of the tree that needs to be pruned to
admit more light. Admitting more light allows better fruit production
throughout the tree canopy and removing a few limbs here and there during the
summer does not hurt the tree.
to know if there is enough light penetrating the canopy is to look at the
tree’s shadow on the ground at noon during midsummer. The shadow created by the
canopy should have speckled light throughout it. If an area of the shadow is
totally dark, then this is the area of the tree that needs to be pruned to
admit more light. Admitting more light allows better fruit production
throughout the tree canopy and removing a few limbs here and there during the
summer does not hurt the tree.
 |
| A dense shadow on the ground under the tree at noon during the summer indicates no light is entering the canopy to cause fruit buds to form. Time to do some light summer pruning! |
Otherwise
you might be giving the tree water and fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, too
often. Water when the soil moisture is
starting to dry. On a soil moisture meter this would be an average of “5” on a
ten-point scale at a depth of about 4 to 6 inches and measured in three
different locations.
you might be giving the tree water and fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, too
often. Water when the soil moisture is
starting to dry. On a soil moisture meter this would be an average of “5” on a
ten-point scale at a depth of about 4 to 6 inches and measured in three
different locations.
 |
| This moisture meter does not have its tip in the ground so it is reading the dry air at zero. |
Never water daily.
Apply water to at least half the area under the tree canopy and apply enough water
to get it 18 inches deep.
Apply water to at least half the area under the tree canopy and apply enough water
to get it 18 inches deep.