Q. I have a small lemon tree, about 3 ft. high and 5 years
old, growing on my patio in a whiskey barrel.
It currently has two lemons growing on it due to the fact that a critter
ate all the others. It has produced
since the second year (up to 8 lemons) if the critter does not eat them. However, the leaves on my little tree are
very sparse. Is this common or am I
doing something wrong. I read your blog all the time.
old, growing on my patio in a whiskey barrel.
It currently has two lemons growing on it due to the fact that a critter
ate all the others. It has produced
since the second year (up to 8 lemons) if the critter does not eat them. However, the leaves on my little tree are
very sparse. Is this common or am I
doing something wrong. I read your blog all the time.
A. Thanks for reading my blog and you will see this
posting in it soon. When we grow things in containers or pots we have to be
worried a bit about the soil “going bad” over time. So if you are not adding
compost or trying to renew the soil in some way it will start to get depleted
or it will lose its “vitality”.
posting in it soon. When we grow things in containers or pots we have to be
worried a bit about the soil “going bad” over time. So if you are not adding
compost or trying to renew the soil in some way it will start to get depleted
or it will lose its “vitality”.
I assume
you are adding some sort of fertilizer to the soil to help the tree but the
addition of just a fertilizer will not be enough. Organic matter will be needed
as well. It is probably best once every year or, at the most two, that you
remove some of the soil from the container and add composted soil.
you are adding some sort of fertilizer to the soil to help the tree but the
addition of just a fertilizer will not be enough. Organic matter will be needed
as well. It is probably best once every year or, at the most two, that you
remove some of the soil from the container and add composted soil.
It is
okay if you damage some roots in the process. They will grow back. But my guess
is that the soil is starting to become exhausted. If you could replace that
soil with composted soil or a soil mix with a good compost in it I think you
will see some improvement over time.
okay if you damage some roots in the process. They will grow back. But my guess
is that the soil is starting to become exhausted. If you could replace that
soil with composted soil or a soil mix with a good compost in it I think you
will see some improvement over time.
Pick a
spot in the container, take a garden trowel and dig two or three holes about
halfway down and replace this soil. When you pick a compost, pick a good one.
It will not be cheap. My guess a good one will run you about $20 or so for a
couple cubic feet of compost.
spot in the container, take a garden trowel and dig two or three holes about
halfway down and replace this soil. When you pick a compost, pick a good one.
It will not be cheap. My guess a good one will run you about $20 or so for a
couple cubic feet of compost.
Kelloggs
makes some lesser expensive composts that may be okay. Fox Farms makes good
compost but it is expensive. Look for Happy Frog or others that are similar
when you do this. Replace more soil the next year in the same way.
makes some lesser expensive composts that may be okay. Fox Farms makes good
compost but it is expensive. Look for Happy Frog or others that are similar
when you do this. Replace more soil the next year in the same way.
When
containers are used for vegetables or things like strawberries we normally
replace the soil after a couple of plantings. Disease and insect problems
accumulate and build after a few plantings. It will help if you can cover the
soil in the container with a couple of inches of organic mulch that decomposes
as well. I hope this helps.
containers are used for vegetables or things like strawberries we normally
replace the soil after a couple of plantings. Disease and insect problems
accumulate and build after a few plantings. It will help if you can cover the
soil in the container with a couple of inches of organic mulch that decomposes
as well. I hope this helps.
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I dig some vertical holes in the container soil and fill it with a good compost soil mixture every couple of years. I add rock dust too.